Ramadan Mubarak

Ramadan Mubarak!

On Saturday All Hands Aotearoa hosted an iftar for locals - the meal eaten by Muslims at sunset to break their fast-during Ramadan. Ramadan is a month-long period in the Islamic calendar where Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset.

This community event was proudly supported by the Howick Local Board as part of our ongoing efforts to better support and connect with our growing Muslim population (which has almost doubled since 2013).

In my brief speech I acknowledged the six-year anniversary of the terrorist attack in Christchurch. One of the darkest days our recent history, the impact of this cowardly act continues to reverberate today. While it was a coincidence that this event was on the anniversary, it was important to acknowledge it. While we’ve made good progress as a country since then, we still have more work to do in terms of diversity and inclusion.

The Bucklands and Eastern Beaches War Memorial Hall was the perfect venue as we watched the sun set before sharing a meal and exchanging stories. Great to be joined by Members Adele White and Mike Turinsky, as well as council staff.

Fairer and more effective representation for Flat Bush!

I’m really happy to see that the Local Government Commission has approved the proposed changes for the Howick Local Board.

This will mean from October 2025:

• 3 members for Howick (unchanged)

• 3 members for Pakūranga (unchanged)

• 2 members for Botany (one less member and smaller area)

• 3 members for Flat Bush (new area)

This brings the total members to 11, making it the largest Board (which matches the largest population).

Flat Bush is a growing community with unique needs and deserves its own recognition and representation. The proposal was strongly supported by both locals and Aucklanders, as well as the Howick Local Board.

With over 150,000 residents to serve, it’s important that we have enough elected representatives to listen and act on their behalf. Even with the additional members, we’ll still have one of the highest ratios of residents per elected representative.

We look forward to welcoming new members in October.

Annual declaration for 2024

Transparency is critical to a functioning democracy. Our democracy is representative, meaning we elect representatives to make decisions on our behalf. Therefore we need transparency on what might be influencing the decisions made by our representatives. To help with this, elected members are required to declare any financial and other interests they may have.

Elected Members are required to declare property, companies, employment and other sources of income. Auckland Council publishes our declarations online which anyone can search:
https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/how-auckland-council-works/elected-members-remuneration-declarations-interest/Pages/elected-members-declarations-search.aspx

None of this removes the need to declare or act on conflicts of interest. If we have an interest (financial or otherwise) in a discussion or decision we're making, then we should declare it. Depending on how significant the interest is, we may not vote or even leave the room. If it's less significant it may be appropriate to continue to be involved in the decision. Although this can lead to people questioning whether the decision we made was in the best interests of the community we represent or our own personal interests.

Sometimes the potential perception is enough to require us to step back, even if we're not conflicted. Often this is the best approach to protect the integrity of the decision, elected member and the organization involved. Ultimately this has to be handled on a case-by-case basis because there are so many variables. It can be challenging, especially for local government representatives who are often deeply involved in their community.

But the first step is transparency.

You can search for anyone's declaration (including mine) but to make it easier I've attached mine here.

• I work part-time for AsureQuality

• I don't own any property or benefit from any trusts (we rent)

• I have a single (unpaid) governance role outside of the Local Board, with some memberships in other groups and volunteer work.

Happy to answer any questions on this, my declaration or anything else.

Wrapping up 2024!

It’s been a busy year and Christmas is approaching fast.

Last week we had our last business meeting for the year and our local staff are taking well earned leave until 6 January. As always, make sure you log any issues with Auckland Council (09 301 0101 or www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/report-it) but don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any electedmembers if you need support.

As we farewell 2024, it’s good to look back on the year that has been. In addition to our normal events, projects and activities, some highlights include:

• Confirming our commitment to incorporate Māori culture, language, art and stories into the design of public spaces through Te Kete Rukuruku (March);

• Providing clarity on future of Howick War Memorial Hall as venue for hire (March);

• Opening Te Taiwhanga Taiohi East Auckland Youth Space (April);

• Ensuring fairer and more equitable democracy for Flat Bush through Representation Review (February-October, taking effect October 2025);

• Supporting the inaugural East Auckland Business Awards (April), in addition to existing Howick Sports Awards (August);

• Securing the future of Kauri Kids Howick early childhood education through new operator (June);

• Delivering transport safety projects including gravel footpaths for Flat Bush (May and July) and Bucklands Beach (September);

• Taking action on resilience by approving the first Howick Local Board Readiness and Response Plan (November).

