Bo Burns: “I’m standing for council to be a strong and effective voice for east Auckland, because it’s time we stopped being left behind.” Times photos

Bo Burns, the dynamic and well-known community leader, is officially announcing her candidacy for a Howick Ward seat on the Auckland Council in the upcoming 2025 local-body elections.

The owner of Times Media, publishers of the Eastern Times and Franklin Times, says with her “proven track record of delivering results”, she’s determined to bring “new energy and bold vision” to the table of the council’s Governing Body to champion the needs of east Aucklanders who, in her opinion, have long been overlooked.

“East Auckland deserves to be seen, heard and actioned,” Burns says.

“We need strong representation that not only listens, but gets things done. I bring the energy, communication skills, and business acumen to make that happen.”

Burns is a two-term Howick Local Board member, and in this term, she has been deputy-chair.

She lives in Howick with her husband and two daughters and is “deeply embedded” in the east Auckland community.

She’s the founder and director of Promo Factory, a Howick-based business that has earned both local and international recognition over the past 23 years.

Her accolades include awards for Innovative Ideas, Exceptional Service, and SME Business Growth.

In addition to Promo Factory, Burns is also the “proud owner” of Times Media, publishers of the Eastern Times and Franklin Times.

She purchased the business out of liquidation in 2024 and has successfully rebuilt it into a thriving, community-focused media company, a testament to her entrepreneurial drive and deep commitment to local storytelling and connection.

With a dedicated leadership team and staff in place to manage her companies, Burns is fully available and committed to serving in a councillor role.

She says her business experience, hands-on leadership style, and passion for the east Auckland region position her as a capable and enthusiastic “advocate for positive change”.

“Our diverse and rapidly growing community deserves a representative who understands its unique needs and knows how to advocate with purpose.”

Affectionately known in the community as “Bo on the Go”, Burns is known for her relentless drive and get-it-done approach.

Her community involvement spans across sports coaching, school mentoring, serving on industry boards, and organising one of east Auckland’s most beloved annual events, the Howick Santa Parade.

Burns says she’s not only seeking re-election to the Howick Local Board, but elevation to the council’s Governing Body, where she believes she can have even greater impact.

“I’m standing for council to be a strong and effective voice for east Auckland, because it’s time we stopped being left behind,” says Bo.

“I will champion better and more reliable public transport, urgently needed infrastructure upgrades, action on coastal erosion, and the revitalisation of our neglected facilities.

“I’m committed to supporting local business and tourism growth, and I’ll push for the long-overdue Ormiston and Flat Bush community centre to be delivered.

“Our diverse and rapidly growing community deserves a representative who understands its unique needs and knows how to advocate with purpose.”

Burns believes the council needs more people with practical experience, community understanding, and a no-nonsense attitude to results.

“I’m not a career politician. I’m a business owner, a mum, and a passionate east Auckland local.

“I understand the real pressures facing families and small businesses, and I’ll fight to make sure our community receives the quality of services that fairly reflects the rates we’re paying.”

A “logical thinker and natural collaborator”, Burns says she pledges to be “an accessible councillor who listens, acts, and brings fresh ideas to the table”.

She’s also passionate about “sustainability, protecting Howick’s historic charm, and championing initiatives that future-proof the region for generations to come”.

“I’ll always be about action, not excuses. I’ll work hard, ask the right questions, and make sure east Auckland has a voice that can’t be ignored,” she says.

• To follow Bo Burns’ election campaign or to get involved, visit: www.boburns.co.nz.

• Auckland Council local elections are by postal ballot in September and October, with election day on October 11.

Times resurrection and NBA success emphasise the enduring value of print.

Recently, community and business demand drove the printed return of East Auckland newspaper, the Times. This reflects the ongoing and deep value widely-held for printed publications.

Founder Reay Neben closed the 53-year-old newspaper in April to enter retirement. Soon after, businesswoman Bo Burns stepped forward to acquire Times Media’s assets and relaunch the publication in an initially online format.

She says, “I always intended to have something in print. While I had planned it for 2025, huge community and business support enabled me to bring that decision forward.”

Beacon Print produces the Times printed publication. Its twice-monthly frequency in mid-August saw “all bins emptied within two days”.

Bo says, “We have already increased our circulation by a few thousand after our first run and it will continue to increase with demand. Our current print distribution is 10,000. We have an expected readership of print of 30,000 as we are in strategic locations. The digital paper has a readership of 10,000.”

While she says the publication’s printed version readers include people biding time when sitting at doctors, cafes, takeaways, hairdressers, bus stops and on boats, she points out how device fatigue contributes to its popularity as well. She says, “People get sick of staring at their phones. They want a tangible product to hold. Also, if you have the right balance of news, lifestyle, events and competitions, the lifecycle is far greater.”

Times Media must now navigate its way through several recent challenges including a changing media landscape; the pandemic; difficult economic conditions; rising living costs; and forced recessions. Bo says, “I came in with a strong advertising and marketing background and had the intention to revitalise the hero, which was the online Times.co.nz. I wanted to engage with our community, who love and support the brand.

“Initially the digital platform was all I had to work with, whilst in the early stages of reconfiguring the business and merging it into my other business systems. Once I could come up for air, I heard the community loud and clear: it wanted the print version back.”

