Back to work for 2024

I can’t believe we’re almost through the first month of 2024! I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Years.

I enjoyed Christmas with my whānau, with my sister up from the South Island. It’s always good fun, especially with the nephews and nieces. Managed to sneak in a visit to the Zoo with one of my brothers, my sister, brother-in-law and their children which was fun.

Got through some of the tasks I’d set myself, including tackling our front garden at home which had become a mess. Still a work in progress, but definitely looking a lot better!

I also managed to coordinate a week off with my partner last week, taking the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful summer weather in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland while we can. Lunch at Mission Bay followed by an afternoon exploring the nearby beaches and bays.

Unfortunately I did have a mishap with an e-scooter and injured myself in the process. Nothing overly serious, although it did force us to change some of our plans (no swimming for example). Good reminder to take care when using these!

Despite this, we got away to Rotorua, taking the opportunity to visit Hobbiton on the way through. As a massive Lord of Rings fan, it was an awesome experience. Last December they opened Bagshot Row so you can go inside two of the Hobbit-holes which were beautifully decorated by people involved with the movies - well worth a visit!

We had a nice relaxing time in Rotorua. And you can’t go and not visit the iconic Luge! There were some activities that we didn’t manage to do in our short stay so we’re already planning a return trip.

I’m back to work from Monday 15 January, meeting with staff, local residents and planning for the next few months. 

We’ve got a big year ahead of us, with the Long Term Plan (10 year strategy and budget) consultation looming. Our main focus for this will be ensuring that the Flat Bush Community Centre and Library is delivered sooner.

We’re also looking forward to the opening of the Youth Space in Botany, progressing the options for Howick Kauri Kids, and implementing a local readiness and response plan.

In July our new Local Board Plan officially kicks in, and we’re already working through potential budgets and priorities to deliver on this aspirational yet practical strategy. We’ll be consulting with the public in February and March to understand what locals want us to focus on over the coming year.

Meri Kirihimete / Merry Christmas!

As we wrap up for the holidays, we wanted to take a moment to thank our community for their continued support throughout the year. It’s been wonderful to have the opportunity to attend so many community activities and events across the year.

It hasn’t been without its challenges – the extreme weather events of early 2023 continue to impact communities across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. We’ve faced some tough financial challenges with rising costs and a growing population so are very grateful for the massive response to our annual budget consultation. Thousands of locals told us what their priorities were for our limited funding which enabled us to make the tough choices while ensuring we could continue to meet the needs of the community. On top of this, we received input into our new Local Board Plan that sets out the strategic direction for the next few years. Thank you for taking the time to provide your input, it was invaluable to us. We heard the community tell us to focus on protecting the environment, celebrating arts and culture, and supporting youth.

Our environmental programmes have achieved great things this year - the support we provide Pest Free Howick enabled them to run the most successful moth plant competition ever removing 133,507 pods containing an estimated 93 million seeds! We’re delivering on our urban ngahere action plan to increase the tree canopy by enabling volunteers to plant 16,420 trees in the 12 months to June. And we continue to focus on reducing pollution and waste with dedicated educational programmes for local construction, industry, and schools.

We provided funding for the community to deliver events like the Birt & Euro Classic Car Show, 70th Howick Santa Parade, and the Pakuranga Rotary Community Carnival & River Festival. Volunteers are at the heart of many of the successful activities and organisations that make our community such a great place, so we recognised them with a special ceremony in June. Our Celebrating Cultures event in March was a huge success and we look forward to its return as an annual event in 2024.

We’re very proud of the ongoing success of the Howick Youth Council, who’ve delivered a wide range of self-directed programmes and activities throughout the year. We’re also pleased to have secured funding for the long-awaited dedicated Youth Space that is due to open early next year.

2024 will bring new and familiar challenges, as our new Local Board Plan takes effect in July along with continued pressure on our limited budget. We’ve already stepped up our advocacy for the Flat Bush Community Centre and Library as part of the early discussions around the Long Term Plan (LTP). After a short break, we look forward to continuing to deliver for the residents of the Howick Local Board area.

We wish you and your whānau a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Ormiston Entwine brings Flat Bush community together

Last Saturday evening, the Ormiston Entwine meet for the final time this year. This informal community networking group is funded by the Howick Local Board to help bring the newer communities of Flat Bush and Ormiston together.