None of this would have been possible without the support of our amazing staff, our partners, and the community - thank you all.

Looking forward to 2025, we will be:

• Providing greater transparency through open-by-default workshops (January);

• Consulting the local community on local and regional annual budgets (February-March);

• Building the new Barry Curtis destination playground and replacement for the Wetlands Building (starting February);

• Continuing to work towards building the Flat Bush Community Centre and Library sooner (we’ve secured some funding from July 2025).

On behalf of the Howick Local Board, we wish you and your whānau a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Howick Local Board business meeting report for November 2024

On Thursday 21 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 recordings of our meetings.

• Acknowledgement for Morrin Cooper

• Deputations from Ormiston Senior College Students, and East Skate Club.

• Feedback on Open Space, Sport and Recreation Strategy, LGNZ electoral reform discussion paper, draft Mayoral Proposal for annual budget.

• Approval of the Local Board Emergency Readiness and Response Plan, Quarter One performance report.

After the initial formalities of the welcome, declarations of interest and confirmation of minutes, we confirmed our formal acknowledgement for the month.

We recognised the upcoming 90th birthday of Morrin Cooper, the last Mayor of Howick Borough Council from 1974 to 1989 before it became part of the former City of Manukau.

We received a deputation from Ormiston Senior College Students on Salford Park. A group of Year 11, 12 and 13 students proposed a range of ideas to improve their local park including environmental, safety, and transport challenges. The Board was very impressed by the content and delivery of their presentation, and we asked staff for advice on how we could implement the proposals.

We then received a deputation from Aaron Martin of East Skate Club. Aaron raised concerns about slow progress on providing more skate and wheeled play options in East Auckland. He encouraged the Board to make sure that skate and wheeled play remained a priority and provide more sites across the Local Board area.

Every month we allocate a slot for our Ward Councillors to provide an update. Unfortunately, due to scheduling clashes, they are usually unable to attend. To accommodate this, they agreed to provide a written report when there are board-specific updates to share. No report was received for this meeting.

I presented my Chairpersons Report for the month, detailing what we had been focused on since the last meeting. It noted the progress on Eastern Busway, Bellingham Road, and return of rubbish bins to Bucklands Beach. Also, that there had been no objections to the representation review for our area, reflecting the strong public support during consultation.

We adopted the Howick Local Board Emergency Readiness and Response Plan, providing a formalised document that lays out what Auckland Council and the community should do to prepare an respond to emergencies. We thanked Auckland Emergency Management for their efforts in developing the plan – they’ve worked hard to achieve this priority for us.

We provided feedback on the draft Open Space, Sport and Recreation Strategy, requesting that the strategy better considers the impact on local boards and our increased decision-making. Otherwise, we generally supported the draft which brings together five regional strategies, policies and plans.

We received our Quarter One performance report which detailed the progress up to the end of September 2024. Most of our projects are on time and on budget (95%), with two being managed, two with significant issues (Ostrich Farm, and Flat Bush Community Centre and Library both awaiting funding ) and two on hold (Hawthornden Reserve lease awaiting renewal, Flat Bush walkway and cycleway paths awaiting developer). Our operating revenue ($1.2M) was lower than budgeted largely due to the planned maintenance of Lloyd Elsmore Pool and Leisure Centre, while our operating expenditure was higher than budgeted as our teams work to get ahead of the repairs and maintenance.

Next we considered a grant application that had been deferred from the previous meeting as we’d asked for more information. The request was for $3k towards a community mural on a private building that borders on a public reserve. Some of the Board was concerned about the potential impact on the reserve, which is managed through a separate mural review process. Deputy Burns and I proposed we approve the funding, but the majority of the Board voted to defer the decision again to provide time for staff to provide more information.