She describes the company’s readership statistics as on a huge upward trajectory. She says, “The digital paper is around 10,000 reads already, so this combined with our printed editions is a fabulous integrated reach and approach to all demographics. We also have increased our socials to an impressive five channels.

“We must be doing something right.”

Employing eight people, the business anticipates further growth as it continues to reach residents across in Pakuranga, Highland Park, The Peninsula, Howick, Botany, Meadowlands, Cockle Bay, Golflands, Flatbush, Ormiston, Dannemora, and Highbrook.

Bo says, “Times Media services a huge audience of 160,000 East Auckland residents. We are the most culturally diverse area in Auckland. As for the future, we have very big plans. Watch this space.”

Times print return lauded

In a recent Times opinion piece, past PrintNZ Board member Charles Miller strongly praised the strategic decision to reinstate the printed version of the publication.

He wrote, “This move highlights the paper’s commitment to engaging with its community, particularly those who find online access challenging, and is a great credit to Bo Burns and the dedicated team who’ve worked so hard to make this a reality.

“In a world increasingly dominated by digital content, there’s an important segment of the population that prefers the tactile experience that only a physical newspaper can provide.

“For people not raised in an online world or those in rural areas with limited Internet connectivity, the return of the printed paper is more than just a convenience. It’s an essential service that ensures they remain informed and connected to their networks.”

“The printed publication provides an additional channel for advertisers to showcase their products and services, in a format to which new readers will be drawn and which often etches greater recall.

“In settings like motel rooms, cafes and waiting areas, print materials are shared among multiple readers, amplifying each copy’s impact as it reaches several individuals who spend time engaging with the content.

“This shared, extended interaction increases the effectiveness of print, leading to a wider audience and a more in-depth experience, where articles and advertisements are more thoroughly absorbed and retained.”

East Auckland’s leading news publication is back in print – after a brief hiatus – due to overwhelming community demand.

Bo Burns, the owner and director of Times Media, the area’s oldest historic masthead and website, is breaking new media boundaries and filling a gap in the market to produce compelling robust and credible content for the community, who are thirsty for it.

Burns bought the business out of liquidation only three months ago.

In this short time, her team has pushed new boundaries online and today they’re announcing they’re relaunching a compact paper form, distributing several thousand copies at locations across east Auckland to capture the 160,000-strong community.

“We are back, east Auckland!,” Burns says. “The community spoke out and we listened.

“The common theme of the feedback was the need to continue our trusted and robust local content in print format.

“We’re going against the trend of media platforms cutting back on paper content. Why?

“Because together with exciting online content our east Auckland readership can be increased tenfold with an integrated approach, and there are even more exciting plans afoot, so watch this space!”

Since Burns has been at the helm of the Times, her team has smashed beyond the expected records with digital website boasting over 100,000+ views for three consecutive months.

This month is tracking to gain over 129,000 views, the advertising retention rate has been over 75 per cent, and the social channels and subscribers are up 500 per cent.

The paper will be available around the local community twice a month from August 15 from pick-up boxes in handy locations.

East Auckland’s leading community news provider – the Times – is back!

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the long-standing local news provider has been brought back to life after its publisher, Times Newspapers, closed on April 17.

Well-known east Auckland businesswoman Bo Burns has acquired the company’s digital assets.

As she doesn’t plan at this stage to reintroduce the printed version of the newspaper its new form is a slimmed-down, online-only version.

Times Newspapers was recently placed into voluntary administration in an effort to force its sale after having informed the local community for more than 50 years.

Managing director Reay Neben believed it was the right time to step away from the industry and retire.

After a short period of administration, no buyer was forthcoming and the business closed on April 17.

Staff were told at a meeting with administrators Blacklock Rose that they were being terminated that day.

Not willing to let a news void be created in the community, Burns stepped in, buying the company’s intellectual property including its popular website, www.times.co.nz, the East Auckland App, and Facebook page – with its 10,000 followers – with the goal of making its digital presence more successful than ever.

She has two decades’ of business experience.

Burns runs the successful local business Promo Factory, organises the popular annual Howick Santa Parade, and is deputy chairperson of the Howick Local Board.

She says she wants to continue the Times’ reputation as a trustworthy source of independent, unbiased, lively and hard-hitting community news.

Her link to the company stretches back to 1997 when she began working for it in sales as a teenager.

“That launched my career in and passion for advertising and marketing,” Burns says.

“I was there for three years and then went on my OE at 21.

“I worked for two newspapers in London and ended up being the sales manager for both.

“Then I came back home and started my own business here.”

Burns says east Auckland needs a reliable and trustworthy news source and her goal is for the Times to continue to be exactly that.

“Residents need a place where they can go to learn about what’s happening locally around business, politics, education, health, crime, Auckland Council, the Howick Local Board and community events.

“We won’t just be reporting the news. We’ll connect the vibrant communities of east Auckland to the stories and events that matter.

“Our mission is to deliver current, relevant, and authentic content that resonates with our readers, even when it generates controversy because that’s what honest journalism is about.”

She juggles more hats than she can count. Always on the run, Bo Burns is her energetic, driven and passionate self even if she is a little out of breath as she chats with FARIDA MASTER whilst on her evening run.

