VIEWS FROM THE BEACH with Peter White

Santa arrives in Takapuna

An overview of what is happening in Takapuna Beach from Business Association General Manager
– Peter White

Summer certainly reminds us all of how lucky we are to live, work, shop and play at Takapuna Beach. One of New Zealand’s most popular and beautiful beaches, Takapuna Beach offers a lifestyle second to none.
Whether we longingly look at the beach and gulf from our office window, eat our lunch on the beachfront, get our daily exercise fix by walking, running or swimming the beach, or shop with the sea breeze and sound of sea gulls permeating the air; we have to agree with the catch phrase of the Takapuna Beach Business Association that “This is the Life”.
With thriving Cafe and Bar, Hair and Beauty and Fashion clusters complimented by a large range of other retail stores, Takapuna Beach has something for everyone. Two hours free parking is available in the Anzac and Killarney Street carparks and you get three hours free at the Westfield Shore City car park. These are complimented by a plethora of free and paid street parking options throughout the CBD, ensuring that visitors can always find a place to park within an easy flat walk to all parts of the centre.
This month we welcome, along with Santa, more new businesses to Takapuna and visitors to the Christmas Carnival, Sip and Shop, North Shore City Grand Prix and weekly State Beach Series events. These are fun and popular events – hope to see you there.

I hope that you enjoy your read.
Cheers - Pete

Santa arrives in Takapuna

Santa arrived early in November to Takapuna Beach for a little bit of R&R before his big night on December 24th. He has been spotted surfing in Hurstmere Road, enjoying a drink whilst sitting in a deck chair outside Macs Brewbar Hurstmere Road in the Takapuna Strip, jet skiing by Westfield Shore City, relaxing in a hammock at Halls Corner, cooking a BBQ in Anzac St and heading to the beach with his surfboard by the National Bank.
These specially commissioned decorations reflect Takapuna’s close proximity to the best urban beach in New Zealand and it’s relaxed shopping environment.
Santa will be formally welcomed to Takapuna at the Christmas Carnival on December 4th, and will take up residence from December 13th.

Christmas Comes to Takapuna
Takapuna Beach will be the place to be on Saturday December 4th, with the Lion Foundation Takapuna Beach Christmas Carnival in association with Classic Hits being celebrated in Hurstmere Road from 9.30am until 1.30pm.
Now in its third year the Carnival has gained a reputation as being a community event for the whole family and offers something for everyone.
Hurstmere Road will be closed for the day, and will host a community stage with non-stop entertainment from 9.30am through until 1.30pm (featuring community and cultural performances and culminating with the introduction of Santa at 12noon) followed by our main event Phineas Phrog’s “A Touch of Frosty” until midday.
Another section of the road will be turned into a children’s playground featuring two bouncy castles, Santa and friends, cartoon characters, face painters, balloonists, Hit the Bell, Freddy the Frog game and a Nativity Display.
Stalls on the street will provide the vibrancy and smells associated with market days and will include food, drink and gift stalls, henna tattoos, hair braiding, shaved ice, hot donuts, popcorn and candy floss, chalk drawing, finger puppets and a sausage sizzle.
Classic Hits will have a promo team in attendance including an MC for the day and live crosses on air.
Buskers will entertain visitors along Hurstmere Road and then appear on stage between 12 noon and 1.30pm – competing for thousands of dollars of prize money in the ‘Busking Competition’. There will be a mixture of different buskers performing for up to five minutes each and judged by a panel of celebrities. Bands will play at either end of Hurstmere Rd throughout the day.

Takapuna Beach hosts Mayor Len Brown
Mayor Len Brown has wasted no time in visiting Takapuna Beach to speak with business leaders, local politicians and residents and learning a little more as to the significant role that Takapuna can play as part of the new Auckland supercity.
Takapuna Beach Business Association GM Peter White was most pleased that Takapuna has featured on the mayor Brown’s radar so early in his term and was impressed with his genuine interest in both people and projects.

Inaugural Devonport Takapuna Local Board meeting
Council will need to provide a bigger forum for the Local Board if the standing room only audience attracted to the inaugural meeting of the Devonport – Takapuna Local Board was anything to go by.
Newly elected Chair Chris Darby, in his inauguration speech, spoke of his desire to see long term public transport plans, ensuring that Takapuna remains a central hub of Auckland. He also spoke about the possibility of an underground railway station underneath the Merge (which recently gained a resource consent allowing work to begin over the next 12-18 months).
Mr Darby also wishes to see headway on the new Harbour crossing. The next local board meeting will be held at 6pm on Wednesday 15th December in the Council Chambers – Level 3, 1 The Strand, Takapuna.

