Jack Collins - Howick Local Board

🎉 Great News – Courts Ready for Play! 🎉

Kia ora everyone, exciting news for our community! The courts are now fully complete and ready for action 🙌A big shoutout to HPNC for their support and co-funding of the new surface

We’re looking forward to seeing the courts buzzing again from April, and the positive impact this space will continue to have for both the club and the wider community.

👉 Who’s keen to get back out there?

With the opening of the brand-new Flat Bush Library, there’s no better time to check out their awesome April School Holiday Programme 🚀📚 Here’s what’s coming up:

✨ Tue 7 April | 11:30am – 12:30pm - Design a Droid!
Create your own droid inspired by Star Wars favourites like R2D2 or BB8. For ages 5+

✨ Wed 8 April | 11:30am – 12:30pm - Blowpipe Space Shuttle
Launch your very own shuttle and see how far it can go! For ages 5+

✨ Thu 9 April | 3pm – 4pm - LEGO Block Building
Calling all builders—bring your creativity and join the fun! For ages 3+

✨ Fri 10 April | 3pm – 4pm - Little House Garden
Decorate, plant a seed, and watch it grow 🌱 For ages 5+

✨ Mon 13 April | 11:30am – 12:30pm - DIY Aliens
Create your own out-of-this-world alien 👽 For ages 5+

✨ Tue 14 April | 3pm – 4pm - Flying Saucers
Turn a paper plate into a galactic spacecraft. For ages 5+

✨ Wed 15 April | 11:30am – 12:30pm - Bin-Tastic UFOs
An eco-friendly craft using recycled materials ♻️ For ages 5+

✨ Thu 16 April | 3pm – 4pm - LEGO Block Building
More brick-building fun for everyone! For ages 3+

✨ Fri 17 April | 3pm – 4pm - Galactic Mask Lab
Create your own astronaut or alien mask 🎭 For ages 5+

So great to see our new local library open just in time for the school holidays, be sure to take advantage of these fantastic free community events! 🌟

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Exciting news for our community! 🎉

We’re proud to celebrate the opening of a brand-new toilet, changing room, and storage facility at Tirakau Park on William Roberts Road.

This is a fantastic addition for everyone who uses the space – from those enjoying the local sports fields and playgrounds, to our awesome Pakuranga Jaguars Rugby League Club and wider community.

Even more exciting, this project marks a first for the Howick Local Board, with the facility designed off-site and then lifted into place – an innovative approach that helped bring this project to life efficiently.

We’re thrilled to see this space continue to grow and better support our community.

With another public toilet now refurbished in our area, I’d love to hear from you, if we did have the funding where do you think should be the next priority for an upgrade or a new facility?

Yesterday, the 4th of April, was a very exciting day for the Howick Local Board, especially for our Flat Bush community.

We proudly opened the Flat Bush Library. It may be small, but it is mighty, and it’s set to become a true hub for our growing community. While this isn’t the final vision with a larger library, community centre and pool still to come in the years ahead, this temporary space is a smart and much-needed solution that residents have been asking for over many years.

It was such a special day spent alongside fellow Local Board members, dedicated staff who brought this project to life, library leaders, and community leaders even our local Howick Youth Council chairs were in attendance.

Feeling very honoured to have been part of such a meaningful opening.

Besides our Local Board plan consultation, the council also ran its Annual Plan consultation! 🎉

I had an awesome time on 20th March engaging with the Korean community, where over 40 people came along. It was great chatting with everyone alongside member Damian Light about why having your say and being part of consultations really matters.

Have you had your say yet?

🚧 April Update from Eastern Busway Works 🚧

Kia ora everyone, just a quick heads up that April will be a busy month for construction works along Tī Rākau Drive and surrounding streets as part of the Eastern Busway project (opening 2027).

Here’s a simple breakdown of what to expect:

🔹 William Roberts Road - Closed for all of April (between Cortina Place and Tī Rākau Drive) for final road surfacing. Detours will be in place.

🔹 Marriott Road - Partially closed while stormwater and watermain upgrades take place. May reopen briefly if possible.

🔹 Edgewater Drive (near the shops) - Closed for around 3 weeks during school holidays. A new raised crossing will be built to make it safer and more accessible for pedestrians, prams, and wheelchairs.

🔹 Gossamer Drive - Lane changes and some night works throughout April. Only one right turn lane will be available at times. New traffic layouts begin from Easter weekend.

🔹 Palm Ave / Tī Rākau Drive - Intersection upgrades starting late April, with at least one lane kept open for access.

Some works will run 24/7 (including night works), so there may be noise at times. Please follow detour signs, allow extra travel time, and take care when moving through the area.

🌟 SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL YOUTH LEADERS

It was great to attend the Principal Breakfast on 23/03, as well as the Youth Council Meet & Greet on 12/03.

Through these events, we as Board members were able to support the Howick Youth Council by helping to shape and refine their projects for the year, as well as provide feedback on their ideas.

At the Principal Breakfast, it was fantastic to see these ideas presented to local school leaders - a great opportunity to build strong connections between schools and our youth representatives.

We’re incredibly lucky to have such a well-organised and engaged Youth Council in our area. Even more exciting, they are celebrating 15 years this year, a huge milestone!

It’s also been great to see their presence growing in the community, including a dedicated spot feature in the local paper Eastern Times

🐾 Hey East Auckland Dog Owners!

On Sunday 5th April, the team at Lagoon Pool and Leisure Centre is hosting a Dog Day Out! 🐶 Bring your pups for a swim before they close the pool for the season.

It’s a great way for dogs to socialise, have fun in the water, and for owners to meet other dog lovers.

There’s also another event later this month at the Onehunga War Memorial Pool – plenty of chances for your furry friends to enjoy a splash!

Dog Day Out 2026 is making its debut at Lagoon Pool.

Our fun annual event for dogs and their pawrents already runs successfully at Onehunga Pool. Come with a furry friend to enjoy our beautiful outdoor pool in the off season on Sunday April 5th .

Bookings and information available at [email protected],

Or follow this link: https://ymcaauckland.formstack.com/forms/dog_day_lagoon_pool

CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESS IN EAST AUCKLAND 🏆

Organised by Business East Tamaki, on 19th March I had the pleasure of attending the RSM East Auckland Business Awards, where we also recognised the winners of our March Business Awards.

We’re incredibly lucky in our community to have organisations like Business East Tamaki and Howick Village Association, two outstanding BIDs that do a fantastic job supporting and promoting our local businesses.

I attended alongside Chairman Bruce Kendall, Deputy Chair Kai Zeng, Member Damian Light, and Mike Turinsky. Even the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, was in attendance at this special evening.

Events like this are a great reminder of the strength, innovation, and resilience of our local business community.

🌳 EXCITING NEWS FOR PAKURANGA & EDGEWATER

Great news for the Pakuranga and Edgewater community - the Raewyn Playground renewal and drainage improvements are nearing completion!

I’m advised that the fencing should be coming down within the next week once the seating is installed. Planting will follow around April–May, allowing for better conditions for new growth.

This one is a bit special for me, I remember visiting this playground as a child, so it’s really exciting to see it being upgraded for the next generation.

Looking forward to seeing it reopen for our Pakuranga and wider community to enjoy.

👉 What’s your favourite playground in Pakuranga and why? Leave a comment below.

This was a great experience and grateful to have the opportunity to