Bo Burns

Different roles you play…

I wear a few hats, my mother and wife hat, business owner hat of Fundraise Factory, Promo Factory and Cleave House, Howick Local Board Member hat, community events hat running the Howick Santa Parade, business networking hat, running Howick Click business owners forum, and finally my leisure friend hat where I get to exercise and see friends. (I seem to have a big wardrobe for all my hats).

The role you love most…

Being a mum and wife is my first and foremost love – creating magical memories and raising confident, logical and down-to- earth girls, but over and above that I love being a business owner.

Brendan, Lucy, Charlie and Bo.

However, the key to my heart is helping people, whether it’s in the community or helping locals grow or start-up businesses, that’s what really floats my boat – sometimes it’s been to the detriment of my own goals and business but it’s engrained in my bloodline to help others. I love that. You can’t help being born an entreprenual community-minded person!

Crazy about…

Promoting East Auckland and Howick as a destination to visit, live, work and play!

I’m a big fan of…

Treating others how you like to be treated, and also mind over matter. I set my mind to something and strive to achieve it!

Strategy for maintaining sanity whilst working from home…

Teamwork, communication and family exercise! We found what worked best for our family was sticking to a strict routine and having separate areas for us to work from. The very first lockdown was challenging, but we had to stop, take a breath and get back into a routine. Then from there on we just reverted each time into that plan and it worked well. I am extremely proud of how my daughters coped and maintained their school work, full credit to them both.

Things I did differently during lockdown to make my business work…

We had to pivot hard and fast to PPE gear initially, this enabled us to keep the team of nine employed the last two years, even though it’s not our core business, it was about staying afloat and looking for any and every opportunity.

What came from this drive were contacts, thousands of new businesses all over New Zealand that our team are now working towards building strong relationships with. I’m incredibly proud of my team, and how they coped. I also have loved moving to connecting with people on Teams/Zoom/Skype. I find it saves a lot of time not having to drive in Auckland traffic to meetings.

Advice to my 10-year-old-self…

You don’t have to please everyone, you can say ‘No’ once in a while. It’s okay to focus on just you every now and then, it’s good for you. When you meet those people in your college years that tell you won’t amount to be anything, don’t sweat it baby girl, you got this – the world’s your oyster and you can do anything you set your mind to! One day they will need you, that’s when your internal self can sit back and smile.

Feel strongly about…

Sharing knowledge, helping businesses grow and connecting people, also a big one for me is keeping a positive mindset

Pet peeve…

Firstly, bad customer service drives me crazy. Secondly, people not answering or replying to emails. Thirdly, people constantly saying ‘I’m too busy’ – you are never too busy to grow yourself or business. Oh wait, maybe I have a fourth … people chewing loudly really grinds my gears!

A sure-fire way to get my mojo back… I love re-zapping my energy with Debbie Buddle’s juices, they get the energy flowing and then joining the Energize team in Wellington street for Bootcamp, if that can’t get your mind reset and blood pumping, nothing can!

Had a ball…

As I take things quite literally, this would mean last night, playing netball with my daughter in the driveway! If this means ‘having a ball’ – this would be with my husband and friends who we surprised two years ago with our renewing of vows on our 10-year-wedding anniversary in Palm Beach/Waiheke.

My bucket list…

To record a song, retrain myself to play the piano, to meet Oprah, to travel for 12 months with no work and to travel overseas to weird and wonderful places again with my amazing mum and family.

Song that sums me up… ‘Rainbow Connections’ by Kermit Frog. For me it’s about looking for that bright side of life, that rainbow after the dark cloudy times and remembering to connect with people. Maybe this will be the song that I record for my bucket list in honour of my sister who passed away four years ago on March 22. This was also her favourite song.

Best day of my life…

There are honestly too many great days in my life. I think the ‘the best day of my life’ recently, was the day my mother didn’t die in hospital. The relief and gratefulness that refilled my heart of how amazing, kind, passionate and driven she is was overwhelming.

Pip and Bo.

That has to be the highlight of the last few months and best day to remember her getting through that. She is outright my best friend on earth.

Three top fundraising tips…

Fast Profit: fundraise smarter, not harder. Everyone is time poor now and needs fast, easy and profitable solutions.

Never Forget: to contact your local MPS, councillors, board members, real estate agents and business owners/retailers to support, promote and onsell your products Sponsorships: always look for a local sponsor, it offers the sponsor excellent exposure, and on the flip side you make more profit for your fundraising campaign.

If you want free tools for your next fundraiser check out www.fundraisefactory.com

Related: Q&A – With Reay Neben

By Farida Master

Candidate profile booklets sent to local voters in this year’s Auckland Council elections contain an error that was not corrected prior to them being printed and posted out.

Bo Burns is a current elected member of the Howick Local Board.

She’s standing for re-election to the board as well as for a seat on the council’s governing body in the Howick ward on a ticket with local councillor Paul Young.

Burns says on September 8 she was phoned by the board’s deputy chair, John Spiller, who told her there seemed to be a mix-up with her councillor and local board member statements in the profile booklets which have been sent out with voting papers.

The issue is her statement focusing on why she’s standing for the councillor role was placed where her board candidate statement should have been and vice-versa.

