and Hattaways Ave. Both have been pulled down. Boat Ramps There are boat ramps Eastern Beach (high tide only). This is to serve the dedicated water ski area towards the south end of the beach. A double ramp at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club (all tide) at Grangers Point for boats up to 6m. Avoid dead low tide. This ramp is exposed to the normal south to westerly wind. Not good if the wind is greater than 15 km/h. A single narrow ramp at Bucklands Beach north by the Buck's Bistro restaurant (all tide) sited to boats up to 6m for confident backers. There are four ramps with loading jetties at Half Moon Bay Marina (all tide) that are well protected from the prevailing south to west wind. This last ramp is very popular and parking is an issue in the weekends. Boardwalk In 2010 a new 230 metre long Warren boardwalk has been built between the southern end of Little Bucklands Beach and the eastern end of the Half Moon Bay Marina hardstand, along the base of the Takutai Avenue cliff. The boardwalk is located on the wavecut platform that is uncovered at half tide. This allows easy pedestrian and cycle access to the new Half Moon Bay shopping centre and joins the walkways that follows the southern bank of the Tamaki River. Weeds have been removed from the steep cliff and new native plants established. Nearby Shops The nearest shopping centre and garage, with petrol, is at Highland Park. Past and present churches Bucklands Beach has had a wide range of churches. The oldest was St Brides, an Anglican church, constructed in the 1930s. A hall was added in 1952, built by voluntary labour headed by carpenter Mick (RR) Leach (the youngest son of Herbert (Pop) Leach. The church was moved in the 1970s. A Presbyterian Church ran in a hall between the 1950s and the 1970s when it was pulled down. Nearby at 121 Bucklands Beach Road a brick Catholic church was built by a local builder Mr Keryns in 1954. This fell into disuse in the 1970s and was purchased by Barbara Kendall (Bright) the New Zealand, World and Olympic champion board sailor, who intended to turn it into a dance studio. Because of her board sailing success it became her New Zealand home base in the 1980s. At Mobil corner, on Bucklands Beach Road, a breakaway