I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board will be held on:
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Date:
Time:
Meeting Room:
Venue:
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Thursday, 12
May 2016
6.30pm
Waitakere
Ranges Local Board Office
39 Glenmall Place
Glen Eden
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Waitākere Ranges Local Board
OPEN AGENDA
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MEMBERSHIP
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Chairperson
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Sandra Coney, QSO
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Deputy Chairperson
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Denise Yates, JP
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Members
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Neil Henderson
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Greg Presland
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Steve Tollestrup
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Saffron Toms
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(Quorum 3 members)
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Glenn Boyd
(Relationship Manager)
Local Board Services (West)
Tua Viliamu
Democracy Advisor
05 May 2016
Contact Telephone: (09) 813 9478
Email: Tua.Viliamu@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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ITEM TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
1 Welcome 5
2 Apologies 5
3 Declaration of Interest 5
4 Confirmation of Minutes 6
5 Leave of Absence 6
6 Acknowledgements 6
7 Update from Ward Councillors 6
8 Deputations 6
9 Public Forum 6
10 Extraordinary Business 7
11 Notices of Motion 7
12 Expansion of Glen Eden Business Improvement District 9
13 Kauri dieback coordinator work programme 2016/2017 55
14 Waitakere Ranges Local Board Community Grants Programme
2016/2017 59
15 Quarterly Performance Report - March 2016 65
16 Third Quarter Waitakere Ranges Local Board work programme
review and amendment 109
17 Community halls assistance 2015-2016 117
18 Governance Forward Work Calendar 125
19 Portfolio update: Member Sandra Coney 129
20 Chairperson's Report 131
21 Portfolio update: Member Denise Yates 143
22 Consideration of Extraordinary
Items
2 Apologies
At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.
3 Declaration of Interest
Members
were reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making
when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any private or other
external interest they might have.
Specifically
members are asked to identify any new interests they have not previously
disclosed, an interest that might be considered as a conflict of interest with
a matter on the agenda.
At
its meeting on 28 November 2013, the Waitakere Ranges Local Board resolved
(resolution number WTK/2010/5) to record any possible conflicts of interest in
a register.
Register
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Board Member
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Organisation / Position
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Sandra Coney
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· Waitemata District Health Board – Elected
Member
·
Women’s Health Action
Trust – Patron
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Neil Henderson
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·
Portage Trust – Elected
Member
·
West Auckland Trust
Services (WATS) Board – Trustee/Director
·
EcoMatters
Environment Trust – Employee
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Greg Presland
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·
Portage Trust – Elected
Member
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Lopdell House
Development Trust – Trustee
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Titirangi Residents
& Ratepayers Group – Committee Member
·
Whau Coastal Walkway
Environmental Trust – Trustee
·
Combined Youth
Services Trust - Trustee
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Steve Tollestrup
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· Waitakere Licensing Trust – Elected
Member
·
West Auckland Trust
Services (WATS) Board – Trustee/Director
·
Waitakere Task force
on Family Violence – Appointee
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Saffron Toms
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NIL
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Denise Yates
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·
Friends of Arataki
Incorporated – Committee member
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EcoMatters
Environment Trust – Trustee
·
Charlotte Museum
Trust – Trustee
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Member
appointments
Board
members are appointed to the following bodies. In these appointments the board
members represent Auckland Council.
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Board Member
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Organisation / Position
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Sandra Coney
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·
Friends of Arataki
Incorporated – Trustee
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Neil Henderson
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·
Friends of Arataki
Incorporated – Trustee
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Living Cell
Technologies Animal Ethics Committee – Member
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Rural Advisory Panel
- Member
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Saffron Toms
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·
Ark in the Park – Governance
Group Member
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4 Confirmation of Minutes
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That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:
a)
confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting,
held on Thursday, 28 April 2016, including the
confidential section, as a true and correct record.
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5 Leave of Absence
At the close of
the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.
6 Acknowledgements
At the close of the agenda no requests for acknowledgements had been
received.
7 Update from Ward Councillors
An opportunity is provided for the Waitakere Ward Councillors to
update the board on regional issues they have been involved with since the last
meeting.
8 Deputations
Standing
Order 3.20 provides for deputations. Those applying for deputations are
required to give seven working days notice of subject matter and applications
are approved by the Chairperson of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board. This
means that details relating to deputations can be included in the published
agenda. Total speaking time per deputation is ten minutes or as resolved by the
meeting.
At the close
of the agenda no requests for deputations had been received.
9 Public Forum
A period of
time (approximately 30 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to
address the meeting on matters within its delegated authority. A maximum of 3
minutes per item is allowed, following which there may be questions from members.
At the close of the agenda no requests for public forum had been
received.
10 Extraordinary Business
Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:
“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with
at that meeting if-
(a) The local authority by resolution so
decides; and
(b) The presiding member explains at the
meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-
(i) The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and
(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item
cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”
Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:
“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-
(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting
if-
(i) That item is a minor matter relating to
the general business of the local authority; and
(ii) the presiding member explains at the
beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the
item will be discussed at the meeting; but
(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation
may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent
meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”
11 Notices of Motion
At the close of the agenda no requests for notices of motion had
been received.
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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Expansion of
Glen Eden Business Improvement District
File No.: CP2016/06688
Purpose
1. This
report seeks approval from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board for Glen Eden
Business Association’s (GEBA) expansion of their Business Improvement District
Partnership Programme (BID) area.
2. This report recommends approval of the expansion of the BID area and
that the BID targeted rate for the expansion area be recommended to the
Governing Body.
Executive
Summary
3. Council
officers are satisfied that GEBA have taken the steps required to expand a
Business Improvement District Partnership Programme (BID) for Glen Eden as
required by the Auckland Region Business Improvement District Policy (2011).
4. GEBA
are seeking local board approval to strike a BID targeted rate for the
expansion area from 1 July 2016 to bring their targeted rate budget to
$83,678. This amount is included in the draft Auckland Council Annual Plan
2016/2017.
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Recommendations
That the
Waitākere Ranges Local Board:
a)
approve the request from Glen Eden Business
Association to expand their BID area per the Auckland Region BID Policy (2011), within
the boundary shown on the attached map. (Attachment A)
b) recommend to the Governing Body to strike the targeted rate for
the expanded Glen Eden BID area, as outlined in the
proposed Auckland Council Annual Plan 2016-2017, as of 1 July 2016 as part of its approval of the Annual Plan.