“I phoned the electoral team straight away and told them what John had said,” Burns told the Times.

“They put me on hold and came back and said unfortunately that yes, there had been a mix-up.

“I was furious. Somewhere in between me handing in my two separate applications, photos and statements, somebody mixed them up.

“I asked if it would be rectified and they said it was too late and the million or so pamphlets had already been printed, but that they would change them straight away online.”

Burns says she asked the electoral team why candidates aren’t sent proofs of their statements to check.

The staff she spoke to replied they had a very stringent proofing process, she says.

“My reply was it is clearly not stringent enough and I had been in print media and advertising my whole life and this wasn’t good enough.

“It’s another bump in the road but I’m not letting it ruin the hugely successful campaign to date.”

Electoral Officer Dale Ofsoske says when the error was brought to his attention the candidate profile booklets had already been printed, inserted into voting packs and embargoed waiting for delivery to voters.

“There was not much we could do about this other than have it corrected on the electronic copy on the counicl’s website, which was done almost immediately.

“Unfortunately, it seems the wrong statement was attached to the wrong nomination paper when lodged and [the error was] not picked up.

“This was only brought to our attention when contacted by the candidate.”

Burns says her forms were not incorrectly attached and she checked and re-checked them multiple times.

“When the library staff went to photocopy everything they must have mucked up the papers.”

• Bo Burns, Howick Local Board candidate, Howick subdivision

Bo Burns is a current member of the Howick Local Board and is campaigning for re-election to the board as well as for a seat on Auckland Council in the Howick ward.

She was born and raised in Howick and lives in this fantastic community with her husband and their two busy daughters.

Burns is seeking re-election to the board to continue to serve as your local voice and to push for much-need action and improvements in the community.

She’s been a business owner in this area for two decades and has got a proven track record of achievement on the local board, by serving as an APPA board member, and as the organiser of the annual Howick Santa Parade.

Over the past three years on the local board she’s proven she actively listens to people’s concerns and takes action to get results.

She’s known as ‘Bo on the Go’ because she gives 100 per cent to every activity she gets involved with.

Burns has got the energy, vision, and the strategic skills to action change.

She promises to continue to speak forcefully and confidently on your behalf around the local board table to ensure your concerns are heard and that important future investment in the Howick ward is delivered.

Her priorities as an elected representative are to enhance our public green spaces, ensure local funding is spent wisely, and improve the relationship between the board and council’s governing body.

Burns will fight to maintain Howick’s historic beauty and culture while advocating for fresh and innovative concepts for a growing community.

She won’t just listen, she will get results. It’s time for a fresh approach and new voices with energy and ideas.

The Howick ward has to go confidently into the future and tackle the big challenges we face.

We cannot go backward or stay focused on the past. That will never get the results we need and deserve.

By voting for Burns you’ll get someone you can trust and who has integrity, drive and passion. She has proven she can deliver.

#voteboburns

Several election candidates of Chinese descent in Auckland were shocked to see their faces erased with white paint or cut out of their election campaign boards, next to Pākehā candidates whose faces were spared.

Howick Ward councillor Paul Young, who is again running for the seat this year, said his face had been cut out or painted over on more than 20 billboards.

This was Young's eighth local body election, and it was not the first time his billboards had been defaced - but he said this year's damage had been the worst yet.

He was more concerned that the racist acts could discourage newer ethnic candidates, he said.

"It's very bad for young East Asian or ethnic candidates who want to stand up to make a contribution for our community and Tāmaki Makaurau ... Such racism, it's not acceptable."

Young told Morning Report education was the best way to combat the issue, but he also urged anyone who witnessed vandalism of campaign billboards to inform the police.

He said the vandalism could prevent new candidates from standing if they feared "those people or those groups can do whatever they want".

"This is not the first time and [it's] getting worse in this area."

Young said New Zealand was his home and the targeting of the billboards was unacceptable.

"I have been living here for the last 33 years ... Aotearoa New Zealand is our home - is my home - so it should not happen like this."

First-time election candidate, Vinson Yu, said he felt disheartened and angry after seeing his face cut out of his campaign boards in Bucklands Beach.

Yu is running for a seat in the Howick Local Board, which has an Asian population of 46 per cent.

"I wanted to run for the elections because I want to represent and better serve the Asian community; this deserves respect.

"We are fairly participating in the elections," said Yu, who is a Justice of the Peace and deputy chair of the Botany & Flat Bush Ethnic Association.

Auckland mayoral candidate and barrister Robert Hu was one among three East Asian candidates whose faces on campaign boards on Somerville Road had been erased with white paint.

"Are they saying our faces are not white enough? Are they saying that we must be white in order to qualify for the elections?"

Hu said he had reported it to the police and the Human Rights Commission.

He also intended to report the incident to international groups as racism targeted at Asians had been on the rise globally, he said.

Human Rights Commissioner Meng Foon said these were "despicable" acts of racism and that the commission was investigating.

Foon was concerned about the cases of racism and physical attacks on Asians recently, and wanted the Government to act faster on legislating against hate crimes in Aotearoa.

Hate crimes are not yet standalone offences in New Zealand, but police are flagging offences where prejudice forms part of the motivation in efforts to improve their response to hate crimes.