Next we appointed members to provide feedback on stormwater activities. As the guardians of local reserves, Local Boards normally have authority to approve (or decline) requests to use greenspaces. However, staff recently clarified that (according to legal opinion) Healthy Waters doesn’t need to ask permission which we disagreed with (see April 2024). Instead, we have a delegated member to provide feedback which will be myself, with Member Kendall as backup. We won’t have any decision-making power and would have to take objections through the Planning and Policy Committee which isn’t ideal.

Next we provided our feedback on Local Government NZ’s discussion paper regarding possible electoral reform for councils across the country. With the decline in postal services and dropping turnout, something needs to be done to address the challenges so it was good to have the opportunity to provide our feedback. We supported greater education, more information for and about candidates (including mandatory training like in Queensland), more voting options, and shifting responsibility for local elections to the Electoral Commission.

Finally we responded to the draft Mayoral Proposal which had been released earlier that week. We broadly supported the proposed reform of the CCOs, except Eke Panuku as we felt that urban regeneration benefited from being independent. Bringing strategy, policy, and planning into council should result in a more integrated approach and we asked that Local Boards are provided more oversight and decision making over what happens in their area. We opposed the suggested increase in animal management fees, with concern that rising costs would lead to less dog adoptions (when the kennels are already overflowing). We also advocated for the Flat Bush Community Centre and Library, Flat Bush Aquatic & Leisure Centre, Coastal Erosion Fund, and a regional response to the Tāmaki Estuary.

We noted our workshop records and forward governance work calendar before closing the meeting at 2:58pm.

Minutes of the meeting are available here: https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2024/11/20241121_HW_MIN_11587_WEB.htm

along with related attachments like presentations here:

https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2024/11/20241121_HW_ATT_11587_WEB.htm

A recording of the meeting will be available shortly, along with previous meetings: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNiuqKCzobSzQ05kCv2JI2iefmDp2_tEh

Our next normal Business Meeting is scheduled for Thursday 12 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).

Howick Local Board Emergency Readiness and Response Plan

“We’re pleased to present the new Howick Local Board Emergency Readiness and Response Plan. Getting this ready has been a priority for us to ensure that we’re all ready for emergencies. We know from recent experiences that we need to build community resilience, and this plan provides the platform to help achieve this.”

Thank you to Auckland Emergency Management for their mahi on developing and delivering this plan for us.

“Having a plan helps make any emergency much less stressful for everyone. The best time to be prepared is before you need it, so please get your household or business plan in place now. It’s also a great way to connect with your neighbours, friends, and communities to share and discuss your plan. If an emergency happens, it’s vital that we look after each other.

“We know from experience that in times of need our communities of Howick, Pakūranga, Botany, Flat Bush and East Tāmaki, come together to help each other. We’re grateful for the amazing individuals and organisations who have stepped up in the past and have volunteered to be involved again.”

Read more about it here: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2024/11/new-tool-to-help-prepare-for-emergencies-agreed/

Stockade Hill Christmas Tree is lit!

Last night the Howick community gathered for the belated lighting of the Stockade Hill Christmas Tree.

Our original event was cancelled due to poor weather, but Santa came to the rescue. In a wonderfully informal yet magical experience, Santa led us in song before the lights went on.

Merry Christmas from the Howick Local Board!

Howick Local Board office closes to save money

At the end of this month, the Howick Local Board will be exiting our office in Pakūranga.

“While decisions around office space are made by Auckland Council staff, the Howick Local Board is supportive of this cost effective and pragmatic approach. We’re very conscious of ensuring that public funds are wisely spent and we’re open to trying a new way of working.”

While our office is closing, your access to your elected representatives won't change - we'll continue to be available by phone email or appointment.

Read more here: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2024/11/howick-local-board-relocating/

Howick Local Board business meeting report for October 2024

On Thursday 17 October, 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 recordings of our meetings.

