Last Thursday was the Howick Local Board business meeting for May. Each meeting I have the opportunity to table a Chairpersons Report where I convey some the key issues we've been grappling with since our last meeting.
I also include a summary of the meetings and events we've been attending as part of our roles, so you can see what we've been up to as well as a couple of photos.
I’ve reproduced it here for ease of reading (also available as a PDF), but the official version is available online here
Chairperson’s Report as of 12 May 2023
Throughout April and May the Board has been working through the feedback from local residents on the Annual Budget. Given the significant financial challenges and complex nature of the problems, it’s no surprise that the feedback has been mixed. The large number of engagement events has provided members with a deeper understanding of resident’s feedback with over half of the 3,499 submissions received during these events. There were clear themes around continuing our environmental programmes, supporting arts, culture, and youth. The Board has used this valuable public feedback as we’ve formed our response to the regional topics and while considering our local work programmes.
After a few years of disruption, ANZAC Day was commemorated with local dawn and civic services. It was pleasing to see the strong public turnout for both events, especially from local rangatahi (youth), kura (schools) and clubs.
Auckland continues to experience severe weather events, with a local state of emergency being declared on Tuesday 9 May and subsequently ended on Thursday 11 May. While communications with the public and elected members has improved dramatically since the events of Auckland Anniversary Weekend, there is more work than needs to be done on building community resilience. Meanwhile the Board continues to advocate for a more responsive, more local and better resourced emergency planning and response.
The Board continues to engage with locals on a range of issues, including hosting a public meeting on the proposed Bucklands Beach safety improvements. A follow up meeting to one held in February (to promote the consultation), this meeting was focused on playing back the feedback received and providing context to the recommendations made to the design as a result of the consultation.
We’ve also continued to have feedback from locals about nuisance and health and safety issues with fishing along Bucklands Beach. Members from the Pakuranga subdivision (Kendall, Collings and Bungard) meet with the local residents association who would like to see controls put in place such as a bylaw.
Damian Light
Howick Local Board Chair
| Date | Event / meeting attended |
|---|---|
| Sat 15 Apr | Race Relationship Day Multicultural Festival hosted by the Federation of NZ Chinese Associations attended by Deputy Bo Burns and Members Adele White and David Collings. |
| Mon 17 Apr | Howick Village Association Committee meeting attended by Member
Adele White. Local Board Chairs Forum attended by Chair Damian Light o Auckland Transport CEO Dean Kimpton o Auckland Emergency Management Pakuranga Rotary Club attended by Chair Damian Light o Invited as guest speaker, spoke on budget and other challenges and opportunities. |
| Wed 19 Apr | Howick Residents and Ratepayers Association arranged by Chair Damian Light |
| Thu 20 Apr | Howick Local Board Business Meeting (refer minutes for attendance and outcomes) |
| Mon 24 Apr | ANZAC Sound and Light Tribute by Howick Village Association attended by Chair Damian Light |
| Tue 25 Apr | ANZAC Dawn Service attended by Chair Damian Light, Deputy Bo Burns
and Member Adele White. ANZAC Civic Service attended by Chair Damian Light, Deputy Bo Burns and Members Adele White, John Spiller, David Collings and Mike Turinsky, Councillors Sharon Stewart and Maurice Williamson, and MPs Simeon Brown and Chris Luxon. |
| Wed 26 Apr | Ngai Tai ki Tamaki introduction with new CEO arranged by Chair
Damian Light Public Meeting regarding Half Moon Bay Ferry reliability hosted by MP Simeon Brown attended by Chair Damian Light and Member Bruce Kendall. |
| Sat 29 Apr | Barry Curtis Playground renewal consultation open day attended by
Chair Damian Light and Member Peter Young. Botany and Flat Bush Ethnic Association World Tai Chi Day attended by Chair Damian Light and Member Peter Young. Pest Free Howick Ward plant swap event attended by Chair Damian Light and Member Peter Young. |
| Mon 1 May | East Auckland Tourism Meeting attended by Deputy Bo Burns Bucklands & Eastern Beaches Residents & Ratepayers meeting on fishing issue attended by Members Bruce Kendall, David Collins, and Katrina Bungard. |
| Mon 8 May | Howick Village Association Committee meeting attended by Member
Adele White. Local Board Chairs Forum attended by Chair Damian Light o Auckland Council CEO o Fire and Emergency NZ planning and response o Annual Budget with Deputy Mayor. o Auckland Transport speed management and berms policy. Fencibles United Football Club arranged by Chair Damian Light and Deputy Bo Burns |
| Wed 9 May | Public Meeting on Bucklands Beach Safety Improvements attended by Chair Damian Light and Members Bruce Kendall, David Collins, Katrina Bungard and Peter Young. |
| Thu 11 May | Howick Local Board Business Meeting (refer minutes for attendance and outcomes) |
| Fri 12 May | Southern Local Board Chairs Forum attended by Chair Damian Light o Regional waste recycling centre. o Annual Budget |