Official information from the police shows 8246 hate-motivated offences have been recorded over the past three years.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/racist-attacks-on-campaign-billboards-of-candidates-of-chinese-descent\/S7LKFA55WOK2KWUFY7S7V7Q734/

There’s a new local-body political ticket in east Auckland and it’s standing a swath of fresh faces at this year’s Auckland Council elections.

Howick Local Board member Bo Burns is campaigning for re-election to the board as well as for a seat on the council’s governing body at the elections to be held in October.

Burns is also the organiser of the popular annual Howick Santa Parade.

She’s standing on a ticket alongside current Howick ward councillor Paul Young with the slogan “Moving forwards, not backwards”.

Their platform includes improving community safety, keeping rates realistic, delivering reliable public transport, and supporting business recovery and tourism.

They also plan to challenge the effects of intensification, increase funding to address coastal erosion, reserves and community facilities; increase initiatives for climate change and sustainability; and urgent rectification of the city’s aging services and infrastructure.

“We won’t just listen, we’ll take action for the community,” Burns says.

“We’ll build strong relationships with other councillors, council organisations, stakeholders and the local board.

“Paul and I are community-driven people and we do a lot for our respective communities.

“We aren’t career politicians and we’re coming in with a fresh approach. We are the team people can trust.”

Burns says her and Young’s business experience give them strengths around planning, strategy, execution and accountability.

As well as serving as one of the Howick ward’s two councillors, Young was until recently a member of the Counties Manukau District Health Board.

He’s pushed for projects such as the Eastern Busway to be built on time and opposed the council’s proposed sale of local public reserves.

Young says it’s important the community moves forward in a positive way.

“The relationship between our local councillors and the board needs to improve.

“When we focus on our community we can make a difference.”

Young says major infrastructure projects in other parts of the city have been completed on time while in east Auckland “for the last 30 years nothing has really changed”.

“Bo and I as councillors will not oppose something without offering a solution.

“East Auckland needs changing and it needs new blood.”

Burns and Young are working with a group of candidates contesting seats on the board in the three subdivisions of Howick, Pakuranga and Botany and she says all of them are focused on properly representing east Auckland.

Standing alongside Burns for a board seat in the Howick subdivision are its current chairperson Adele White and deputy chair John Spiller.

Campaigning in the Botany subdivision are board member Peter Young and newcomers Judith Grant and Ajay Bal.

Grant is a long-time Botany local with 30 years’ experience in business, while Bal is a manufacturing and retail owner and a licensed immigration advisor.

Contesting board seats in the Pakuranga subdivision are new candidates Nichola Painter and Vinson Yu.

Painter is a former Howick Local Board advisor with 13 years of local government experience.

Yu is a Justice of the Peace, a community engagement and recreation co-ordinator, and a Howick and Districts Historical Society board member.

The council elections are being held on October 8.

For more information or to enrol to vote go online to www.voteauckland.co.nz.

https://www.times.co.nz/uncategorized/candidates-seeking-to-move-community-forward/

Two local Auckland Council candidates have created an action plan to tackle rising crime rates and improve community safety across the city.

Howick Local Board member Bo Burns and incumbent Howick ward councillor Paul Young are campaigning together for seats on the council’s governing body.

They’ve created a crime-reduction plan they’re revealing just a week after five adjacent businesses in Howick’s Moore Street were targeted by a group of offenders.

That incident is part of an ongoing crime wave across Auckland that’s included numerous ram-raid and smash-and-grab burglaries and robberies of businesses.

Burns and Young say they’ll push to implement their crime and safety plan should they be elected to the council at the local-body elections in October.

“We personally know businesspeople who have been impacted by recent ram-raids and burglaries.

“We’ll advocate for a safer community and city through a strategic and achievable five-point plan to reduce crime in our area and regionally.

“Our plan is robust, effective and it will make our community feel and be safer.

“This community and our local businesses need confidence back and to not be fearful any longer.

“Our plan will be a step forward in improving people’s quality of life.”

The duo say the first plank of their plan is to accurately recognise key issues around crime and safety in east Auckland.

“We’ll talk to police, the local board and local and regional community stakeholders to gather crime data to identify what’s driving the current spike in crime.

“Secondly, we’ll push council departments for emergency regional funding to be available to support practical crime and safety measures that businesses can access.

“We’ll pursue realistic ideas that support our police to connect with groups such as ratepayers and residents’ associations, Neighbourhood Watch, and others to share information quicker around the latest crime hotspots.

“We will also work with Auckland Transport to identify areas where security cameras are needed.”

Burns and Young say the third step in their plan involves seeking regular feedback on crime and safety issues from the community as they arise.

They’ll provide solutions in line with the local board’s plan so locals feel safe, engaged and connected.

“This plan will have timeframes and will be accountable to ensure steps are followed through in a timely manner,” they say.

“Fourthly, we’ll push for council funding and grant programmes to be developed and accessible to businesses and community groups to implement cameras, bollards and other effective safety measures.

“As well as having new security cameras installed in key areas, we must ensure all public spaces are sufficiently illuminated at night.”

Burns and Young say the final step in their plan involves a yearly review of how it’s working.

