VIEWS FROM THE BEACH with Peter White

Rugby World Cup – It’s time to get excited

An overview of what is happening in Takapuna Beach from Business Association General Manager.

It is noticeable that summer is coming to an end, as the days get shorter and cooler, however we cannot complain, as we have had an outstanding summer. In fact we shouldn’t be complaining at all having watched with horror scenes unfolding on our television screens in both Christchurch and Japan over the last month. Our problems seem trivial compared with what these poor people have experienced, and it was fantastic to see the Takapuna community rally behind the Christchurch Earthquake appeal in a variety of different ways.
Mayor Len Brown is a busy man trying to unite and govern Auckland, however he is certainly not ignoring Takapuna having made at least three visits in the last month to the opening night of Tutu’s on Tour, speaking to the Takapuna Beach Business Association’s Two Degree meeting and hosting Mayor in the Chair in Milford.
With only five months until the French Rugby Team sets up camp in Takapuna for the Rugby World Cup, a working committee has been established to ensure that the French, and other supporters that come to Takapuna, receive the most enjoyable and memorable stay of any visitor to any town centre in New Zealand. The Rugby World Cup is the third largest event in the world and the largest event to be held in 2011, providing us with a marvelous opportunity to showcase both our hospitality and township to the world.
Thank you very much to House of Travel Takapuna and Westfield Shore City who have become Platinum Sponsors of the Takapuna Beach Business Association and Les Mills Takapuna as Gold Sponsors. We very much appreciate their support in tough economic times and would ask you to support them in return.
I hope that you enjoy reading this edition of Channel and to see you in Takapuna Beach soon.
– Peter White.

Rugby World Cup

– It’s time to get excited

Whether it’s the range of emotions generated from watching the matches – pride, pleasure, pain, disappointment, humour, excitement, passion, despair, anxiety, relief – or the buzz associated with being involved in a truly global event, or just the sheer statistics around the Rugby World Cup (RWC) people are starting to get excited. The RWC is the third largest event in the world (behind the Olympics and Football World Cup) and the largest event to be held in 2011. 20 teams will compete over six weeks to determine the winner of the William Webb Ellis Cup (New Zealand has won once, in the inaugural World Cup, also held in New Zealand, in 1987). 85,000 international visitors are expected, 900 players and support staff, 2000 media and a global viewing audience of four billion, producing a total direct economic stimulus of 1.25 billion dollars. 5000 volunteers and 10,000 catering staff will ensure that the 48 matches, held over 45 days in 12 different match venues run smoothly.
Auckland will host 14 games - three pool games at North Harbour Stadium (at the time of going to press, there was speculation that North Harbour would also be allocated the Italy v Australia match) and five at Eden Park, who also host two quarter final matches, both semifinals and the bronze and World Cup finals.
The French Rugby Team has chosen Takapuna as their base, staying at the Spencer on Byron for 26 days and training at the Takapuna Rugby Club’s facilities at Onewa Domain. The French are expected to have the fourth highest number of supporters travelling to NZ (behind Australia, England and South Africa -who will also train at Onewa Domain). We also expect to host a sizeable contingent of French journalists who will hopefully promote our beautiful town centre in their news reports.
Auckland has invested millions of dollars in hosting the event and has established five legacy goals, four of which Takapuna should be looking at adopting.
•    Telling the World (and the rest of New Zealand) Takapuna’s story – Takapuna is one of New Zealand’s most desirable destinations. Ten minutes from Auckland’s CBD and home to one of New Zealand’s best urban beaches, a unique fossilized forest, the beautiful Lake Pupuke, strong retail and hospitality clusters and the events capital of the North Shore. It is an opportunity to showcase our town centre to potential visitors, investors and residents.
•    Taking Pride in our place – The RWC offers an opportunity for Takapuna residents to be seen as great hosts, showing civic pride through community engagement, festivals and events and the way we present our town centre. It is an opportunity for both landlords and council to tidy up our town centre and to make infrastructural improvements which provide further legacy benefit.
•    Making Public transport a habit for Aucklanders – Takapuna has already benefited significantly from this goal. Auckland Transport has been running free transport to major events from Takapuna for ticket holders since July last year. Visitors and residents will be able to visit any of our fine restaurants and bars before a match, catch a bus at their convenience, be dropped off at the gates, walk to their seats, enjoy the match and then be back in Takapuna to celebrate (or commiserate) within 30 minutes of the game having been completed.
•    Positioning Takapuna as a major events destination – Takapuna is the events capital of the North Shore (see story below). The RWC is another opportunity for us to build on our enviable reputation obtained through hosting numerous events, but especially the numerous World Championship Sailing events organized by the Takapuna Boating Club. Events are one of the many factors that set Takapuna apart from other town centres. They provide atmosphere, entertainment and vibrancy for our residents and visitors; exposure, through television, a variety of different media and word of mouth, for our town; and invaluable leveraging opportunities for our business community through the large numbers of visitors generated.
We have established a committee comprising representatives from the TBBA, local schools and rugby clubs, the North Harbour Club, and Council, who are working hard to ensure that Takapuna are the best host of any of the town centers in New Zealand and provide both the French team and our RWC visitors, with a most memorable experience.

