Strike!

Tensions are simmering over use of Meadowlands Park. Rowena Orejana talks to the two warring parties that are digging in their heels.
Kevin Murphy stops near the Howick Softball Club's diamond and gazes around Meadowlands Park.
In recent months, a number of residents have felt aggrieved by the club's use of the park over the summer. They feel the club has taken over the park.
"There are balls coming over their fence and people leaping over to get the ball without permission, drinking during matches and leaving broken glass and that sort of thing,'' says Mr Murphy, newly appointed chairman of the Meadowlands Reserve Support
Group.
The club, on the other hand, claims it is being harassed by a small group of dog owners.
"What is disappointing is they are making us out to be a bunch of boozy thugs when we are one of the most respected clubs in the region,'' says Barbara Croawell, club administrator.
"We pick up our own rubbish and we don't leave broken glass around.''
Mrs Croawell says the problem arose with one man who was walking his dog across the diamond. "He didn't even clean up after his dog. And when we told him off, he went into a vendetta against us,'' she says.
Mr Murphy says the residents' group has parted ways with that person.
"The group may have been started by a dog owner, who has been and may be continuing to antagonise the softball people, but he is no longer part of the group and his views do not represent those of the group.
"Our main concern to date is thecouncil does not appear to have complied with their own plans and policies with regard to management of the park. This includes consultation with neighbours,'' he explains. "We are also looking for a management plan for the park that takes into account the needs and concerns of all users, including local residents, and casual recreational use.''
Meadowlands Park is a designated sports park. It is home to tennis and squash clubs and is used by the softball club in summer and a soccer club in winter.
But Mr Murphy says their  members feel the  park is not suited to softball as it is too close to houses. "People feel it's quite dangerous to walk around the park.''
Mrs Croawell challenges his claims. "We are there only 13.5 per cent of daylight hours. That's 22 hours of the 98 hours of daylight a week during the summer,'' she says. "There is about 27,000sq m on that park and half the park is not being used for sports.''
But Mr Murphy insists, "The conflict is [residents] are working, too, and the weekend is the only time they can use the park.''
He adds the residents fear the club is still growing, which could put more pressure on the use of the park.
"Our club has grown and it was encouraged to grow,'' says Mrs Croawell. "But ours is a minority sport and I don't see us growing more in the coming years. However, I am not turning away kids who want to play.''
Auckland Council's parks manager, Ian Maxwell, says all the club's activities are in accordance with parks management plan policy and district plan rules.
The council and the Howick Local Board are arranging a meeting between the groups on April 7. "We'll put everything on the table and try to resolve the issues,'' says Mr
Murphy.
Foul ball
Howick Softball Club says the Meadowlands Reserve Support Group is not representative of all the residents in the area. But Mr Murphy says it includes more than just a handful of residents.
"The group currently has 64 families on a mailing list, with more joining as word gets
round,'' he says. "The group is not just a bunch of dog owners wanting to take over the park for their own use.''
To join, email: meadowlands.reserve@gmail.com