📰 Acknowledgements for Howick College Netball, Pakūranga United Rugby Club
🗣 Deputations from Beautification Trust and NZ Thread Exchange, plus public forum with Professional Dog Walkers Association
📑 Feedback on draft dog policy and bylaw, time of use charging, Biosecurity Act
✅ Approval of community grants, adoption of Public Toilet Provision Assessment

After the initial formalities of the welcome, declarations of interest and confirmation of minutes, we confirmed our formal acknowledgements for the month.

We congratulated Howick College Netball on their recent success at the National Secondary Schools Netball Championship in Christchurch.

We congratulated Pakuranga United Rugby Club on their recent success at the National Men’s Under-85kg Championship in Wellington. As the curtain-raiser match to the All Black’s second Bledisloe Cup test match against Australia, the win was reported in local and national news coverage.

We then received a deputation from Daniel Barthow (CEO) and Sterling Ruwhiu (Community Programs Manager) of The Beautification Trust on their work over the past year. It was great to see their work on graffiti removal (40% increase in HLB area since last year), working with students, and operating their community recycling centre in Manurewa.

We received a deputation from Jenny Carter (Managing Director) from NZ Thread Exchange, explaining their aim to minimise clothes going into landfill by processing them for re-use. Great example of an innovative social enterprise!

In the public forum, we had Professional Dog Walkers Association, (PDWA) with Ben Spick (Chairperson) and Caleb Hendry. They discussed their views on the proposal to limit walking of multiple dogs which was due to be discussed later in the meeting. Their input was very helpful, with Members taking time to ask plenty of questions to clarify their understanding of the potential impact on the industry.

Given the strong interest in the item and the fact we still had Ben and Caleb with us, I moved up the item on the draft changes to the dog policy and bylaw. We had drafted some feedback prior to the meeting, but we altered it based on the public forum input. There was a strong discussion about the need to keep dogs under control (regardless if on or off leash) and more enforcement. After some debate, we altered our feedback to suggest greater consideration of the potential impact on commercial dog walkers and encourage further engagement with professional dog walking associations including potential regulations, but at this stage did not support a limit. This feedback will be considered before it goes for public consultation early in 2025.

Every month we allocate a slot for our Ward Councillors to provide an update. Unfortunately, due to scheduling clashes, they are usually unable to attend. To accommodate this, they agreed to provide a written report when there are board-specific updates to share. No report was received for this meeting.

However, we were fortunate to have Councillor Julie Fairey who is the ward councillor for Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa. She’s also the Chair of Joint Governance Working Party who recently managed the representation review, so it was good to have the opportunity to seek her insight over the process and next steps.

We then received and accepted my Chairpersons Report for October, detailing what we had been focused on since the last meeting.

We then considered our first grant allocations for this financial year, with applications exceeding $345k. We deferred one as we needed more information on the approvals required to deliver a mural bordering a public reserve. There were a couple were the Board debated the amount to provide and the total funds approved was $160,472.90.

Next we adopted the recently completed Public Toilet Provision Assessment. This document detailed the recent audit of all 30 public toilets, including the condition and opportunities for improvement. It was identified that 8 were fully accessible, 17 were partly accessible and the remaining 5 were not accessible at all. There are some gaps in the network including Mangemangeroa, Riverhills, Burswood, Greenmount, and Point View Reserve. We’ll use this information to plan future investment.

Auckland Transport is considering how they might implement time of use charging (sometimes referred to as congestion charging). While there is still a way to go (including Parliament passing legislation to enable it), we were asked for our input into how a scheme could work. We provided our feedback, with a strong focus on ensuring any scheme was easy to use and effective, with measures in place to confirm it worked as intended. We made it clear that practical alternatives would need to be place before implementing any changes.

We were asked for input into proposed changes to the Biosecurity Act. Because I work for a company that delivers work in this area, I declared potential conflict of interest and stepped aside. With Deputy Burns departing early due to illness, the Board elected a new Chair (David Collings) for the item. The Board supported increased fines for breaches, greater investment into scientific research and securing the border.

I returned to the Chair to finalise the meeting. We noted our workshop records and forward governance work calendar before closing the meeting at 3:24pm.