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Comments
5. The
Glen Eden BID was established in 2009. Since that time, their targeted rate
budget has remained at $45,000 per annum.
6. Conditions
and opportunities have changed dramatically since 2009. Auckland has grown
rapidly, a state-of-the-art rail system now serves Glen Eden, and the legacy
councils have amalgamated into Auckland Council. These and other factors
suggest that increased resources are needed to allow the BID to address their
challenges.
7. GEBA
have been in discussions with Auckland Council staff for over a year to explore
the potential for an expanded BID area. (See Map, Attachment A)
8. Discussions
between GEBA and council staff focussed on the requirements of the BID policy
pertaining to expansion of BID areas, including the required public
consultation process.
9. Two
different approaches to raising additional resources were considered: 1.
Expand the geographic area to include retail and commercial properties adjacent
to the current area, thus raising a higher targeted rate amount without raising
the rate or, 2. raise the targeted rate on property owners within the existing
BID area.
10. It
was decided to expand the area to keep the financial costs of the programme for
ratepayers at the current rate but still raise the funds needed for a programme
of services to meet today’s challenges, and for a wider area.
11. GEBA
passed a special resolution at their Annual General Meeting of 13 October 2014
to investigate expanding the boundary of the Glen Eden BID, leading to an
expanded BID area being operative 1 July 2016.
12. At
their 11 June 2015 meeting, Waitakere Ranges Local Board allocated $10,000 to
GEBA to partially cover the costs of the expansion process. (Resolution
WTK/2015/105)
13. At
their meeting of 10 March 2016 the Waitakere Ranges Local Board approved the
expansion ballot process for the Glen Eden BID expansion. (Resolution
WTK/2016/19)
14. GEBA
produced promotional material to inform the public and promote the BID
expansion. They sponsored public meetings, drop-in sessions, and distributed
newsletters, flyers and information booklets, as well as meeting individually
with businesses and ratepayers. (Attachment B)
15. GEBA
staff and volunteers began contacting individual businesses and property owners
through October and November 2015 to discuss advantages of expansion and build
a business database for the ballot. Personal contact with businesses and
ratepayers continued into 2016 and through the ballot period. (Attachment B)
16. A
schedule of public meetings was published according to the BID policy to
receive comments from the Glen Eden community. These meetings were held on 9
March, 17 March, and 22 March 2016. (Attachment B)
17. In
April 2016 GEBA undertook a ballot to confirm support for expanding the
boundaries of the Glen Eden BID to include the adjacent retail, commercial and
industrial areas.
18. The
ballot was undertaken from 5 April 2016 when ballots were posted until 27
April. This constituted the three week voting period required by council’s BID
policy. The official ballot process was undertaken by Election Services, Inc.
(ESI)
19. Each ballot pack contained the following documents:
· The BID boundary map (Attachment
A)
· Information on the targeted rate,
the rating mechanism, purpose and benefits of a BID, rationale for expanding
the Glen Eden BID, letter from GEBA to voters on expansion benefits, and the
ballot form including contact details for Auckland Council officer and ESI for
eligible voters to contact with questions other information (Attachment B)
20. 104 ballot packages were sent out by post. The ballot question was:
“Do you support the expansion of the Glen
Eden Business Improvement District (BID) programme, as defined on the
accompanying map, which is to be delivered by the Glen Eden Village Business
Association, and accordingly support the paying of a targeted rate?” Voters had a choice of voting Yes or No.
(Attachment B)
21. For
the ballot, 39 ballots were returned for a 37.5% return rate. This return rate
exceeds the minimum requirement for a valid ballot result, set by the BID
policy, of a 25% return rate.
22. Of
the returned ballots, 31, or 79.5% voted in favour of expanding the BID, and
8, or 20.5% voted against. (Attachment C)
23. Council
officers are satisfied that GEBA has complied with the council BID policy and
conducted an appropriate consultation and communication programme and are
supportive of expanding the Glen Eden BID area and applying the BID targeted
rate to this area.
24. Council
officers recommend that the Waitakere Ranges Local Board recommend to the
Governing Body to strike the targeted rate as of 1 July 2016 as part of its
approval of the Annual Plan.
25. Additional
information from the consultation process including notice of public meetings,
meeting agendas, follow-up letter, GEBA Strategic Plan, and pre- and
post-expansion BID budget are in Attachment B.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
26. Waitākere
Ranges Local Board approved funding in the amount of $10,000 at their 11 June
2015 meeting for partial costs of the BID establishment
process. (Resolution RD/2014/173)
27. Waitākere
Ranges Local Board approved for balloting purposes the expansion of the Glen
Eden BID area at their 10 March 2016 meeting. (Resolution WTK/2016/19)
Māori impact statement
28. Maori
businesses will be affected in the same manner and will benefit to the same
degree as other businesses if the expansion is successful.
Implementation
29. The new
targeted rate budget for the Glen Eden BID will be included in the Auckland
Council Annual Plan 2016/2017 and the rate struck.
30. The expanded
Glen Eden BID will collect targeted rates revenue of $83,678 starting 1 July
2016. There is no cost to Auckland Council or the Waitākere Ranges Local
Board.
31. Glen Eden
Business Association will operate the expanded BID programme through a
professional manager, overseen by a committee that is representative of the
business community in the BID area.
32. GEBA will make
periodic reports to the local board as per the council BID policy, and as
needed.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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BID Boundary Map and Ballot Package
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13
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bView
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Glen Eden Consultation Materials and Information
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21
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cView
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Official Expansion Ballot Report
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45
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Signatories
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Authors
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Steven Branca - BID Partnership Advisor
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Authorisers
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Gillian Plume - Team Leader BID Partnership
Alastair Cameron – Manager CCO Governance and External
Partnerships
Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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Kauri dieback coordinator work programme 2016/2017
File No.: CP2016/08763
Purpose
1. To seek
allocation of a budget of $48,000 to a project to raise awareness of kauri
dieback, including the appointment of a kauri dieback co-ordinator, in the
2016/2017 financial year.
Executive
Summary
2. Kauri dieback
is a disease which constitutes a serious threat to the wellbeing of kauri in
Auckland.
3. To address
this issue the Waitākere Ranges board resolved, in September 2014, to fund
a community advocacy project, including the engagement of a part-time kauri
dieback community co-ordinator, for the Waitākere Ranges area, for a value
of $45,450 in the 2014/15 financial year and that this project
should be maintained over a four year period.