Welcome to Takapuna Beach
Takapuna residents no longer need to travel to Auckland to purchase their Sushi from renown Sushi makers Bian Sushi, who have opened in Hurstmere Green beside Jam.
Destination children’s retailer My Room held their VIP opening night last month in their fabulous new store on the corner of Lake Road and Byron Ave.
Westfield Shore City have completed their ambience upgrade including the food court, new carpeting, lighting and comfort zones.
The Department Store recently hosted 500 guests for a ping-pong and poker evening to launch Top Man – the menswear range from UK store Topshop.

Takapuna eateries score top reviews
Congratulations to John Ingle and his excellent staff at Pinot Plus on their fine review received in the New Zealand Herald Canvas magazine last month. Pinot Plus rated 8/10 for Service and Ambience and 7/10 for Food and Value, with an overall verdict of “Great - if you want interesting wines, respectable food and superb service - and who doesn’t”.
It is fantastic having Takapuna recognised as a strong hospitality sector providing a variety of fantastic dining options with both Marvel Grill and Jam having also received extremely good reviews.

Pop Up Gallery brightens up the dark days
It’s tough times for Landlords at the moment, and for artist’s most of the time.
Rachael Foster, a local North Shore artist has resourcefully found ways to brighten the dark days of the recession, hosting a pop-up gallery to take the place of tenants forced out by high rent and poor economy.
In a switch from the old ways – when artists and the like were more often forced out rather than invited in – owners of hard-to-rent-right-now commercial spaces are happily offering it up to artists, at lower prices. The idea is that the spaces, now used as temporary galleries and studios, will keep crime out and demonstrate the appeal of the area to potential paying tenants. In contrast, in the UK, the practice of pop-up galleries has long been popular and accepted. She hopes this concept will grow here too.
Since her recent PINUPS exhibition at SHED 5 (aka Deus Ex Machina in the City) “Many friends have mentioned they haven’t enough space or cash for an original.” So in time for Christmas, Rachael has opened a ‘pop up’ style boutique, making fine art affordable.
Her PINUPS and Kiwiana series are now available on museum quality canvas and paper.
The works are resistant to high humidity and lightfastness, typical Auckland weather really. Every piece is hand signed and numbered.
The gallery space is decked from floor to ceiling with super reduced, high quality art, prints and merchandise.
Now’s a good time to start the old Christmas shopping, otherwise a fantastic opportunity to add to your own growing art collection.
Editions are very limited and time will also be limited as her Pop Up Gallery shuts up shop on December 27th.
PINUPS GALLERY - 94 Hurstmere Rd. Takapuna. Open from late morning until early evening weekdays and 11am until 2pm weekends until December 27th.

NSC Grand Prix
In what is a big night out for riders and spectators alike, the streets of Takapuna will host the North Shore City Grand Prix on Friday December 10th. Racing starts at 5.30pm and concludes at 9.30pm.
The criterium-style short race allows the public to get close to the action whilst enjoying the hospitality that Hurstmere Road offers.
The lineups in the Elite races include some of New Zealand’s very best cycling talent. The race takes riders along Hurstmere Road and The Strand, offering plenty of vantage points to take in the action every lap.
This is always a fabulous event attracting large crowds who indulge in a meal, coffee or drink from one of our many wonderful hospitality providers and enjoy the exciting racing which invariably brings a great deal of vibrancy to Takapuna Beach. This is a night not to be missed.

Sip and Shop experience for VIP Customers
Retailers in the Halls Corner precinct (those in The Strand and the southern end of Hurstmere Road from Hurstmere Green through to the lights and parts of Northcroft Street and Lake Road) will be cracking the champagne bottles and providing wine and nibbles for VIP customers on Thursday December 9th when they host their inaugural Sip and Shop.
With two weeks left before Christmas, retailers want to provide customers with a leisurely and enjoyable shopping occasion in which to purchase their Christmas presents. Street entertainment will help provide a festive ambiance.
For further information and a list of participating retailers, please contact Amy on 4891003 or events@takapunabeach.co.nz.

Why should you shop in Takapuna?
Takapuna Beach Business Association recently received the latest Marketview report which showed that less than 6% of our catchment area’s spend (Shoppers living between Campbells Bay and Devonport, east of the Motorway) was actually spent in Takapuna. This means that people residing in or close to Takapuna were spending 94% of their money in places other than Takapuna. The Takapuna Beach Business Association are continuing to work hard to improve this statistic.