Minutes of the meeting are available here: https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2024/10/20241017_HW_MIN_11586_WEB.htm
along with related attachments like presentations here:
https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2024/10/20241017_HW_ATT_11586_WEB.htm

A recording of the meeting will be available shortly, along with previous meetings: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNiuqKCzobSzQ05kCv2JI2iefmDp2_tEh

Our next normal Business Meeting is scheduled for Thursday 21 November 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).

Bellingham Road in Ormiston is open!

Before the sun was up this morning, mana whenua led a moving karakia, physically walking the length of the new road and underneath to view the mahi toi (artwork) on the bridge.

Despite the early start, we had solid representation from the community, businesses, developers, and Auckland Transport. It was a privilege speak on behalf of the Howick Local Board, standing alongside fellow Botany representatives Mike Turinsky and Peter Young.

It's been a long road to get to this point, longer than anyone had hoped for and we know it's been frustrating for the community. But we're finally here and the road is open. It connects Stancombe Road to the Ormiston Town Centre, supporting residential, employment and economic growth. At the northern end, it passes by Barry Curtis Park including our soon-to-be upgraded destination playground.

As we left the cones and barriers were removed, making the road available from this morning. Looking forward to seeing the community enjoy this great piece of infrastructure.

Tour of Rā Hihi

Recently the Howick Local Board was fortunate to have the opportunity to have a guided tour of the Rā Hihi flyover that is being built over Reeves Road as part of the Eastern Busway project.

While we receive regular updates and monthly briefings from the project team, it was great to see the progress first hand. Maps and diagrams are really helpful, but nothing compared to standing on the top of the flyer.

Rā Hihi will carry vehicles (not buses) over Tī Rākau Drive, allowing the busway to travel underneath and avoid congestion. The flyover is due to be finished mid-2026 with the whole Eastern Busway operational from 2027.

Thank you Howick Primary School

Thank you to Howick Primary School for hosting the Pest Free Howick Ward pestival earlier this week.

Students explained what they had learned and done. It's always inspired by the amazing environmental action that our local tamariki (children) are taking. It was a privilege to congratulate the latest cadets through the Pest Free Howick programme.

Great to hear from David on his work leading local volunteers helping protect and restore local reserves in Mellons Bay.

Happy Diwali

On Friday evening we celebrated the festival of light with the South East Auckland Senior Citizens' Association Inc. - Seasca.

An evening of wonderful performances and beautiful food, shared with amazing locals and special guests. It was my pleasure to speak on behalf of the Howick Local Board, supported by fellow member Adele White.

Open workshops mean better transparency

“In our representative democracy it’s vital that the public have trust in those making the decisions on their behalf. Transparency is a crucial part of this and that’s why we’re opening our workshops to the public from the start of next year."

Following on from a report from the Ombudsman, the Howick Local Board has agreed to open our workshops to the public (with exceptions where required).

Workshops are informal meetings where staff provide us information and advice, but no decisions are made (this must come to a public business meeting). By opening these workshops up to the public and publishing the materials, the public can see and hear the same advice we get, demystifying the process and increasing our accountability to our community.

Read more here: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2024/10/howick-workshops-open-up-in-2025/

Transparency on attendance

As part of providing transparency, Auckland Council publishes the attendance for elected members. Here is the Howick Local Board result for July to September 2024.

Absences may be due to leave, illness, bereavement or attending other council business. I missed one workshop on 26 September as I was at the Auckland Council meeting regarding representation review.

You can see more (including previous reports, other local boards and councillors) on the Auckland Council website: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/performance-transparency/Pages/attendance-governing-body-meetings.aspx

Howick Local Board business meeting report for September 2024

On Thursday 19 September, 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.

📰 Acknowledgements for Kīngi Tūheitia, Howick Sports Awards, Bucklands Beach Yacht Club 75th Anniversary, Howick College 50th Anniversary, and Botany Citizens Advice Bureau 15th Anniversary
🗣 Deputations from Young Life NZ Trust, and local resident on Bucklands Beach safety improvements
📊 Approval for open workshops, our Annual Report, and additional meetings
📑 Feedback on traffic bylaw review, and Thriving Rangitahi
✅ Approval of street names, local transport projects, lease for Highbrook Watersports, Friends of Mangemangeroa, and new playground for Barry Curtis Park

After the initial formalities of the welcome, declarations of interest and confirmation of minutes, we confirmed our formal acknowledgements for the month.