4. The aim of this project was ‘to work with local communities,
visitors and schools to raise awareness to prevent the spread of kauri dieback
disease.’
5. The kauri
dieback co-ordinator project has been successful in the 2015/2016 year, raising
the general public’s awareness through activities such as attending community
events, engagement with schools and the implementation of an advocacy
programme. The project has increased capacity within the
community to enhance the regional kauri dieback programme in the Waitākere
Ranges Local Board area.
6. It is
recommended that the board approve $48,000 of their budget to this project in
the 2016/2017 financial year.
7. The rationale
for the board to allocate this budget in advance of finalising their overall
budget for 2016/2017 is to ensure successful roll out of this project with no
delays and continuity of the work programme. The budget difference between
2015/2016 and 2016/2017 is an inflation adjustment.
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Recommendation/s
That the Waitākere Ranges
Local Board:
a) approve
allocation of $48,000 from the board’s 2016/2017 budget to a project to raise
awareness of kauri dieback in the Waitākere Ranges, including the
appointment of a part-time kauri dieback coordinator to co-ordinate and
implement a comprehensive community engagement project in the Waitākere
Ranges Heritage Areas and to support the Auckland Council kauri dieback
programme.
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Comments
8. Kauri dieback
constitutes a serious threat to the wellbeing of kauri ecosystems and trees in
Auckland and has killed thousands of trees in the region over the last few
years. With no known cure for kauri dieback, current advice is to protect the
kauri forests of the Waitākere Ranges by containing the disease in its
current locations and implementing measures to stop the spread into healthy
areas.
9. Management of
kauri dieback requires park users, landowners and communities to be aware of
kauri dieback and what steps can be taken (hygiene protocols) to prevent the
spread of this disease. Raising awareness and empowering communities to create
behaviour change is an area where there is real potential for a difference to
be made in containing the disease.
10. To address
this issue in September 2014, the Waitākere Ranges passed a resolution (WTK/2014/138) to
allocate budget to a ‘Kauri
dieback co-ordinator - $45,450 – 4 year contract.’
11. This
commitment was also signaled in the Waitākere Ranges Local Board Plan in
which the board stated a key outcome that ‘Our unique natural environments are
healthy and restored: Native biodiversity flourishes in our forests, coasts,
streams and marine areas.’ In addition the board also identified an aspiration
that ‘Our kauri forests are protected from the threat of kauri dieback.’
12. To achieve this the board identified employing a kauri dieback
co-ordinator as a key initiative which they would commit $45,000 annually
(adjusted for inflation) to over the life of the plan from 2014-2017.
13. The board’s vision is that the kauri dieback coordinator would ‘work
with local communities to ensure that local people and visitors are well
informed about kauri dieback and what they can do to prevent its spread.’
14. To further address kauri dieback, ensure the integrity of kauri ecosystems
remains and to protect high value kauri areas, a collaborative effort has been
developed with the national kauri dieback programme of which Auckland
Council is a partner. The partnership is led by the Ministry
for Primary Industries and also includes the Bay of Plenty Regional Council,
Department of Conservation, Northland Regional Council, Waikato Regional
Council, and Tāngata Whenua.
15. The national
programme does not deliver disease control programmes on the ground as control
and management of established pests is a council responsibility. There will be
a review of the current partnership charter to assess its value and benefits.
Council will engage in this review process and will keep the board informed as
the review progresses.
Summary of
kauri dieback co-ordinator work programme 2015/2016
16. The kauri
dieback co-ordinator has carried out a number of activities in the 2015/2016
year which contributed to the board’s overall goal for the position. These
included:
· Developing community networks and
contacts for disseminating key information and developing community stewardship
of kauri. The role has become well known in the Waitākere Ranges Local
Board area and beyond, with good volunteer support.
· Speaking, attending and providing
resources at a number of community events, these included:
o six
ratepayer group meetings in the board area
o helping
to organise and host three public meetings on kauri dieback specifically (180
people in attendance)
o dedicated
kauri-dieback stall at the Bethells-Te Henga community day, the West Coast Arts
Festival and the Kauri Karnival
o providing
presentations to two tramping clubs (80 people), two service groups (80 people)
and one Forest and Bird meeting (45 people).
· Supplied information and resources
to two tramping groups, and 73 bottles of trigene to trampers and
concessionaires.
· Supplied school educational
resources to four schools, one scout group, Lopdell House, Arataki Visitor
Centre, Corbans Estate, conservation week at Arataki Visitor Centre, and the
Karamatura Heritage Farm Day.
· Secured additional resources to
assist community engagement with kauri dieback disease issues, including
procurement, signwriting and the fit out of a dedicated kauri dieback trailer
for the Waitākere Ranges Local Board.
Kauri Dieback co-ordinator
work programme 2016/2017:
17. The key responsibilities for the co-ordinator in 2016/2017 will
include:
· Co-ordinate a volunteer advocacy
programme by supporting existing community groups and interested individuals
undertaking kauri dieback advocacy.
· Engage community groups (e.g. Forest
& Bird Society, Residents & Ratepayers associations) in the kauri
dieback programme.
· Engage landowners and community
groups through seminars and workshops to provide information on kauri and
disease management options.
· Engage schools throughout the
Waitākere Ranges area and assist the delivery of the education resource in
these areas.
· Assist with kauri dieback liaison
and or raising awareness at events throughout the Waitākere Ranges Local
Board area.
· Link into the local board’s
community programmes, such as attending the Kauri Karnival event, coordinating
a kauri dieback walk during EcoWest Festival, and other opportunities where
kauri dieback and forest health are relevant supporting messages.
· Advocate cleaning station use by
park users at high risk locations over the summer holiday period.
· Design and implement surveys to
determine levels of awareness and actions available to prevent the spread of
the disease.
· Develop opportunities to talk with
ethnic audiences, build on school and community based awareness through
repeated contacts with flexibility for innovative responses (art in the
community, community based stewardship).
· Engage with the public providing
guidance on tree and forest ecosystem health (not just site visits for soil
tests).
· Provide advice, resources and
support to keep trees healthy.
Rationale for approving
budget in advance of 2016/2017 financial year
18. It is recommended
that the board approve $48,000 of budget to this project from their 2016/2017
financial year budget.
19. The rationale
for the board to allocate this budget in advance of finalising their overall
budget for 2016/2017 is to ensure successful roll out of this project and
continuity of the work programme.