“It’s vital we as councillors hear what people are saying so we have all relevant information in this joint effort to tackle crime and make our community safer.

“Our local police do an outstanding job but they cannot be everywhere at all times.

“The Howick ward needs two councillors who will work every day to make our community safer. We will do that.”

https://www.times.co.nz/news/candidates-vow-to-tackle-crime/

East Auckland’s skateboarders and scooter riders have a new piece of equipment on which to practise their moves.

A long, curving “pump track” has been temporarily installed at Nixon Centennial Park in Howick to give youngsters, and the young at heart, the chance to have fun over the summer season.

It can be used by people riding skateboards, scooters, and bicycles and is funded by the Howick Local Board.

Board chairperson Adele White says the response to the pump track’s installation has been “amazing”.

“It’s pleasing for the board to have been able to provide something for the community to enjoy after the 2020 Covid lockdowns,” White told the Times.

“Our board members have been flooded with messages of thanks from local residents grateful for this activity.

“It’s good to see a large number of people of all ages having fun together and enjoying the outdoors.”

White jokes that she imagines any effort to move the track to another location may be met with protests, judging by how popular it’s been with locals.

The pump track is located in the rear car park on the lower end of Nixon Centennial Park in Sale Street, Howick. It’s free to use.

Among the people making the most of the “pump track” at Howick’s Nixon Centennial Park are, from left, Howick Local Board members Bruce Kendall and Bo Burns and board chair Adele White.

Thousands turned out to welcome Santa to town at the annual Howick Santa Parade. Times photos Wayne Martin

It was pretty windy but it was warm and fine – except for the tiniest of sprinkles late in the afternoon – which is all the Howick Santa Parade organiser Bo Burns and her helpers could have asked for.

Thousands of families turned out for the parade with many turning up early for the pre-parade entertainment on Picton Street.

The winning float was Howick Pakuranga & Bucklands Beach Playcentre’s wonderful underwater-themed entry.

Second was Cockle Bay Primary featuring a gorgeous Christmas tree and third was Dance First centred around a lotus flower.

The refurbished skate park at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga is being hailed a success.

A large crowd including Howick Local Board members, Howick ward councillor Paul Young and Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown turned out to celebrate the facility’s official reopening with a barbecue on April 30.

Work has been carried out in recent months to transform the skate park’s concrete surface into a more useable condition.

As part of these efforts “local skater dad” Aaron Martin lobbied the local board and Auckland Council to upgrade the facility and make it safer and more accessible for users.

He’s also formed the East Skate Club and encourages people of all ages to get along and have a go.

From left, Howick Local Board members Mike Turinsky, deputy chairman John Spiller, Bruce Kendall and Bo Burns with organiser Aaron Martin.

The inauguration of the recently elected Howick Local board was held on Tuesday 4 November at Uxbridge in Howick.

Incumbents, Katrina Bungard& David Collings, have been joined on the board by newcomer Bruce Kendall, a former Olympic gold medallist in boardsailing, and local business owner Bo Burns.

Returning members from Botany and Pakuranga subdivision’s included John Spiller, Mike Turinsky, Adele White, Bob Wichman and Peter Young.

Bungard was notable by her absence on the night, having chosen to spend her evening pressing her claims for selection for the vacant National party nomination for Botany. This proved to be in vain as ex-Air New Zealand CEO, Christopher Luxon was chosen to contest the seat, across the suburb at the National party’s new office in Chapel road.

After An introduction of Maori protocol by a local Kaumatua, the ceremony was officially opened and board members were called up one by one to be inaugurated.

Adele White was elected the chair of the Local Board. Photo Wayne Martin

None of the candidates, with the exception of Adele White, chose to start their acceptance of oath without attempting to speak a few words in Te Reo.

A crowd of around 70, mainly made up of family and supporters of the elected, shunned the evening sun and were given a surprise when David Collings was not retained in the chair role installing former Police officer Adele White into the position, after a unanimous vote.

The vote to delay the election of a vice-chair was raised, and ultimately upheld, and the matter was adjourned to the next meeting of the board.

In a recent local board workshop, naming’s of streets/roads was being discussed.

Someone was questioning the origin of the street name Mirrabooka.

Just this week, we have been emailed the article and reasoning behind this street, and the subdivision of the botany/howick area.

The article dated 4th August 1971 in the South Auckland Courier.

Baillie’s company is responsible for the unusual sight of Australian aboriginal names at its Botany Downs subdivision at Pakuranga/Howick. Botany Downs suggested Sydney’s Botany Bays so we obtained a series of aboriginal names from which to choose, Mr Baillie said. The results include Binda Place, Barinca Place, Maroubra Street and Mirrabooka Avenue.

“She juggles more hats than she can count. Always on the run, Bo Burns is her energetic, driven and passionate self even if she is a little out of breath as she chats with FARIDA MASTER whilst on her evening run.”

Different roles you play…

I wear a few hats, my mother and wife hat, business owner hat of Fundraise Factory, Promo Factory and Cleave House, Howick Local Board Member hat, community events hat running the Howick Santa Parade, business networking hat, running Howick Click business owners forum, and finally my leisure friend hat where I get to exercise and see friends. (I seem to have a big wardrobe for all my hats).