We acknowledged the passing of Kīngi Tūheitia on 30 August with a special karakia. We also noted that he had been succeeded by his daughter Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō on the day of his funeral.

We acknowledged the nominees, finalists, and winners of the recent Howick Sports Awards. In its 11th year, these annual awards celebrate the region’s local talents and the coaches, staff, officials and volunteers who make their success possible. We also thanked the Pakuranga United Rugby Club for organising and running the awards.

We congratulated the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club on their 75th anniversary. Formed in 1949 in a small shed stored behind the post office, the club is recognised as one of the most respected and successful yacht clubs.

We congratulated Howick College on their 50th anniversary. Established in Cockle Bay in February 1974 they have educated over 20,000 students across the five decades.

We congratulated the Botany Citizens Advice Bureau on their 15th anniversary. The agency began in 2009 in the Botany Town Centre and has gone on to serve thousands of local residents, providing independent advice on a wide range of issues thanks to the tireless efforts of their volunteers.

We then received two deputations, firstly we had Lyall Carter who is the CEO of Young Life New Zealand Trust. They were grateful for the financial support that the Board has provided through our community grants programme and explained the work they are doing to support local young people.

Next we had a deputation from local resident Chris O’Loughlin regarding the Bucklands Beach Safety Improvements project. He raised concerns about the consultation and communication process so we asked staff to provide advice on the consultation and whether our duties under the Local Government Act 2002 were met in regard to this matter.

Because we had an Auckland Transport representative in the room, I shifted the relevant agenda items up earlier than scheduled. Firstly, we received a report on our Local Board Transport Capital Fund (LBTCF) projects which we had asked Auckland Transport to consult with the public on. These were the Valderama Road raised pedestrian crossing (100% support), Paparoa Road raised pedestrian crossing (69% support), and Michael Jones Drive speed calming (53% support). Based on the public support for them all, we approved them for construction.

Auckland Transport also asked us to provide feedback on their Gills Road pedestrian crossing project. We noted the strong public support (86% support) especially from the local school and provided our support. We acknowledged the concerns in the feedback around the costs and encouraged Auckland Transport to continue to explore more innovative and cost-effective solutions for future projects.

We received our first Quarterly Report on our Auckland Transport Kōkiri / Local Board Transport Agreement (approved last month). This is a new process which formalises how Auckland Transport works with Local Boards, ensuring that we get an opportunity to be involved in projects in our area. It was good to see that most projects were on target and due to be delivered by June 2025. Safety improvements planned for the intersection of Flat Bush School and Hikuawa Roads had not passed the cost/benefit test so had been removed from the programme. We’ve also been advocating for the completion of missing footpaths (especially in Flat Bush) but with no funding available they’re unlikely to proceed.

We then provided our feedback on an upcoming traffic bylaw review, supporting the intention to simplify the rules to make them easier to understand and enforce. This is due to come for public consultation in the near future.

Every month we allocate a slot for our Ward Councillors to provide an update. Unfortunately, due to scheduling clashes, they are usually unable to attend. To accommodate this, they agreed to provide a written report when there are board-specific updates to share. No report was received for this meeting.

I tabled my amended Chairpersons Report for the month (correcting a couple of minor mistakes) detailing what we had been focused on since the last meeting. My report noted the shocking theft of plaques across Howick and the disrespect this showed the community. I also noted the positive public feedback on the proposed Representation Review.

We then received a report from staff in response to Ombudsman's recommendation for open workshops by default. Workshops are informal, non-decision-making meetings used for discussions and refining options before formal board decisions in our public business meetings. In October 2023, the Ombudsman released a report which found no evidence of decision-making occurring in workshops but noted practices that could undermine transparency. The Ombudsman recommended that workshops should be open by default, with any closures justified on a case-by-case basis.
There was a good debate on the risks of opening our workshops for the public such as the potential negative impact on free and frank discussion, confusion from the public about whether a decision is being made, and potential disruption to the meeting. We also debated the benefits, such as improving transparency, enabling community to see the process, and improving our accountability.