We heard from Rosa Chow from the Asian Council on Reducing Crime (ACRC) who reminded us all to make sure we keep our valuables out of sight. In fact, don't leave anything in your vehicle as someone may break in to steal it, regardless of the value. She also encouraged us to make sure we log any incidents with the Police.

105 for non-urgent reports when the crime has already happened)

111 for urgent when the crime us happening now

I spoke about the work the Howick Local Board is doing to support the community, including the gravel paths project and the dedicated youth space. I also assured the community that the Howick Local Board remains committed to the Flat Bush Community Centre and Library - we've already stepped up our advocacy to get this built sooner.

We had a quick update from Pragna Patel from Otara Waterways and Lake Trust who has been working with other organisations to help restore the waterways in the area and tackle pest plants and animals. She reminded us all to make sure we dispose of waste properly, including the handy reminder that polystyrene can be dropped off free of charge at Mitre10.

New reservoir at Redoubt Road blessed

"Te mauri o te rangi, te mauri o te whenua, te mauri ora o Tara"

(When the lake, waterways and wildlife flourish, the people flourish)

We're very fortunate to have access to clean drinking water and there's an incredible amount of mahi (work) that goes into making sure it's available when you turn on the tap.

Photo Credit: Simon Runting

Early morning on Wednesday 13 December, I had the privilege of speaking on behalf of the Howick Local Board at the pre-dawn karakia (blessing) of the new Watercare reservoir at Redoubt Road. We'd seen the construction of this massive new asset throughout the year and it was great to be present for the final stages before it's commissioned - seeing water flow into the giant concrete cathedral that we recently visited was an amazing sight. In my speech I expressed our gratitude to all the people have had contributed to it's design and construction.

This third reservoir at this complex adds another 45 million litres of storage capacity, bringing the total to 165 million! This site handles about 80% of Auckland's daily water supply and this addition will future proof it to cope with our growing population while providing additional resilience to the network.

You can learn more about the project, including a time-lapse of the construction here.

You can read more about our visit in February here and our return visit in October here.

Photo Credit: Simon Runting

Pōwhiri for Paul Brobbel

Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Paul Brobbel, the new Director of UXBRIDGE Arts & Culture, onto O Wairoa Marae -Te Whare Wānanga O Wairoa.

Having had my own pōwhiri last year, it was a privilege to be part of this beautiful ceremony for Paul, welcoming him to the whānau. This was followed by kōrero, kai and waiata - all genuine, heartfelt and honest experiences. True manaakitanga in action.

You can learn more about Paul’s journey to UXBRIDGE in this Times article.

70th Howick Santa Parade a community success

Awesome day as we celebrated the 70th Howick Santa Parade this afternoon.

Howick Local Board is proud to support this community led event. Fantastic to join the parade today, celebrating alongside the community.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make this event happen - the generous sponsors, dedicated volunteers, and community groups who participated.

Merry Christmas to all!

Howick Local Board Business Meeting for November 2023

On Thursday 16 November, the Howick Local Board held our business meeting for the month. Here’s a summary of some of the key discussions and outcomes. At the end there are links to the official minutes and a recording of this (and previous) meetings.

• Deputations from Friends of Mangemangeroa and Stand Children’s Services;

• Community Grants approved;

• Play Leadership appointments made;

• Flat Bush Gravel Path project approved;

• Quarter One performance report received;

• Community Forum report received.

After the initial formalities of the welcome, declarations of interest and confirmation of minutes, we moved into deputations.

First up we had Marion Skelton from the Friends of Mangemangeroa Reserve. The old stockyards at Mangemangeroa are due to be removed early in 2024 and Marion raised concerns around the transparency and communications of the process. While due process had been followed, they were frustrated as it would impact their operation. The Partnership Agreement with Auckland Council was overdue for renewal, and they were also looking for information on the status of the old barn. We asked staff to provide some advice on the issues raised which will come to the Board in the near future.

Then we had Preshenka Pillay and Ann Voykovich from Stand Children’s Services presenting on the work they do in our community. They provide specialist educational support for children who have experienced trauma by providing intensive family wraparound services. They currently operate a site in Half Moon Bay but are moving to Manukau in the near future. It was difficult to hear some of the stories about local tamariki, but good to know that there are organisations like this working to help them.

I tabled my Chairpersons Report for the month, which noted all the meetings and events that we’d attended since the last meeting. There has been a lot of annual general meetings, and the Board has been making an effort to attend as many as we can which has been appreciated by the community.