20. In particular,
this will support the maintenance and further development of relationships
formed with community groups and individuals in the 2016/2017 as part of this
ongoing project.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
21. This report
outlines a project developed for the Waitākere Ranges Local Board in line
with their direction for the kauri dieback coordinator project. It also
delivers on key outcomes of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board Plan, as
discussed above.
Māori impact statement
22. As an iconic
native New Zealand tree the survival of kauri is of key importance to mana
whenua in their role as kaitiaki. Mana whenua are engaged in the national kauri
dieback programme and are working directly with Auckland Council on the
regional kauri dieback management strategy. The kauri dieback co-ordinator will
support delivery of this work by council staff.
Implementation
23. If approved this project can be
delivered using existing council resources to manage the kauri dieback
co-ordinator in 2016/2017.
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
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Authors
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Jonathan Miles – Biosecurity team Manager
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Authorisers
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Barry Potter - Director Infrastructure and Environmental
Services
Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
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Waitakere Ranges Local Board Community Grants
Programme 2016/2017
File No.: CP2016/08172
Purpose
1. The purpose
of the report is to present the Waitākere Ranges Local Board Community
Grants Programme 2016/2017 for adoption.
Executive Summary
2. The new
Auckland Council Community Grants Policy was implemented on 1 July 2015. The
policy guides the allocation of local, multi-board and regional grant
programmes to groups and organisations delivering projects, activities and
services that benefit Aucklanders.
3. The Community
Grants Policy supports each local board to review and adopt their own local
grants programme for the next financial year.
4. This report
presents the Waitākere Ranges Local Board Community Grants Programme
2016/2017 for adoption (see attachment A).
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Recommendation/s
That the Waitākere Ranges
Local Board:
a) adopt the Waitākere
Ranges Local Board Community Grants Programme 2016/2017.
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Comments
5. The new
Auckland Council Community Grants Policy was implemented on 1 July 2015. The
policy guides the allocation of local, multi-board and regional grant
programmes to groups and organisations delivering projects, activities and
services that benefit Aucklanders.
6. The Waitākere
Ranges Local Board adopted their specific grants programme in 2015. The
Community Grants Policy supports each local board to review and adopt their own
local grants programme for the next financial year. This local board grants
programme will guide community groups and individuals when making applications
to the local board.
7. The local
board community grants programme includes:
· outcomes as identified in the local
board plan
· specific local board grant priorities
· which grant types will operate, the
number of grant rounds and opening and closing dates
· any additional criteria or exclusions
that will apply
· other factors the local board
consider to be significant to their decision-making.
8. Once the
local board community grants programme for the 2016/2017 financial year, has
been adopted, the types of grants, grant rounds, criteria and eligibility with
be advertised through an integrated communication and marketing approach which
includes utilising the local board channels.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
9. The Community Grants Programme has been developed by the local board
to set the direction of their grants programme. This programme is reviewed on
an annual basis.
Māori impact statement
10. All grant
programmes should respond to Auckland Council’s commitment to improving Maori
wellbeing by providing grants to organisations delivering positive outcomes for
Maori. Applicants are asked how their project may increase Maori outcomes in
the application form.
Implementation
11. An
implementation plan is underway and the local board grants programme will be
locally advertised through the local board and council channels. Targeted
advertising and promotion will be developed for target populations, including
migrant and refugee groups, disability groups, Maori and iwi organisations.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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Waitakere Ranges Local Board Grants Programme
2016/2017
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61
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Signatories
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Authors
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Marion Davies - Community Grants Operations Manager
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Authorisers
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Jennifer Rose - Operations Support Manager
Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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Quarterly Performance Report - March 2016
File No.: CP2016/06760
Purpose
1. To update the Waitakere Ranges Local Board on progress towards their
objectives for the year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016, as set out in their
Local Board Agreement.
Executive
Summary
2. The
attached performance report consolidation contains the following this quarter:
· Local board financial
performance report
· Local Community services
activity overview
· Local Libraries overview
· Parks, Sports and
recreation overview
· Infrastructure and
Environmental services overview.
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Recommendation/s
That the Waitākere Ranges
Local Board:
a) approve the
Quarterly Performance Report for the Waitakere Ranges Local Board for the
period ended 31 March 2016.
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Comments
3. This report has been created to give the elected members a
comprehensive and common overview of local activities from council departments
and CCO’s. Future reports are expected to include additional departmental and
CCO reports as these are developed for inclusion and discussion.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
4. The performance
report for the period ended 31 March 2016 was presented at a workshop prior to
this meeting.
Māori
impact statement
5. Maori,
as stakeholders in the council, are affected and have an interest in any report
of the local board financials. However, this financial performance report does
not impact specific outcomes or activities. As such, the content of this report
has no particular benefit to, or adverse effect on Maori.
Implementation
6. The next performance report
update will be for the quarter ended June 2016 and presented to the local board
at the August business meeting.
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
aView
|
Waitakere Ranges Quarterly Performance Report for the
period ended March 2016
|
67
|
Signatories
|
Authors
|
David Rose - Lead Financial Advisor
|
|
Authorisers
|
Christine Watson - Manager Financial Advisory Services
- Local Boards
Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
|
|
Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
|
|
Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
|
Third Quarter Waitakere Ranges Local Board work
programme review and amendment
File No.: CP2016/08231
Purpose
1. This report
seeks the Waitākere Ranges Local Board’s confirmation of additions and
changes to the adopted work programmes.
Executive Summary
2. The
Waitākere Ranges Local Board adopted departmental work programmes
including budget allocations for the 2015/16 year. Regular quarterly
performance reports provide an opportunity for the Waitākere Ranges Local
Board to review progress and respond to changes in activity.
3. This report
provides an opportunity for additions and changes to the adopted work programmes
and reallocation of budget to deliver on the local board plan and its
priorities.