The vote was tied (4-4) so I used my chairperson’s casting vote, in favour of the motion. This is the first time I’ve used this and I did so based on the recommendation and in line with my vote. The motion passed and staff will work through the process to establish these in time for our first workshop in 2025.

Next up, we voted to confirm a change to the landowner approval and lease for the Highbrook Watersports Centre, to enable them to build a temporary building while the larger project is completed.
We then voted to confirm a retrospective landowner approval for the Friends of Mangemangeroa, formalising their ability to keep their planter and watering units onsite. This provides them with some certainty while the discussions around the future development of Mangemangeroa Reserve continue.

We received a report requesting approval of the designs for the Barry Curtis Playground which we were pleased to approve. This is one of our destination playgrounds, intended to provide for longer visits. In line with public feedback, the new playground will include a wider range of play opportunities and cater for a wider range of tamariki (children). The new design will include accessible, inclusive and sensory play opportunities. Shade sails will provide shelter from the sun, while careful tree planting will act as a wind buffer as well as supporting exploration and nature play. We’ve increased the amount of fencing around the playground, while still ensuring the playground remains accessible and safe. Now these have been approved, staff will work on detailed design, consenting and construction. Physical works are expected to occur between February and June 2025, with an official opening once it’s completed.

We approved our Annual Report for 2023/2024, noting the performance over the past year. The report highlighted some of our key deliverables, including Te Taiwhanga Taiohi East Auckland Youth Space that we opened in April 2024. It shows that we were successful in delivering our arts and cultural outcomes, but there is more work to be done on safety, and the quality of our local parks and facilities. Our operational expenditure was just under budget ($36.4M vs $36.6M) while our capital expenditure was slightly above budget ($3.8M vs $3.6M) which is generally positive.

We approved two new road names for the Highbrook Business Park, East Tamaki. There was a bit of a discussion about one of the names which was intended to recognise the contributions of Sir Noel Robinson. Auckland Council guidelines suggest avoiding the name of a living person or their title, although we noted the road wasn’t far from Sir Woof Fisher Drive.

We approved our engagement plan with Eke Panuku, noting the key projects in our area - 65 Haddington Drive, Ormiston (former site for the pool), Eastern Busway Urban Regeneration Programme (maximising return on residual land), Ormiston Development sites, and 56 Brookview Drive (planned for development but awaiting Plan Change 96).

We endorsed Thriving Rangatahi (council’s commitment and plan to support the wellbeing of children and young people), and approved two additional meetings for next year (to accommodate the Annual Budget timeframes).

We then noted our workshop records and forward governance work calendar before closing the meeting at 2:42pm.

Minutes of the meeting are available here:
https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2024/09/20240919_HW_MIN_11585_WEB.htm
along with related attachments like presentations here:
https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2024/09/20240919_HW_ATT_11585_WEB.htm

A recording of the meeting will be available shortly, along with previous meetings: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNiuqKCzobSzQ05kCv2JI2iefmDp2_tEh

Our next normal Business Meeting is scheduled for Thursday 17 October 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).

Construction on The Parade Safety Improvements Project begins

🚧 Construction on The Parade Safety Improvements Project begins Monday 2 September 2024.

Last year the Howick Local Board and Auckland Transport consulted on a proposal to improve safety along The Parade. This was in response to local residents asking for something to be done to make this area safer.

Auckland Transport updated the proposal based on the public feedback, and again after a technical review to deliver the most cost effective changes, while achieving the required safety outcomes.

This work will involve:
− A full road closure and detours, although resident access will be maintained.
− Installing a concrete raised pedestrian near the Laings Road intersection (where there is the highest pedestrian volumes)
− Installing 3 speed humps between Laings Road and Whitcombe Road (to reduce unsafe speeds)
− Line marking, new streetlighting and signage

There will be some disruption as the roadworks progress and the contractor will do what they can to minimise this. This work is being done now to avoid the busier Summer period and will take approximately four weeks to deliver.