The role you love most…

Being a mum and wife is my first and foremost love – creating magical memories and raising confident, logical and down-to- earth girls, but over and above that I love being a business owner.

However, the key to my heart is helping people, whether it’s in the community or helping locals grow or start-up businesses, that’s what really floats my boat – sometimes it’s been to the detriment of my own goals and business but it’s engrained in my bloodline to help others. I love that. You can’t help being born an entreprenual community-minded person!

Crazy about…

Promoting East Auckland and Howick as a destination to visit, live, work and play!

I’m a big fan of…

Treating others how you like to be treated, and also mind over matter. I set my mind to something and strive to achieve it!

Strategy for maintaining sanity whilst working from home…

Teamwork, communication and family exercise! We found what worked best for our family was sticking to a strict routine and having separate areas for us to work from. The very first lockdown was challenging, but we had to stop, take a breath and get back into a routine. Then from there on we just reverted each time into that plan and it worked well. I am extremely proud of how my daughters coped and maintained their school work, full credit to them both.

Things I did differently during lockdown to make my business work…

We had to pivot hard and fast to PPE gear initially, this enabled us to keep the team of nine employed the last two years, even though it’s not our core business, it was about staying afloat and looking for any and every opportunity.

What came from this drive were contacts, thousands of new businesses all over New Zealand that our team are now working towards building strong relationships with. I’m incredibly proud of my team, and how they coped. I also have loved moving to connecting with people on Teams/Zoom/Skype. I find it saves a lot of time not having to drive in Auckland traffic to meetings.

Advice to my 10-year-old-self…

You don’t have to please everyone, you can say ‘No’ once in a while. It’s okay to focus on just you every now and then, it’s good for you. When you meet those people in your college years that tell you won’t amount to be anything, don’t sweat it baby girl, you got this – the world’s your oyster and you can do anything you set your mind to! One day they will need you, that’s when your internal self can sit back and smile.

Feel strongly about…

Sharing knowledge, helping businesses grow and connecting people, also a big one for me is keeping a positive mindset

Pet peeve…

Firstly, bad customer service drives me crazy. Secondly, people not answering or replying to emails. Thirdly, people constantly saying ‘I’m too busy’ – you are never too busy to grow yourself or business. Oh wait, maybe I have a fourth … people chewing loudly really grinds my gears!

A sure-fire way to get my mojo back… I love re-zapping my energy with Debbie Buddle’s juices, they get the energy flowing and then joining the Energize team in Wellington street for Bootcamp, if that can’t get your mind reset and blood pumping, nothing can!

Had a ball…

As I take things quite literally, this would mean last night, playing netball with my daughter in the driveway! If this means ‘having a ball’ – this would be with my husband and friends who we surprised two years ago with our renewing of vows on our 10-year-wedding anniversary in Palm Beach/Waiheke.

My bucket list…

To record a song, retrain myself to play the piano, to meet Oprah, to travel for 12 months with no work and to travel overseas to weird and wonderful places again with my amazing mum and family.

Song that sums me up… ‘Rainbow Connections’ by Kermit Frog. For me it’s about looking for that bright side of life, that rainbow after the dark cloudy times and remembering to connect with people. Maybe this will be the song that I record for my bucket list in honour of my sister who passed away four years ago on March 22. This was also her favourite song.

Best day of my life…

There are honestly too many great days in my life. I think the ‘the best day of my life’ recently, was the day my mother didn’t die in hospital. The relief and gratefulness that refilled my heart of how amazing, kind, passionate and driven she is was overwhelming.

That has to be the highlight of the last few months and best day to remember her getting through that. She is outright my best friend on earth.

Three top fundraising tips…

Fast Profit: fundraise smarter, not harder. Everyone is time poor now and needs fast, easy and profitable solutions.

Never Forget: to contact your local MPS, councillors, board members, real estate agents and business owners/retailers to support, promote and onsell your products Sponsorships: always look for a local sponsor, it offers the sponsor excellent exposure, and on the flip side you make more profit for your fundraising campaign.

If you want free tools for your next fundraiser check out www.fundraisefactory.com

I had the absolute pleasure meeting John about 6years ago, in that short time, we shared many laughs, and I was always in awe of his courage, patience and love for humanity.

I will forever cherish the memories and wise words John shared with me. '

WWII veteran John Sato has died aged 98.

Sato, from Howick, received global recognition for his efforts to attend an anti-racism rally in Auckland held at Aotea Square on March 24, 2019 in the wake of the Christchurch terror attacks.

One of only two Japanese servicemen in the New Zealand army in World War II, felt compelled to show his support for the Muslim community following the Christchurch terror attacks.

He took several buses to get into the city. Sato left his house on Sunday morning, March 24 to visit a mosque in Pakuranga before deciding to go into Auckland City centre for an anti-racism march.

In a photo that caught the attention of people across the world, Sato is seen flanked by a police officer and a member of the public as they fall behind the March.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said during her visit to Howick the photo was so powerful, she found herself coming back to it over and over again.

She said at the time meeting Sato was a privilege and that “he is an inspiring reminder of kindness, love and courage”.

Sato briefly addressed the crowd and said, “”What I’ve seen since that terrible occasion in Christchurch, is the way people have brought out what’s within them and that is genuine care and love…

“We are all part of one family – the human family. Let’s not forget that we do care for each other.”

