News

We’ve got a big vision for our residents association, but we need people with the right skills to help us! In return you get to meet more locals, be the first to know what’s happening locally, experience to add to your resume/CV, and the satisfaction of having contributed to your community.

Specifically we need people with the following skills:

• Graphic design skills: to create AGM and event flyers
• Google Maps / Graphic Design skills: we’d like to create cool maps of our local area with markers for boundaries, hidden walkways, playgrounds and more. To go on our website and social media accounts
• Social media skills: we need help running our Facebook and Neighbourly accounts.

We could also really use your help with:

• Delivering our newsletter every month to people without email addresses (around 15 addresses)
• Setting up and packing down at events
• Promotion of the association, eg manning a table at Meadowbank Mall
• Delivering flyers for events.

If you’d like to become a volunteer, please contact us to discuss!

If you’re interested, please email us on  and we can chat.

Check out the courses available and try something new this year at Meadowbank Community Centre.

Download their 2017 Flyer (PDF).

Construction is complete on the new state-of-the-art building at Purewa Cemetery.

The new function lounge, called St Johns Lounge, makes Purewa the first cemetery/crematorium facility in New Zealand to have two chapels and two function lounges.

We took an advance tour of the building ahead of the official opening on Friday February 17. The  building was designed by architects Ministry of Architecture and Interiors and features underfloor heating, an electronically-controlled louvred outdoor roof, and expansive views over the reserve.

An 85″ TV (first in NZ!) and sound system allows people to watch a funeral if numbers exceed the capacity of the chapel. The lounge can accommodate 150 people inside and another 150 on the covered patio space, making it comfortable to hold funerals with many more attendees.

The lounge opened on January 4 and has been used for functions already. The official opening is on February 17, 2017.

Read more: “New St Johns Lounge for Purewa“, East and Bays Courier, 7 December 2016.

On 19 December 2016 we met with Sharon Bohane, Manager of Meadowbank Village, to learn about what’s going on at the site.

In 2015 the old brick building was demolished, which took longer than expected as the building had asbestos, which of course had to be officially removed. The asbestos was used as a fire retardant when the building was constructed in the 1950s.

So far the three independent living buildings along Meadowbank Rd have been completed (shown in purple in the diagram below).

Currently the block in red, Stage 1, is being built. This includes a five-storey building with community centre and apartments, and a care facility. This stage is expected to be complete in early 2018.

Future stages include more apartments and an extension of the care facility.

Sharon showed us the 1:140 scale model of the whole development. A picture is below. Residents are welcome to make an appointment to view the scale model and plans for themselves by making an appointment with Sharon. You can reach her on 021 510 437 or .

Auckland Transport has received concerns about vehicles driving at high speeds in and out of this intersection.

The proposed measures will narrow the intersection, lowering driving speed and improving accessibility for pedestrians.

Changes include:

• Narrowing the current intersection.
• Adding a pedestrian refuge island.
• Adding pedestrian pram crossings.
• Adding No Stopping at All Times restrictions (broken yellow lines) on both sides of Manapau Street and on Meadowbank Road opposite the intersection.

Changes to the intersection are shown in the diagram below. Take a look and please visit at.govt.nz/have-your-say to give your feedback by December 16.

Tamaki Drive road closure events 2016-2017

We took to the streets (well the comfort of Meadowbank Mall actually) on a busy Saturday morning to meet more locals, raise awareness of our association, and ask the question ‘Are Meadowbank & St Johns Auckland’s most liveable suburbs?’

Despite the relatively small sample size, the results were interesting!

We had an even split: 50% said yes and 50% said no.

Among the things people liked were our parks, public transport access and our central location.

What didn’t people like? Read the full results here (we presented them at our meeting on November 1).

Do you agree? Let us know what you think – email us your thoughts at .