We then moved onto approval of our first Community Grants for this financial year. In total we approved $117,296.80 worth of grants for various community groups and organisations. Two members had conflicts of interest (they are involved with the groups) so we separated these into separate items and they respective members didn’t participate in the discussion or vote.

With an increasing interest in the ongoing development and promotion of play opportunities, Local Board Members have been invited to join an elected members Play Leadership Group. This group is intended to provide members an opportunity to learn more, increase their capacity to advocate for play and provide informal guidance for staff on paly issues. We voted to appoint Deputy Bo Burns and Member Bruce Kendall to the group.

Next we finalised the last piece in our Local Board Transport Capital Fund puzzle. This fund provides boards with a budget to deliver small projects that are not on Auckland Transport’s work programme and we predominately use it for safety projects. Flat Bush has been subject to extensive development in recent decades and private developers are required to provide footpaths when they develop land. But sometimes growth leaves one block developed and as a result Flat Bush has stretches of disconnected footpath separated by long gaps. That is particularly concerning when it’s our tamariki walking to and from their schools, so we’re prioritising action in those areas.

We received the Howick Local Board Performance Report for Quarter One, detailing the work that staff have been doing to deliver on our approved work programmes. Revenue is slightly below budget (4%) mostly due to lower numbers at Lloyd Elsmore and Howick leisure centres, while expenditure was above budget (2%) largely due to increased repairs and maintenance. 94% of our work programme items are on track, with 6% delayed which are the Howick Domain renewal (larger than expected) and three related leases, Te Kete Rukuruku (dual naming of parks waiting on us to provide feedback) and leases for Bramley Drive Reserve and the Deport (both working through some consenting changes).

We noted the delegated feedback from the previous term. Normally the Board will provide feedback via a resolution to ensure it’s transparent and conveys the views of the Board, but in the previous term there were instances where the Board delegated its authority to specific members. The report allowed us to bring this feedback back into the public record. This isn’t something we’ve done this term, so I asked members from the previous term to move and second the motion.

We received the report on our latest Community Forum, which was focused on our ethnic communities. These forums allow us to engage with parts of our community that we may not normally hear from and in a format that provides more opportunities for deeper discussion. For this forum, we had a panel discussion followed by a Q&A session, which provided some really useful insights into how we can better support and engage our local ethnic communities. This is just the beginning of our conversations in this space and we’ll look to do more of these in the near future.

We noted our Workshop Records and Governance Forward Work Calendar, then I closed the meeting at 1:17pm.

Minutes of the meeting are available here: https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2023/11/20231116_HW_MIN_11576_WEB.htm

along with related attachments like presentations here: https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2023/11/20231116_HW_MAT_11576_WEB.htm

And a recording of the meeting is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYb9g3MzDlQ

and previous meetings can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNiuqKCzobSzQ05kCv2JI2iefmDp2_tEh

Our next normal Business Meeting is scheduled for Thursday 14 December at 12noon at the Pakuranga Library building in Aylesbury Street.

These are open to the public to attend and observe, although you need to request a slot if you would like to speak (so we can make sure we provide time).

Auckland diverts 9 million kilos of food scraps from landfill

I love our food scraps bin and it looks like I'm not the only one. Since the rollout began in April, Aucklanders have diverted over 9million kilograms of food scraps. This is great news, as the scraps get converted into useful power and fertiliser to grow more kai.

And all the waste not going to landfill is great for the environment too - avoiding filling landfills and reducing methane. Nearly half of the weight of rubbish bins going to landfill was food waste! Auckland Council is hoping to collect nearly 40,000 tonnes of food scraps in the first year which will be equal to taking 10,000 medium-sized cars off the road.

We're currently on track to divert 35,000 tonnes of food scraps which is a great start. If you haven't tried the new bins, give them a go.

They can take all your leftovers, even ones that you can't normally compost like bones, fats and citrus - I know some locals are continuing to compost what they can, and sending the rest away in their food scraps bin.

Read more on OurAuckland.

Gravel footpaths providing safety for Flat Bush

“Flat Bush has stretches of disconnected footpath separated by long gaps and that means sometimes walkers, cyclists and people pushing prams do not have safe travel options and must contend with either crossing muddy grass or using the road. That is particularly concerning when it’s our tamariki walking to and from their schools, so we’re prioritising action in those areas.”