4. The Nine
Month Performance Report has identified operational budget of just over
$155,000 in a number of local board activity areas that is available for
reallocation to new projects (Table 1).
|
Community services
|
|
|
Community Arts Programme
|
20,000
|
|
Art on the Beach
|
15,000
|
|
Events
|
21,500
|
|
Civic Events
|
8,000
|
|
Community Waitakere shared work
programme
|
20,000
|
|
Neighbourhood development
|
29,650
|
|
Community group assistance
|
28,000
|
|
WW1 commemorations and heritage
|
8,000
|
|
Parks
|
0
|
|
Events in local parks
|
2,000
|
|
Planning
|
0
|
|
Connector shuttle service plans
|
3,000
|
|
Total
|
155,150
|
Table 1: Budget
lines available for reallocation or further direction
5. A short list of potential
projects are provided in Attachment A to the report.
|
Recommendations
That the Waitākere
Ranges Local Board:
a) approve the
following projects with the associated additions and changes to work
programmes, and reallocation of budget (see Attachment A) to deliver on the
local board plan and its priorities:
|
|
Projects
|
Budget
|
|
|
Community services
|
|
|
1
|
Glen Eden: a future for everyone - understanding and
mitigating the impacts of population growth and gentrification
|
20,000
|
|
2
|
Additional funding for
discretionary community grants
|
10,500
|
|
3
|
Titirangi art history grant to support an Anne
McCahon exhibition
|
8,000
|
|
4
|
Pacific focus readers and writers event – Going West
Trust
|
10,000
|
|
5
|
Arts project to engage youth – “OneOne” Imagine the
Lane
|
3,500
|
|
|
Parks
|
000
|
|
6
|
Small parks improvement project (Glucina Reserve) -
ecological restoration
|
20,000
|
|
7
|
Design guidelines for local parks in the heritage
area
|
2,000
|
|
8
|
Waitakere Ranges Greenways Plan
|
15,000
|
|
|
Planning and development
|
0
|
|
9
|
Glen Eden Town Centre landscape plan
|
10,000
|
|
|
Environmental management
|
000
|
|
10
|
WRHA programme - community weed bins
|
25,000
|
|
11
|
Roadside weed projects
|
10,000
|
|
12
|
Community Environmental Services - War on weeds
enhancement / Plastic bag campaign
|
8,500
|
|
13
|
Ecological restoration – Ministry of Education land,
Seaview Rd, Piha
|
5,000
|
|
|
Heritage
|
00
|
|
14
|
Heritage restoration grants – war memorials
|
6,000
|
|
|
Libraries
|
00
|
|
15
|
Library – maker space equipment
|
1,500
|
|
|
Total
|
155,000
|
b) delegate authority to the Chair to approve
the minor budget variations, in consultation with the relevant portfolio
holder
|
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
aView
|
Potential projects and budgets
|
113
|
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Brett Lane - Local Board Advisor
|
|
Authorisers
|
Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
|
|
Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
|
|
Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
|
Community halls assistance 2015-2016
File No.: CP2016/08288
Purpose
1. To
seek approval for the allocation of a term grant to support community
organisations that operate the nine rural community halls in the Waitakere
Ranges area.
Executive
Summary
2. Funding
of up to $42,000 is available for allocation to support community organisations
that operate and maintain community halls for public use within the Waitakere
Ranges area.
3. The
eligible halls and the associated organisations in Waitakere Ranges Local Board
area are:
i. Barnett Hall – Piha Community
Centre Society Incorporated
ii. Huia Hall – The Huia Cornwallis
Ratepayers and Residents Association Incorporated
iii. Laingholm Village Hall – The
Laingholm and District Citizens Association (1998) Incorporated
iv. Oratia Settlers Hall – Oratia
District Ratepayers and Residents Association Incorporated
v. Oratia Small Hall – Oratia
District Ratepayers and Residents Association Incorporated
vi. Paturoa Bay Hall – Paturoa Bay
Ratepayers and Residents’ Association (Titirangi Beach) Incorporated
vii. Waiatarua hall – The Waiatarua
Ratepayers and Residents Association Incorporated
viii. Waitakere Domain Hall – The
Waitakere Residents and Ratepayers Association Incorporated
ix. Waitakere Township Hall – The
Waitakere Residents and Ratepayers Association Incorporated.
4. This
report proposes two approaches to allocation:
Option One: equal distribution for each eligible community hall of
$4,666
Option
Two: allocation
is weighted to support community owned halls with a maximum grant capped at
$6,000 for each hall operated.
5. Council
staff recommend Option Two which supports a weighted distribution of the
funds in terms of tenant/owner responsibilities in maintaining and operating
each community hall.
|
Recommendations
That the Waitākere
Ranges Local Board:
a) approve allocation of $42,000 from the Community Group Assistance
budget to support the operation of community halls.
b) allocate the following amounts through funding agreements to
community organisations that operate community halls:
Community
run/council owned halls
|
|
Organisation
|
Hall
|
Amount
|
|
1
|
Laingholm and District Citizens
Association (1998) Incorporated
|
Laingholm Village Hall
|
3,600
|
|
2
|
Oratia District Ratepayers and
Residents Association Incorporated
|
Oratia Settlers Hall
Oratia Small Hall
|
7,200
|
|
3
|
Waiatarua Ratepayers and Residents
Association Incorporated
|
Waiatarua Hall
|
3,600
|
|
4
|
Waitakere Residents and Ratepayers
Association Incorporated
|
Waitakere Domain Hall
|
3,600
|
|
|
Sub total
|
|
18,000
|
Community owned halls
|
|
Organisation
|
Hall
|
Amount
|
|
1
|
Piha Community Centre Society
Incorporated
|
Barnett Hall
|
6,000
|
|
2
|
Huia Cornwallis Ratepayers and
Residents Association Incorporated
|
Huia Hall
|
6,000
|
|
3
|
Waiatarua Ratepayers and Residents
Association Incorporated
|
Waiatarua Hall
|
6,000
|
|
4
|
Waitakere Residents and Ratepayers
Association Incorporated
|
Waitakere Township Hall
|
6,000
|
|
|
Sub total
|
|
24,000
|
|
Comments
6. Grant
allocations have historically been provided to community halls in the Waitākere
Ranges Local Board area to support community operated, not for profit community
halls which are available for public use.
7. The
Waitākere Ranges Local Board has discretionary funding available that
could be allocated by way of a term grant to help hall management committees to
provide meeting spaces for local communities in ways that best meet the needs
of the community.
8. Utilising
previous criteria, to be eligible groups must be a locally run and managed
community hall provider, which is:
· run on a not for profit basis
· open to the general public to use and/or
hire operating within the Waitakere Ranges Local Board boundaries
· not managed by a single focused group, eg
scouts/sports clubs/interest groups
9. The
eligible halls for consideration for a term grant for 2015-2016 in Waitakere
Ranges Local Board area are:
i. Barnett Hall –
Piha Community Centre Society Incorporated
ii. Huia Hall –
The Huia Cornwallis Ratepayers and Residents Association Incorporated
iii. Laingholm
Village Hall – The Laingholm and District Citizens Association (1998)
Incorporated
iv. Oratia Settlers
Hall – Oratia District Ratepayers and Residents Association Incorporated
v. Oratia Small
Hall – Oratia District Ratepayers and Residents Association Incorporated
vi. Paturoa Bay
Hall – Paturoa Bay Ratepayers and Residents’ Association (Titirangi Beach)
Incorporated
vii. Waiatarua hall
– The Waiatarua Ratepayers and Residents Association Incorporated
viii. Waitakere
Domain Hall – The Waitakere Residents and Ratepayers Association Incorporated
ix. Waitakere
Township Hall – The Waitakere Residents and Ratepayers Association
Incorporated.
