Happy New Year and I hope you had a wonderful break with family and friends.
Hopefully the turn-around in the weather from 12 months ago (remember Cyclone Gabrielle?) is an indication that 2024 is going to be kinder to us.
The village was certainly busy over the break with our local community and visitors from afar enjoying the wonderful hospitality Howick Village offers.
Thank you to the many businesses who worked to keep the village buzzing and many thanks to those who supported the village.
There are some exciting plans already in place for 2024 and we hope you will join us to make these events successful.
Some of these are:
- Cultural Food Festival and The Great Goblet Race on Saturday, March 2
- Star Insure Howick Village HOP scheduled for Saturday, October 12
- A new event this year is the East Auckland Business Awards 2024 being organised jointly with Business East Tamaki. The awards dinner is Wednesday, March 25, at Pakuranga Rugby Club. Finalists will be announced on February 20.
Howick Village Association’s [HVA] Jane and Sarah continue to be kept busy with tasks that have a ‘social service’ angle but are vital in keeping tabs on the environment of our village.
In 2023 they spent an average of almost two hours per week dealing with illegal rubbish dumping in carparks, graffiti/tagging and homeless persons.
Due to continued vandalism, the fairy lights on the Picton Street bus shelter have been removed as the cost to replace these each time is expensive.
Howick Local Board has provided funding for a portable defibrillator for use during our events and in the weekly market area.
Their funding assistance is greatly appreciated.
Did you know your household batteries can be recycled with Stihl Shop Howick – this is for general household batteries and NOT larger equipment batteries from gardening tools, scooters etc.
In addition, HVA is continuing our partnership with Swapkit NZ Ltd to collect old mobile phones for recycling.
These can be dropped to HVA offices during business hours.
Finally a mystery – prior to Christmas, HVA collected a pile of cobbles from the market square.
Anyone have an answer? Happy February.
- By Gerald Patterson, Chairperson – Howick Village Association