The normal process for new footpaths is that they are delivered as part of the development of the property, partly to ensure that they allow for any infrastructure such as pipes and driveways. While this ensures the most cost-effective delivery of footpaths, it can lead to gaps in the network and timelines rely on the property developer (normally a private party).

This has been a major issue in Flat Bush and locals have identified some long-standing gaps, in particular near schools. Since then we’ve been working with Auckland Transport to implement a cost-effective solution that will address the immediate safety concerns.

The Howick Local Board is pleased to report that we've approved funding for Auckland Transport to deliver these gravel footpaths that will provide a safe alternative while the permanent paths await the property developer.

We're particularly thankful for the ongoing advocacy from the Flat Bush Residents and Ratepayers Association.

Read more at OurAuckland

Lloyd Elsmore Skatepark upgrade open for public feedback

Excited to see the long awaited upgrade for the Lloyd Elsmore Park skatepark out for public consultation.

While the surface was tidied up a few years ago, the design and age of the old skatepark mean it's unlikely to meet the needs of the community. The proposal is the replace it with something better suited for modern wheeled play while providing space for future expansion.

We've asked our staff to work with key stakeholders like East Skate Club and it's great to see their proactive involvement helping shape this proposal.

We'd love your feedback on the proposal!

We are seeking feedback on the concept design.

• what features you like?

• what features you would change?

• any other ideas or feedback for the skatepark upgrade.

Please have your say online here https://tinyurl.com/3mtsn2pp

Consultation closes: 22 December 2023.

Ethnic communities enjoy sense of belonging

“As a board we want to engage with our community in different ways, and these forums give us the opportunity to do that. To enable us to hear from our diverse ethnic and cultural communities, we altered the format so we could have a different conversation with locals we don’t always hear from.”

Last month, the Howick Local Board hosted our second community forum for the term. Our first was for organisations that support our communities in need, this one was for our diverse ethnic and cultural communities.

We're fortunate to have incredibly diverse communities living in our area, but our normal engagement models mean we don't always hear from them. We continue to have our Ethnic Leaders Forum, but this session allowed us to hear from different voices and in a different format. In particular the panel had representatives from a younger generation of ethnically diverse locals who were second or third generation Kiwis.

Some incredibly useful insights came from this evening, including some great positive messages that people do feel a sense of belonging and connection. However we can always do better and we were encouraged to keep it simple.

Massive thank you to everyone involved in making this happen - staff, Board Members and the public.

We'll continue to run these sorts of forums throughout the term, providing another avenue for the Board to engage with the people we represent and serve.

“This forum was just the beginning of a longer, deeper conversation about how we can better serve the needs of our diverse communities. As our population continues to grow and evolve, we need to adapt to their changing needs."

Read more on OurAuckland

Aviemore Drive safety improvements open for feedback

To address the crash history and make the road safer for people walking and driving along Aviemore Drive, Auckland Transport is proposing changes and is seeking feedback until 10 December 2023.

Between 2018 and 2022, there were 36 recorded crashes along Aviemore Drive between Highland Park Drive and Lewisham Street. This included two crashes that resulted in fatalities, four crashes that resulted in serious injuries and nine crashes that resulted in minor injuries.

At the Highland Park Drive and Aviemore Drive intersection AT are proposing to:

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• Install a roundabout, making minor changes to the existing traffic islands to accommodate. This will not affect the existing trees.

• Paint pedestrian and cyclist crossings on all legs of the intersection and install cycle path and separators near the intersection so people on bikes can navigate the roundabout safely.

• These changes will result in the loss of nine on-street parking spaces.

Between Aberfeldy Avenue and Lewisham Street, AT are proposing to:

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• Install a raised pedestrian crossing with a long off ramp.

• Relocate the existing bus stop from outside 94 to 104 Aviemore Drive and install a new bus stop between 101 and 103 Aviemore Drive.

• These changes will result in the loss of 16 on street parking spaces

Attached is a concept design of the new roundabout and designs for both the roundabout and new pedestrian crossing.

You can find out more information, including how to have your say at https://haveyoursay.at.govt.nz/aviemore-safety

Feedback closes Sunday 10 December 2023.

Stockade Hill Christmas Tree is lit!

The tradition marks the beginning of the festive season in Howick, proudly funded by the Howick Local Board.

As we waited for it to get dark, we celebrated the diversity of our communities with performances from local schools and community groups. From traditional Christmas carols to modern Chinese dance and K-pop, plus Santa with a ukulele!

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Howick Youth Space coming soon!