Times reporter Therese Milne (then Henkin) wrote at the time: “The pair sat down, along with around 70 other invited guests at the Howick Bowling Club, to watch a fun musical performance by the Cockle Bay Primary School Choir.

“Ardern sang along with the youngsters and then spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with Sato.”

Arden later shared a tribute to Sato with her 596,000 Instagram followers.

“Thank you John,” she wrote. “Your actions warmed the hearts of so many during a time of such sadness.”

Howick businesswoman and Howick Local Board member Bo Burns has been friends with Sato for six years.

“We met as I stopped to help him cross the road as a car nearly hit him and then spent the day with him at the doctors and hospital as he was unwell and going to catch…public transport for an emergency procedure,” Burns said.

“In those six years,  I enjoyed a special bond where I learned about his incredible life story, his love of many cultures – including his Scottish and Japanese heritage – and love for humanity and peace.

“His grace and outlook on life is something I will treasure forever and inspire to be more like. He is now at peace and reunited with his much-loved wife Margaret, and adored daughter Anne.  I will cherish his wise guidance and fabulous sense of humour.

“One of his favourite sayings was ‘Bear the unbearable with patience and dignity’. This is a Japanese motto that he lived by. I will continue to share this in honour of John. Rest in peace my friend. You will be missed around east Auckland by many people you became friends with.”

https://www.times.co.nz/news/john-sato-an-inspiration/

East Auckland had a fantastic show day on Friday, July 10.

East Auckland Tourism and Howick Local Board member Bo Burns hosted some important guests who were keen to see why we are so passionate about our region.

Our two guests from ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, the region’s economic development agency) were Steve Armitage, GM Destination and Zac Watson, product development manager Tourism/Destination.

Steve and his team have been very active putting together a Destination Auckland Recovery Plan over the last few months with the help of tourism and hospitality operators throughout the Auckland region, including East Auckland Tourism.

Their visit out east was all about highlighting our amazing region and the different sites and activities on offer that cater to both local and regional, and hopefully, in the not too distant future, overseas visitors.

The East Auckland Tourism team included chairman Andrew Laing of Howick Deliveries, who is also a Howick travel agent, board members Sarah Blong from Paradice Ice Skating, Senthil Natarajan from Happy NZ Tours, administrator Annette Smart, with thanks to Wild Adventures NZ for the use of their amazing van to get around and about.

We were unable to go too far afield due to limited time. We started at Stockade Hill where our very own Howick town crier Jim Donald, greeted us as we enjoyed the 360° views from this significant site.

Bucklands Beach and Musick Point then Half Moon Bay Marina followed, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Grangers.

Next stop was the Howick Historical Village. Here we met general manager Krissy Perrett and visited beautiful Puhinui House. It was great to hear that some activities at the Historical Village are coming up soon with the official opening date planned for spring.

Next stop was our unique Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple where we were greeted by Karzin Leong, their marketing and events officer.

While Karzin is busy organising the upcoming 2020 Cherry Blossom Art Salon exhibition, she did have time to give us a quick tour which was so interesting and much appreciated by us all.

Returning to Howick we travelled along Point View Drive to view the incredible expansion of Botany, Ormiston, Flat Bush and East Tamaki to one side, and the beautiful rural views on the other, arriving at Mangemangeroa Reserve.

Those spectacular views across the estuary impressed both our visitors.

We continued past Howick Beach and arrived at our last stop, All Saints Church. Here we were met by Morrin Cooper, the last Mayor of Howick. Morrin loves this region and has been a faithful supporter of East Auckland Tourism since its inception.

He has an in-depth knowledge of the history that surrounds us and shared his enthusiasm for the region with Steve and Zac.

East Auckland Tourism is optimistic about the future of tourism and hospitality in east Auckland and is hosting an event on the recovery and future of this industry later this month.

It was a great pleasure, and we were so grateful to have had the opportunity to show off this part of our region to members of ATEED.

We are looking forward to having a similar visit to the other side of east Auckland, the Pohutukawa Coast, Clevedon and Hunua very soon.

Annette Smart is the administrator at East Auckland Tourism

“Being on the Howick Local Board was something I always wanted to do, a path I knew I would cross, I just didn’t know when that would be.

Bo Burns.

The decision and choice to work alongside Adele White and John Spiller was an easy one. They are both down to earth, passionate, knowledgeable, hardworking professional locals. I was delighted that they wanted to work with me also and from there our #weknowhowick team and brand was formed. The mixed balance has worked extremely well from initial setup, campaign planning, branding, budgeting, marketing, events, delivering 20,000 brochures with our crew of helpers and putting up 50 billboards!

It’s been a crazy few months in which I’ve already learnt huge amounts and I will continue to learn and grow.  I can’t tell you exactly right now what my first term will bring, but I can say that I am extremely grateful to the 4738 people that backed me and voted to have me as their representative. I can however promise that I will be accountable and like I have said all along, it’s not what I want, but what you “The Community” wants and needs that matters most to me. I can imagine there is a lot on the Board’s to-do list, that needs to be actioned and I look forward to getting stuck in and ticking items off our list together!”