Christchurch Earthquake Appeal

The hearts of the world went out to the people of Japan and Christchurch due to the devastating earthquakes both suffered over the last month, and although we all watched in horror the terribly destructive forces of nature, it was warming to also watch communities in both countries rally behind the affected communities. Takapuna was no exception with local businessman Ali Yildiz from Caffe Massimo organising an appeal on the night of the quake, resulting in a shipping container and two truckloads of water being sent down to Christchurch the following Monday. A number of other local businesses, including Lisa Crandell from Image Me and Tim Dwyer from Penny Lane, held special fundraising initiatives and Westfield matched donations dollar for dollar to $150,000, as well as giving residents the opportunity to write messages of support on a stretch of canvas known as the “Wall of Wishes” which was sent to Christchurch at the end of March. The big guns at The Department Store – Karen Walker, Lucy and Stephen Marr, Dan Gosling and Simon James – all spent a day in the store last month in a special Red Cross fundraiser to assist the Christchurch Earthquake relief fund.
The Bruce Mason Centre is holding a special fundraising concert “To Christchurch with Love” starring Paul Potts, the NZSO and some of New Zealand’s best-loved artists, including locals Shane Cortese and Tina Cross, on April 2nd. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.
Onewa Domain, the scene of many epic rugby matches and the infamous 1995 Battle of Bridge and NPC Championship final between Auckland and North Harbour will once again host the legends of both teams in a fundraiser for Christchurch on Sunday 17th April. John Hart will coach a team of ex-Auckland stars captained by Takapuna Local Gary Whetton, whilst Peter Thorburn will coach the North Harbour legends captained by former Takapuna resident Buck Shelford. Both teams will be stacked with All Blacks and promises to be an exciting and entertaining spectacle. As Channel went to press match details were still being finalised, however please don’t hesitate to contact me for more details (215-4347 or email peter@takapunabeach.co.nz).

Takapuna Beach – the events capital of the North Shore

Coinciding with Summer, the beach events are coming to an end, hosting over the last month the last of the State Beach series (a highly popular weekly event which attracts close on 700 competitors each Tuesday night); The North Shore City Coastal Challenge; Takapuna Boating Club events; the Telecom Changing Sheds; the weekly City Nippers; the Orca Swim Run series and Shore to Shore. The Auckland Regional Dragon Boat Championships were held at Lake Pupuke
It is great to see many Takapuna businesses also hosting events including - Jerry Clayton BMW launching their new X3 in association with a charity auction for Hospice; Massimo hosting Fashion Runway; Oscar & Co a lavish opening night, The Department Store hosting international photographer Todd Selby and O’Blankenberg, Florrie McGreal’s Irish Pub and the O’Copper Room combining to host an all day St Patrick’s Day Hurstmere Hooley.
The Bruce Mason Centre and Pumphouse continue to promote numerous wonderful events each week, including a marvelous performance by the Royal New Zealand Ballet “Tutus on Tour” and also hosted a return of the Miss North Harbour Pagent.
It’s easy to understand why Takapuna Beach is “the Events Capital of the North Shore”
See the Channel Community Calendar on pages two and three for this month’s events.

Why should you shop in Takapuna?

The Takapuna Beach Business Association recently received the latest Marketview report which showed that less than 6% of our catchment area (Shoppers living between Campbells Bay and Devonport, east of the Motorway) spend was in Takapuna (i.e. people residing in or close to Takapuna were spending 94% of their money in places rather than Takapuna). The Takapuna Beach Business Association is working hard to attract quality retailers to Takapuna and each month we will highlight a Takapuna Business which we believe deserves the support of you our reader. This month we bring to you -

Les Mills Takapuna

Les Mills are the undisputed world leaders in group exercise classes, having pioneered, and then continuing to dominate this highly popular form of exercise over the last 35 years.
Their programmes are franchised in 75 countries throughout the world, with over 6000 people taking Les Mills classes each week in countries such as the UK, United States, Australia, Europe and Asia.
Les Mills Takapuna is no exception and is an absolutely stunning club, recently taking out New Zealand Fitness Awards “Supreme Club of the Year!” which sits perfectly with the TBBA’s drive to attract and retain the “Best” businesses to Takapuna.
As well as offering more than six group exercise classes throughout the day to choose from, Les Mills Takapuna is home to North Shore’s largest Indoor Cycling studio with stunning views from Rangitoto to the City; more than 30 personal trainers who will provide outstanding service as members work towards their goals; five- star changing and relaxation facilities; the latest weight machines and fantastic fat burning equipment in a cardio cinema, which comes complete with theatre quality surround sound and providing a vibrant amping atmosphere inspiring members to work hard and obtain the best possible results, with ease of access made simple due to the use of the multi level car parking at Westfield Shore City.

Take a FREE Les Mills class now and Unleash Yourself!

Register online www.lesmills.co.nz/groupfitpass.cfm
Les Mills - Rooftop Level Carpark, Westfield Shore City. Corner Lake Road & Como Streets, Takapuna. Phone 489 9413.