10. The
community halls can be separated into three categories due to their occupancy
and/or owner responsibilities.
|
Council owned
building on council land
|
Group owned
building on council/government land
|
Group owned
building and land
|
|
1. Laingholm Village
Hall
2. Waiatarua Hall
3. Oratia Settlers Hall
4. Oratia Small Hall
5. Waitakere Domain
Hall
|
1. Paturoa Bay Hall
|
1. Barnetts Hall
2. Huia Hall
3. Waitakere Township
Hall
|
Refer to Attachment A
which details the extent of the operational expenses associated with the
different occupational responsibilities.
11. The
allocation options for local board consideration are:
12. Option
One-Equal Distribution
Under this option, the
eligible groups would be granted $4,666 for the operation and maintenance of
each hall under their management. Refer to Table below (14).
All groups are
acknowledged for the service they are providing to their community. No
consideration is made for those community organisations that have greater
maintenance and compliance costs.
13. Option
Two- Allocation is weighted to support community owned halls with a
maximum grant capped at $6,000 for each hall
Under this option it is
recommended that the local board provide a base level grant of $3,600 to the
operators of each community hall, with a supplementary amount to operators of
community owned halls of $2,400 to recognize the greater burden of cost for
these groups to operate and maintain the halls.
The four eligible groups
who own their own buildings are allocated $6,000 for the operation and
maintenance each community hall under their management. The four groups who
operate from council owned facilities are allocated $3,600 for the operation
and maintenance of each community hall under their management. Refer to Table
below (14).
The groups who own and
operate their own buildings for the benefit of the wider community are
acknowledged for the service provided by a larger amount than the other groups
in council owned buildings.
14. Table
below details the allocation amount calculated to each society under each
option for each community hall.
|
Society
|
Option One
|
Option Two
|
|
The Huia Cornwallis Ratepayers and
Residents Association Incorporated
|
$4,666
|
$6,000
|
|
Paturoa Bay Ratepayers and Residents
(Titirangi Beach) Association Incorporated
|
$4,666
|
$6,000
|
|
Piha Community Centre Society
Incorporated
|
$4,666
|
$6,000
|
|
Oratia District Ratepayers and Residents
Association Incorporated (two halls)
|
$4,666
|
$7,200
|
|
The Laingholm and District Citizens
Association (1998) Incorporated
|
$4,666
|
$3,600
|
|
The Waitakere Residents and Ratepayers
Association Incorporated (two halls)
|
$4,666
|
$9,600
|
|
The Waiatarua Ratepayers and Residents
Association Incorporated
|
$4,666
|
$3,600
|
|
$41,998
|
$42,000
|
Consideration
Local Board views and implications
15. The
local board has indicated support for continuing to provide support to
community halls through it discretionary funding and is the decision maker on
allocating funds.
Māori impact statement
16. Opportunities
for Maori to pursue social, cultural and environmental activities will continue
to be available through the community halls operated by the nine community
associations in Waitakere Ranges area.
Implementation
17. For 2015-2016 council staff recommend that these funds be
distributed as an annual grant across all the community hall operators listed
via a funding agreement.
18. Should the local board approve the allocation method, council staff
will allocate the grants by 30 June 2016.
19. Each group
allocated a grant will be required to provide a report in 2016 one month
following its Annual General Meeting on the following:
· utilisation
statistics based on number of bookable spaces available and capacity of those
spaces.
· expenditure of
grant to support the operation and maintenance of the community hall
· a copy of the
financial accounts either reviewed or audited in accordance with rules of
incorporation
· as updates occur
will supply a copy of the constitution and an update of any changes to elected
officers
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
aView
|
Profile of the nine community hall providers
|
123
|
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Brett Lane - Local Board Advisor
|
|
Authorisers
|
Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
|
|
Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
|
Responsibilities for
the halls can be separated into the following three categories with associated
operational expenses:
|
Council owned building on council land
|
Group owned building on council/government land
|
Group owned building and land
|
|
1. Laingholm
Village Hall
2. Waiatarua
Hall
3. Oratia
Settlers Hall and Small Hall*
4. Waitakere
Domain Hall
|
1. Paturoa
Bay Hall
|
1. Barnetts
Hall
2. Huia Hall
3. Waitakere
Township Hall
|
|
Community Group responsible as tenant for:
|
Community Group responsible as owner for:
|
Community Group responsible as owner for:
|
|
· Booking administration
|
· Booking administration
|
· Booking administration
|
|
· Power
|
· Power
|
· Power
|
|
· Water
|
· Water
|
· Water
|
|
· Public liability insurance
|
· Public liability insurance
|
· Public liability insurance
|
|
· Contents insurance
|
· Property and contents insurance
|
· Property and contents insurance
|
|
· N/A
|
· N/A
|
· Rates (rebate eligibility)
|
|
· Tenant alarm and security activations
|
· Tenant alarm and security activations
|
· Tenant alarm and security activations
|
|
· Fire evacuation procedures and health and safety
notices to users
|
· Fire evacuation procedures and health and safety
notices to users
|
· Fire evacuation procedures and health and safety
notices to users
|
|
· Maintenance of fixtures and fittings
|
· Maintenance of fixtures and fittings
|
· Maintenance of fixtures and fittings
|
|
· Grounds maintenance
|
· Grounds maintenance
|
· Grounds maintenance
|
|
· Cleaning
|
· Cleaning
|
· Cleaning
|
|
Council responsible for
*exception
|
Group responsible for building
|
Group responsible for
|
|
· Property insurance
|
|
|
|
· Property maintenance responsive and renewal
|
· Property maintenance responsive and renewal
|
· Property maintenance responsive and renewal
|
|
· Property infrastructure and utilities
|
· Property infrastructure and utilities
|
· Property infrastructure and utilities
|
|
· Fire systems and compliance with fire and egress
codes
|
· Fire systems and compliance with fire and egress
codes
|
· Fire systems and compliance with fire and egress
codes
|
|
· Building Warrant of Fitness
|
· Building Warrant of Fitness
|
· Building Warrant of Fitness
|
|
· Fixtures and fittings replacement
|
· Fixtures and fittings replacement
|
· Fixtures and fittings replacement
|
*Please note an exception: Oratia Settlers Hall and
Small Hall. There is an anomaly between requirements stipulated in its lease
with Auckland Council and council’s responsibilities as building owner.
|
Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
|
Governance Forward Work Calendar
File No.: CP2016/08754
Purpose
1. To present to the board with a
governance forward work calendar.