“This dedicated youth space is a significant step forward in delivering on what the community has asked for and we’re thrilled to be able to act so quickly to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.”

We're thrilled to report that the Howick Youth Facility is moving ahead! We piloted this last year in the Botany Town Centre which was very successful and last month the Howick Local Board reallocated funding to enable a more permanent home.

We know from our annual budget consultation that locals want us to invest more into young people and this dedicated space will provide a place to run programmes and activities as well as an opportunity for youth development.

More details on the new location and an opening date coming soon.

Read more on OurAuckland

Cherry Blossom Festival at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple

Over the weekend, the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple New Zealand 紐西蘭佛光山 celebrated their Cherry Blossom Festival. Together with food and craft stalls, they made for a wonderful visit.

While there, fellow Howick Local Board member Adele White and I caught up with Abbess Manshin to talk about opportunities to partner.

Howick Local Board Business Meeting Report for August 2023

On Thursday 17 August, the Howick Local Board held our business meeting for the month. Here’s a summary of some of the key discussions and outcomes. At the end there are links to the official minutes and a recording of this (and previous) meetings.

Fair warning - this was a long meeting with lots of feedback!

After the initial formalities of the welcome, declarations of interest and confirmation of minutes, we congratulated Bellyful East Auckland on their 10-year anniversary. Over the past decade volunteers have cooked and delivered over 12,000 meals to hundreds of local whānau, providing food, support and aroha for those with babies and young children.

We moved into the deputations with three for this month, starting with Gerald Patterson and Katie Treneman of the Howick Village Association. They presented their new strategic plan and we discussed the opportunities to work together once our own strategic plan (Local Board Plan) was finalised.

Next we heard from Ross Blekinsopp of the Marist Eastern Rugby Club who was supported by Brett Young of Community Asset Solutions, providing their update on their feasibility report for a new sports facility at Barry Curtis Park. We asked staff to provide advice regarding options to move the project forward.

Peter Doone from the Gracechurch Ratepayers Group discussed their recent submission on the draft Future Development Strategy (which we provided our feedback on later in the meeting). The area around Gracechurch Road is currently zoned for Residential Large Lot but was surrounded by much higher density zones. The group wants this historical anomaly resolved and asked the Board to assist with getting answers to questions as to why this couldn’t be changed. We asked staff to see what can be done to assist.

And then into public forum we had Counties Manukau Sport. An opportunity to thank the outgoing CEO Russell Preston for all his work and welcome the incoming CEO Greg Buckley.

We received the written report from our Ward Councillors Sharon Stewart and Maurice Williamson, noting the changes to the Governing Body Committees and Working Groups. Cr Williamson is the chair of the rescoped and renamed Revenue Expenditure and Value Committee, which Cr Stewart also sits on.

I tabled my Chairpersons report which detailed the meetings and events that we’d attended, as well as providing a brief summary of what we’ve been focused on since our last business meeting. Getting the work programmes sorted has been our main priority and I’m pleased we finalised these next.

Our work programmes are the itemised list of all the programmes and events that the staff will deliver on behalf of the Board, including the allocation of budget. With our financial year starting on 1 July, we normally do these before then, but the complicated outcomes of the Annual Budget meant they’d been delayed until July and then the addition of the Kauri Kids decision meant we couldn’t make the final decision until this month. We approved the final funding for Kauri Kids at $48,586 which was much less than the $158,000 we had originally been advised, which allowed us to restore most of the work programme to the level we’d hoped for.

We have two different ways we fund community-led events, usually through our community grants programme where groups can apply. To provide more certainty for regular events we fund some through our non-contestable Event Partnership Fund. In July, the Howick’s Children Charitable Trust asked us to add the Howick Santa Parade to this fund. Given that the Howick Local Board has granted funds this event for at least the last six years and this year was the 70th parade, I felt it was time to provide the certainty they asked we provide. This went to a vote, with one member abstaining. Deputy Burns declared an interest in the item so did not participate in the discussion or vote.

We then finalised the rest of our Customer and Community Services work programme – we’ve continued to fund Arts Out East, Howick Youth Council, local theatres and bands. New items include funding for a dedicated Youth Facility and Programmes, shifting our Celebrating Cultures event to every year and a local crime prevention fund. There was a vote on keeping the Movies in Parks, which did not pass so we won’t have that event this year. We agreed to maintain some funding for Music in Parks although there is more discussion to have on this with staff.