There were more issues raised during public consultation so there will be a Stage 2 out for further consultation later this year to address those issues, with a focus on the northern end of The Parade (aka Big Bucklands Beach)

You can see more about the various designs, public consultation and changes made here: https://at.govt.nz/about-us/have-your-say/east-auckland-consultations/bucklands-beach-safety-improvements

Celebrating 20 years of the Polish Heritage Trust Museum

It was wonderful to spend time at the Polish Heritage Trust Museum yesterday as they celebrated 20 years.

The Polish Heritage Trust was established in the late 1990’s by Mr John Roy-Wojciechowski and the museum in Howick opened in July 2004. He and his family are still involved.

The museum continues to offer educational resources about Poland, its history, arts and culture, the history of the 733 children and 102 adults who arrived as refugees from Europe in 1944 (known as the ‘Children of Pahiatua’).

We're fortunate to have this amazing collection in Howick, providing opportunities to learn more about Polish history and culture.

New provider for Kauri Kids Howick secured!

“We know this has been a challenging and uncertain time for the tamariki, whānau and kaimahi of Howick Kauri Kids. Thank you for your patience while we worked through this important process where our focus has been on finding a practical solution to continue this amazing service. This decision enables this to happen, and we look forward to the Ministry of Education progressing the licence.”

To protect the commercially sensitive information contained in the report, discussion and minutes, this item had to be done under confidentiality. However, It's great to be able to reveal that we have selected a new provider for Howick Kauri Kids, who will take over the operation (pending a transfer of licence via the Ministry of Education).

Read more here: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2023/07/howick-kauri-kids-provider-secured/

Estuary Art and Ecological Awards putting the spotlight on Tāmaki

On Saturday 6 July we opened the Tāmaki Estuary Art and Ecological Awards at UXBRIDGE Arts & Culture.

The Howick Local Board is proud to fund UXBRIDGE to deliver a wide range of arts and cultural activities, including these awards. Creativity, culture and the arts make Auckland a vibrant and dynamic city. We also know that participating in arts and cultural initiatives enables Aucklanders to express our unique cultures and see ourselves reflected in public places.

This exhibition is not just art, it’s also about the environment. In fact we believe it’s the only art award in the country dedicated to ecological themes.

The Tāmaki is also known as Te Wai o Taiki, meaning "The Waters of Taiki". Taiki being a shortened form of Taikehu, an ancestor of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki. It was a key transport route, providing a link through the shortest land connection between the Waitematā and Manukau Harbours.

The estuary extends around 17 km inland, with total shoreline length of approximately 40 km. These intertidal sand and mudflats feature numerous native habitats and ecosystems that are regionally important. Much of the surrounding catchment is intensively developed with a long history of commercial and industrial use which have cumulatively had a negative impact on sediment quality.

We cannot resolve these issues quickly or alone so we partner with local organisations and volunteers to take action to protect and restore the mauri (lifeforce) of our awa (waterways).

We recently approved our new budget, with a commitment to continuing our pest removal, stream restoration and pollution prevention programmes, as well as extra funding for Pakuranga and Botany Creeks, both which feed into the Tāmaki.

This event is a wonderful intersection of these priorities – where environment meets art. Contemporary art has a unique way of sparking the public interest and these awards are a great example of using creativity to promote the ecological value of this vital awa (waterway) and encourage action against its pollution.

Each year we see artworks that inspire, educate, and inform – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We’re proud to continue to support these awards and the creatives who respond to them.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this exhibition, I’m always impressed by the bravery of artists who are willing to share their ideas and art with us.

Also thank you to this year’s guest judge, Annette Lees. Ecologist, and author of numerous acclaimed non-fiction books, facing perhaps her greatest challenge to judge these incredible works.

And you can join in on the judging - the People's Choice Award is open until 31 August! So get along to UXBRDIGE, enjoy these beautiful artworks, and cast your vote for your favourite.