Auckland's day of grace
The forecast promised a day’s respite from incessant stormy weather. Today it delivered on that promise. Just for once, it happened on a Sunday rather than Monday, when the best that those of us on the employment treadmill can hope for is a fleeting glimpse of sunshine en route to the closeted world of 'the office.'
I can’t decide whether to feel foolish or self-righteous for having spent the first two hours of the day writing an academic paper that was due for submission a week ago. Anyway, it was finished in good time to shower, don comfortable stretchy clothes and head off to yoga class. The sunshine streaming in the bathroom window was way too appealing to stay indoors, so I traded yoga class for a long leisurely walk setting off from the mangrove path that skirts round the edge of Ngataringa Bay. The tide is low so its mud flats rather than muddy water this morning. The harbour bridge leading into the city is a fine sight from this safe, weekend distance across the bay.
The kiwi native plantings at the maze in the park beside the path are colorful, even in the depths of winter.
Passing the ducks and pukekos at the greasy pond by the golf course, I notice coral tress beginning to flower. Could this be spring in the air already? The number of people, dogs and boats out and about on Narrow Neck beach suggest it might. An attempt at my favourite walk round the rocks to Cheltenham beach is frustrated by the tide. Other times I have been up to my a** in water to make it round but no way I’m getting in the water at this time of year! Unlike some of the younger crowd on the beach, oblivious to the temperature and splashing about with dogs who so love being in the water. The walk can only be done about two hours either side of low tide, which I missed by half an hour. Tough call having to walk back to the first beach and then by road to the second!
Work is going on to repair the washed out once again path round North Head but I have done enough detours for one day so ignore the fence and warning sign but meet no further obstacles. Just the usual stunning views across the harbour.
Back round on the city side, the breeze is cool and not so comfortable for walking. The second tough call means I have to put my sweater back on! Great day for sailing, and quite a few boats are out taking advantage of near perfect conditions.
Something always stunning to behold in the midst of winter when many trees are bare is the Magnolia in flower. Bare wood, not a hint of green in sight yet they are completely covered in big beautiful flowers in shades of deep purple and delicate pink. A sure sign that the depths of winter have already passed.
Huge yet delicate white ones come out smelling of lemons when it’s properly into spring.
Walking back now towards the village that sits ten minutes and a planet sized psychological gap away across the harbour, the route takes me past an icon that sadly seems set to become history before too much longer. The Masonic Hotel and Pub is one of the oldest established businesses in the area.
Like so many others in this sought after area, it seems condemned to go down the residential property development path to reap maximum profit for least effort on the part of the current owners. All the local, now world famous in NZ bands have cut their teeth in here, and many a game of rugby has polished or dented the national psyche in the comforting surrounds of the local hostelry. Alas, not for much longer as resource consent is pending for conversion into 22 apartments. Its been here as long as anything, and the waterfront location should make it a huge drawcard. Some say the owners don't try to run it as a viable business.
I hope it doesn’t go down the same route as another local apartment development that sold for record prices because new property commands a premium in this building restricted area. It’s been under wraps for nearly a year getting shoddily built features fixed up. It's what's known locally as leaky building syndrome, traced back to a period when regulations didn't require structural timber to be treated. The council ok'd it, the property developers are long gone and the leaky buildings cost owners millions to fix.
While I’m on a whinge about councils and their penchant for property developers, I’ll end with the comment that if private businesses treated their property assets in this way they would have gone belly up a long time ago. The wharf is just one piece of evidence that the council can neglect / abandon / mess up and otherwise prohibit access to valuable and sought after property assets, all at the rate-payers expense. How they get away with it I will never understand. Maybe I'll dedicate an entry to Devonport's other decaying assets. Sadly, there will be no shortage of material :-(
I can’t decide whether to feel foolish or self-righteous for having spent the first two hours of the day writing an academic paper that was due for submission a week ago. Anyway, it was finished in good time to shower, don comfortable stretchy clothes and head off to yoga class. The sunshine streaming in the bathroom window was way too appealing to stay indoors, so I traded yoga class for a long leisurely walk setting off from the mangrove path that skirts round the edge of Ngataringa Bay. The tide is low so its mud flats rather than muddy water this morning. The harbour bridge leading into the city is a fine sight from this safe, weekend distance across the bay.
The kiwi native plantings at the maze in the park beside the path are colorful, even in the depths of winter.
Passing the ducks and pukekos at the greasy pond by the golf course, I notice coral tress beginning to flower. Could this be spring in the air already? The number of people, dogs and boats out and about on Narrow Neck beach suggest it might. An attempt at my favourite walk round the rocks to Cheltenham beach is frustrated by the tide. Other times I have been up to my a** in water to make it round but no way I’m getting in the water at this time of year! Unlike some of the younger crowd on the beach, oblivious to the temperature and splashing about with dogs who so love being in the water. The walk can only be done about two hours either side of low tide, which I missed by half an hour. Tough call having to walk back to the first beach and then by road to the second!
Work is going on to repair the washed out once again path round North Head but I have done enough detours for one day so ignore the fence and warning sign but meet no further obstacles. Just the usual stunning views across the harbour.
Back round on the city side, the breeze is cool and not so comfortable for walking. The second tough call means I have to put my sweater back on! Great day for sailing, and quite a few boats are out taking advantage of near perfect conditions.
Something always stunning to behold in the midst of winter when many trees are bare is the Magnolia in flower. Bare wood, not a hint of green in sight yet they are completely covered in big beautiful flowers in shades of deep purple and delicate pink. A sure sign that the depths of winter have already passed.
Huge yet delicate white ones come out smelling of lemons when it’s properly into spring.
Walking back now towards the village that sits ten minutes and a planet sized psychological gap away across the harbour, the route takes me past an icon that sadly seems set to become history before too much longer. The Masonic Hotel and Pub is one of the oldest established businesses in the area.
Like so many others in this sought after area, it seems condemned to go down the residential property development path to reap maximum profit for least effort on the part of the current owners. All the local, now world famous in NZ bands have cut their teeth in here, and many a game of rugby has polished or dented the national psyche in the comforting surrounds of the local hostelry. Alas, not for much longer as resource consent is pending for conversion into 22 apartments. Its been here as long as anything, and the waterfront location should make it a huge drawcard. Some say the owners don't try to run it as a viable business.
I hope it doesn’t go down the same route as another local apartment development that sold for record prices because new property commands a premium in this building restricted area. It’s been under wraps for nearly a year getting shoddily built features fixed up. It's what's known locally as leaky building syndrome, traced back to a period when regulations didn't require structural timber to be treated. The council ok'd it, the property developers are long gone and the leaky buildings cost owners millions to fix.
While I’m on a whinge about councils and their penchant for property developers, I’ll end with the comment that if private businesses treated their property assets in this way they would have gone belly up a long time ago. The wharf is just one piece of evidence that the council can neglect / abandon / mess up and otherwise prohibit access to valuable and sought after property assets, all at the rate-payers expense. How they get away with it I will never understand. Maybe I'll dedicate an entry to Devonport's other decaying assets. Sadly, there will be no shortage of material :-(
posted by Cathy Gunn at
August 12, 2008
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