Executive
Summary
2. This report
introduces the governance forward work calendar: a schedule of items that will
come before the board at business meetings over the upcoming months. The
governance forward work calendar for the board is included in Attachment A.
3. The calendar
aims to support local boards’ governance role by:
· ensuring advice on agendas and workshop
material is driven by local board priorities
· clarifying what advice is required and
when
· clarifying the rationale for reports.
4. The calendar
will be updated every month. Each update will be reported back to business
meetings and distributed to relevant Council staff. It is recognised that at
times items will arise that are not programmed. Board members are welcome to
discuss changes to the calendar.
|
Recommendation/s
That the Waitākere Ranges
Local Board:
a) notes the updated Governance
Forward Work Calendar for May 2016 (attachment A).
|
Comments
5. Council’s
Quality Advice Programme aims to improve the focus, analysis, presentation and
timeliness of staff advice to elected representatives. An initiative under this
is to develop forward work calendars for governing body committees and local
boards. These provide elected members with better visibility of the types of
governance tasks they are being asked to undertake and when they are scheduled.
6. Although the
document is new, there are no new projects in the governance forward work
calendar. The calendar brings together in one schedule reporting on all of the
board’s projects and activities previously approved in the local board plan,
long-term plan, departmental work programmes and through other board decisions.
It includes governing body policies and initiatives that call for a local board
response.
7. This
initiative is intended to support the boards’ governance role. It will also
help staff to support local boards, as an additional tool to manage workloads
and track activities across council departments, and it will allow greater
transparency for the public.
8. The calendar
is arranged in three columns, “Topic”, “Purpose” and “Governance Role”:
· Topic describes the items and may
indicate how they fit in with broader processes such as the annual plan
· Purpose indicates the aim of the item,
such as formally approving plans or projects, hearing submissions or receiving
progress updates
· Governance role is a higher-level
categorisation of the work local boards do. Examples of the seven governance
categories are tabled on the following page.
|
Governance role
|
Examples
|
|
Setting direction/priorities/budget
|
Capex projects, work programmes, annual plan
|
|
Local initiatives/specific decisions
|
Grants, road names, alcohol bans
|
|
Input into regional decision-making
|
Comments on regional bylaws, policies, plans
|
|
Oversight and monitoring
|
Local board agreement, quarterly performance reports,
review projects
|
|
Accountability to the public
|
Annual report
|
|
Engagement
|
Community hui, submissions processes
|
|
Keeping informed
|
Briefings, cluster workshops
|
9. Board members
are welcome to discuss changes to the calendar. The calendar will be updated
and reported back every month to business meetings. Updates will also be
distributed to relevant Council staff.
Consideration
Local Board views and implications
10. All local
boards are being presented with governance forward work calendars for their
consideration.
Māori impact statement
11. The projects
and processes referred to in the governance forward work calendar will have a
range of implications for Māori which will be
considered when the work is reported.
Implementation
12. Staff will
review the calendar each month in consultation with board members and will
report an updated calendar to the board.
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
aView
|
Governance Forward Work Programme Calendar May 2016
|
127
|
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Raewyn Curran - Senior Local Board Advisor
|
|
Authorisers
|
Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
|
|
Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
|
|
Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
|
Portfolio update: Member Sandra Coney
File No.: CP2016/08908
Purpose
1. This
report provides an opportunity for Member Sandra Coney to give an update with
regards to activity within her portfolio areas.
2. Portfolio
holders are responsible for leading policy development in their portfolio area,
proposing and developing project concepts, overseeing agreed projects within
budgets, being active advocates, accessing and providing information and
advice.
3. Member
Coney has lead for the portfolios of Historic Heritage/Character and Parks
area.
Executive
Summary
The Board has
recently made progress on a number of projects that have been under discussion
for some time.
Swanson
Junior Skatepark
4. On
14 April 2016 the Local Board had a report on its agenda regarding an extension
to the Swanson Skatepark for younger skaters. The proposal from Parks was that
it be located up and behind the existing facility, but this provoked some
community concern that the limited active surveillance allowed by this
location, would result in it becoming a place that encouraged behavioural
problems.
5. The
Board heard this and asked officers to find out whether the funding allowed us
to investigate a preferred site on Swanson Road, beside the existing skatepark.
This had been the original preferred site but it had been moved away because of
the cost of a retaining wall and some apparent uncertainty about what was in
the ground.
6. The
skatepark extension was being funded by “growth funding” and we were unsure
whether this would be available should the project get delayed.
7. We were
pleased to learn from Parks staff that they may continue to develop the scope
of the project and apply for funding for the project in future years from the
Growth Fund. The programme team may consider funding the project in the
2016/2017 financial year when details are available.
8. Therefore
Parks can continue to investigate the use of the open grass site to the west of
the current skate facility for a junior skate facility.
Huia Domain Seawall
9. Progress is
being made to an acceptable approach to the erosion at the Huia Sea Wall. A
group comprising representatives of the community has been meeting regularly
with our parks and coastal teams and a preferred option developed which will
enable a beach with sand and protect the full extent of the Domain. This has
yet to come to the Board for a decision, as the option needs to go out for
feedback from the whole community.
10. The Huia
Domain Seawall consultation will be held at Huia Domain Sunday 15 May
between 11am and 1pm.
11. The working
group has been using five design principles. These principles are:
· Preserve the domain
and related open space.
· Work with
coastal processes (satisfy technical considerations).
· A response
that can be adapted in the future.
· Meet
regulatory framework.
· Provide
for mana whenua values.
12. The
consultation will give the wider community an opportunity to provide feedback
on the option.
13. Works to
improve drainage around the pohutukawa trees at Huia Domain will be starting at
the beginning of May and will last about a week, weather dependent.
Aquatic signage at Piha and Te
Henga
14. After
consultation with stakeholders, and, in the case of Piha, a site visit with
stakeholders, the Board settled on locations for the signs, the number of signs
and the appearance of the signs.