We then finalised our Infrastructure and Environmental Services Work Programme, which will see the continuation of our successful waste minimisation programme in local schools and pollution prevention in both local construction and industry. We also increased the funding for our stream improvement programme and Pest Free Howick.

We then moved into our feedback on the draft Future Development Strategy which sets out the big picture for how and where the city should grow over the next 30 years. This has recently gone out for public consultation and we also had the deputation earlier, providing us with input from the community in addition to the advice from staff. We reaffirmed our previous feedback that development should be focused on areas with suitable infrastructure as well as supporting a greater focus on nature-based infrastructure to respond to climate change. We asked for greater focus on tree coverage, with the suggestion that developers should be required to replace trees with an appropriate amount of new native plantings (not necessarily one for one). We followed up on the deputation from earlier and asked officers to investigate the historic zoning anomalies such as the ones around Gracechurch. We also advocated for greater provision of services such as education, healthcare and transport to serve the growing communities.

After a short break, we provided our feedback on a proposal to accelerate the funding equity between Local Boards. Previously most of the funding was allocated based on the assets that a local board had (ABS: Asset Based Funding), which benefited areas with buildings but was less fair for areas that didn’t have assets. A small proportion (LDI: Locally Driven Initiatives) was allocated based on population and geography. In 2021 Auckland Council’s governing body agreed to shift towards a new formula, with 80% based on the population, 15% based on deprivation and 5% based on geography. The transition was planned over 10-15 years which the new Mayor asked to accelerate to within the next 3-years. There’s also a separate discussion underway about changing the number and size of local boards, which has funding implications. The Board voted to support some of the proposal, but opposed the accelerated timeframes and the formula using deprivation, with the view that facilities should cost the same across the region. I had a different view and requested my dissenting vote be recorded against the parts I disagreed with.

We moved a few items around to allow staff to provide us advice and then leave for other work. We granted a new lease for Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi o Aotearoa Playcentre Aotearoa- Pakuranga-Rahihi Playcentre. We also granted a new lease for Uxbridge Early Learning Centre.

We then provided our feedback on the Auckland Rail Programme Business Case noting that, while Howick didn’t have a rail line, local residents did access the network at Panmure and Manukau. We supported the proposed investment and advocated for another track on the Eastern Line to enable more passenger and freight services.

Auckland Council is reviewing its Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, updating the plan from the 2018 version. We noted that it was positive to see the progress against domestic and council waste targets, but that the regional target had not been met. We supported the advocacy on the circular economy and product stewardship which has been successful overseas. We asked for quicker action on local community recycling and resource recovery centres which has been talked about for some time. The draft will come out for public consultation in early 2024 before coming back to us for more feedback.

The next three items are still out for public consultation, but due to tight timeframes we were asked for feedback at the same time. The first was the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Plan – the direct response to the civil defence emergency that was declared earlier in 2023. While Howick wasn’t as badly effected as other parts of the city, we’ve seen significant flooding in the past. We asked staff to listen and respond to the feedback of everyone who responds, but in particular those who were directly impacted.

In response to the flooding, Auckland Council is rethinking its approach to stormwater management under a new programme called ‘Making Space for Water’. We supported the general idea and specific parts to this plan, which proposes a more proactive approach to managing streams, overland flow paths and other infrastructure. There is a lot of moving parts to this proposal and the funding is yet to be determined.

Also out for public consultation is the Auckland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan. We noted that the previous plan was insufficient and asked staff to ensure that all issues identified in the subsequent reports were resolved through this new plan. The new plan proposes more robust planning and preparation before, during and after events, including empowering communities, which is great to see.

Last feedback item for the day on a new school proposed for 121 Murphys Road in Flat Bush. We provided feedback on the issues regarding transport and traffic, with a particular focus on keeping the children safe. We also asked them to consider the local environment during construction and operation of the school and also to consider the local heritage of the site, with genuine iwi engagement prior to development.

After noting our workshop records and forward work calendar, we received and noted the Quarter Four performance report for the Howick Local Board. Almost all of the programmes and activities have been completed on time and on budget, with a few exceptions (less than 5%). Highlights include the ongoing success of Pest Free Howick, the funding for the Youth Facility and our volunteer programme that has seen 16,240 trees planted. The only project considered having significant issues was our Local Advertising line which wasn’t spent as this was covered by another budget line.

The last part of this report is confidential as it contains the financial performance information and Auckland Council is bound by stock exchange rules around disclosure. The details of this report and all of Auckland Council’s financial performance will be released together in the near future (expected to be on or about 29 September).

Our meeting closed at 4:32pm.

Minutes of the meeting are available here: https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2023/08/20230817_HW_MIN_11573_WEB.htm?

along with related attachments like presentations here: https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2023/08/20230817_HW_MAT_11573_WEB.htm

And a recording of the meeting is available here: https://youtu.be/RwIAGwVTr2c?si=v2LdvUmfn7RBljxe

and previous meetings can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNiuqKCzobSzQ05kCv2JI2iefmDp2_tEh

Our next normal Business Meeting is scheduled for Thursday 21 September at 12noon at the Pakuranga Library building in Aylesbury Street. These are open to the public to attend and observe, although you need to request a slot if you would like to speak (so we can make sure we provide time).

Auckland Council decision to ignore STV

I am disappointed to see that the Governing Body of Auckland Council today yet again decided to not shift our city to Single Transferable Vote (also known as ranked voting) for the next election.

This goes against the Future of Local Government report and further entrenches the old systems that have created poor voter engagement.

I find the suggestion that voters aren't smart enough to handle more than a single tick insulting. Similarly if the suggestion that STV requires voters to know the candidates better has any validity, then it seriously calls into who is being elected under FPP.

I'd like to thank Councillor Chris Darby for raising the issues with the report and suggesting a more thorough analysis of the options, even if the amendment was ultimately withdrawn.

For the record, the Howick Local Board unanimously voted to change to STV, along with a campaign to educate the public (Howick Local Board minutes for 20 July 2023)

We weren't alone, with a total of three local boards supporting a move to STV and a further four requesting other options (including public consultation). Less than half of Local Boards supported remaining with FPP (despite comments that suggested it was "an overwhelming majority").

The next decision date is 2026, although there should be more work completed on this beforehand - it was suggested this might be handled by one of the working parties, although nothing formal has been recorded to ensure this happens or establish scope etc.

Eastern Busway requires removal of some trees but will be replaced

One part of east Auckland is looking a little less green after numerous tall trees were chopped down to make way for the Eastern Busway public transport project.

- Anger over removal of large trees to make way for Eastern Busway, Times 22 August

While it’s unfortunate to see trees cut down, the removal of some trees in the short-term is necessary to enable the Eastern Busway project to progress. We know that transport is a significant challenge for locals and the Eastern Busway will provide more frequent, reliable and quicker transport choices for East Auckland.

The Eastern Busway project have advised us that they will be planting natives to replace trees that are removed during construction. The designs that we’ve been provided show an increased number of trees and planting as part of the landscaping along the route. We’ve seen their commitment to sustainability through the deconstruction and removal of houses along Ti Rakau Drive which provided recycling and reuse opportunities.

The Howick Local Board is committed to improving the number of trees through our Howick Urban Ngahere Action Plan, with the goal of increasing our tree canopy cover from an estimated 15% to a much healthier 30%. Last financial year we supported local volunteers to plant 16,420 trees in public reserves, in addition to those planted by council staff in parks and playgrounds. Last week in our feedback on Auckland’s draft Future Development Strategy, we suggested a policy to ensure that established trees lost through development are replaced as part of the consenting process.

To find out more about the Eastern Busway, including how they're mitigating the impact of construction and how to up to date on what's happening check out their website:

Resident and Ratepayers groups consulted on Local Board Plan

Thank you to all the Residents and Ratepayers groups who contributed last week to our hui on our draft Local Board Plan!

Earlier in the year we asked what locals wanted to see in the plan, including a dedicated session just for the local Residents and Ratepayers groups.

We used this input to create our draft plan which is open for consultation until Monday 14 August. Great to be able to close the loop and get feedback on how well we've captured the views of the community.

To find out more, including how to have your say check out: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/howick-local-board-plan-2023

Enjoying Point View Reserve

Took advantage of great weather over the weekend, spending Sunday afternoon with my parents and partner walking in Point View Reserve.

Beautiful native bush filled with tui, pīwakawaka (fantail) and rirorio (grey warbler). Also home to pekapeka (bat) although we didn't see any.

It was good to see the upgrades that we made towards the end of last year providing access to this beautiful area while protecting the trees that make it so special.

See more about our upgrades on Our Auckland: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2022/11/howick-s-point-view-track-reopens-in-time-for-summer

And more information on the track, such as access, can be found here.