15. There is an Australasian standard for aquatic signs and the
Board also had to balance the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008. We hope
the signs fit in with the environment and also do the job of warning people
about dangers on the beaches.
Design Guidelines for parks in
the Heritage Area
16. The Board is about to embark on design guidelines for our local
parks in the Heritage Area. There are already design guidelines for Piha parks,
which were adopted from regional parks in the Piha area.
17. The guidelines
will cover such things as parks furniture and infrastructure such as picnic
tables, seats, toilets, gates, and also style and placement of signs, plantings
and so on. The aim will be for the guidelines to give effect to the Heritage
Area Act.
18. We are lucky that Liza Oldfield, who did the Piha guidelines,
is now on the Council staff and will do this exercise. There will be
consultation with locals at a number of locations about the guidelines and
parks in their area.
Recent works
19. Works to replace seven single 100L bins with double 100L bins
at various locations in Piha was undertaken in early May. The single bins that
are removed from Piha will be installed at French Bay to replace the bins there
that are very old and rusted. Work is also being undertaken to replace the
helicopter landing lights at Piha, and install them in a concrete strip to
prevent damage from mowers. Stakeholders were consulted and agreed with the
option being implemented. Other works coming up, are the replacement of the
toilet block by the Parrs Park playground and some enhancement of the
surrounding area to provide good sitting places for parents and families that
provide shade.
20.
|
Recommendation/s
That the Waitākere Ranges
Local Board:
a) Receives the Portfolio Update
from Member Sandra Coney.
|
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Tua Viliamu - Democracy Advisor
|
|
Authorisers
|
Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
|
|
Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
|
|
Chairperson's Report
File No.: CP2016/08911
Heritage and
WW1
Unveiling of
Niuean memorial
1. I was privileged to attend the unveiling on
23 April of a memorial to the 150 Niuean soldiers who went to WW1 as part of
the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Pioneer Maori Battalion.
2. The memorial was a joint project of the
Puketapapa Local Board and the Niuean community. The event took the form of a
church service, with stories of individual soldiers told by the Niuean
community, singing, including a very fine rendition of the Pioneer Maori
Battalion song, and addresses by local ministers, the Local Board and MP Phil
Goff.
3. The unveiling took place at the Mt Roskill
Memorial Park in Mays Road, Mt Roskill. The memorial features the names of all
the men who served and it was moving to see descendants searching out their
relatives’ names and laying wreaths.
4. The island of Niue offered to send troops
from the moment it heard war had broken out, but the offer was not taken up
until the numbers of men in the Pioneer Maori Battalion was thinned by the
experience on Gallipoli and difficulties in recruiting troops in New Zealand.
Niuean troops recuperating at the Nurses Club,
Mountain Road, Epsom,
October 1916, after their return from Europe. The
woman with the hat
at centre is the mayoress, Mrs JH Gunson.
Photo Schmidt Collection, Sir George Grey Special
Collections, Auckland Libraries
5. MP Sir Maui Pomare went to Niue and
personally brought back troops: 150 men in all. Only 10-12 of the men spoke
English and they struggled with the cold weather, unfamiliar food and exposure
to European diseases. Initially they served on the Western Front but the rate
of illness decimated the troops. By April 1916, 52% of the Niueans had been
hospitalised. All the men were taken to Hornchurch Hospital in England where
the local people took them to heart and brought them fruit and more familiar
foods. Only 18% went through the war without being hospitalised.
Vilipate was the first death of a Niuean soldier, in
1915, at Narrow Neck Camp.
He is buried at O’Neill’s Point Cemetery, Bayswater
6. In all, there were 16 deaths. Some are buried
at O’Neills Point cemetery, some in Egypt, Europe and England, a number were
buried at sea and one soldier is buried in Waikumete Cemetery.
The new Niuean WW1 memorial unveiled by the Puketapapa
Local Board and Niuean community
7. Before Anzac Day, I was contacted by a
descendant of one of the men, and was privileged to read a statement she wrote
for me at the 11 am Anzac service at Waikumete. Her grandfather, who lived
through the war and later settled in Auckland, is buried at Waikumete. That
speech is attached.
8. The role of troops from the Pacific is not
well known. On 20 April I attended a seminar by Christine Liava’a at Auckland
Library on the Pacific contribution. Christine has written monographs on
soldiers from Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. In all,
she says, about 5000 men from the Pacific served in the Allied forces, mostly
from New Caledonia in the French forces. About 1000 men came from Niue, Cook Islands,
Kiribas, Tuvala, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. She also told us about a new book by
Howard Weddell, entitled Soldiers from the Pacific, which I borrowed
from Auckland Libraries. I have now ordered a copy for myself as it is
essential reading for anyone interested in this little known chapter of WW1.
9. The attention to Pacific troops is a very
significant aspect of the WW1 centenary commemorations.
Auckland Heritage Festival
10. Heritage is high on the Board’s local agenda
at the moment and we encourage people from the area to get involved in upcoming
events.
11. The annual Auckland
Heritage Festival 2016 event submissions are now open.
12. The 2016 Festival will
be held between Saturday 24 September 2016 – Sunday 9 October 2016. This period
covers two weeks and three weekends and occurs during the school holiday
period.
13. The festival was originally an initiative of
Auckland City Council, but since amalgamation the festival has gone
region-wide. It is an opportunity to celebrate local history, and events take
the form of walks, talks, displays, performances, events, anything you can
dream up. The festival organisers are really keen to see events occur outside
the city centre, so this is the chance to focus on this part of the world, and
to tell the story of the people and places.
14. To be part of the
festival – which provides the advantages of publicity and being on the
programme - you need to apply. Event submissions need to be received before 5pm on Friday 20 May.
Heritage Conference
15. The Local Board
is planning a heritage conference during the Festival. The theme is “New
stories of the old West” and we are looking for new research and new stories,
so please get your thinking caps on as we would love to feature local stories
on the programme.
16. New technology
means we can fill out some of the old stories even more. Papers Past can be
searched by putting in a place name or person’s name, and you would be amazed
at the stories that come up. You can search Archives New Zealand in the same way,
though you still have to go in to see the actual documents. I’ve just found an
online site called DigitalNZ which is a portal in a treasure trove of documents
and photos. Another archive where you still have to do things the old way is
the Council’s Archives, located under the central city library. They hold all
the old minute books, and documents relating to Auckland City Council which
once stretched out this way.
17. The planned
Heritage Conference will take the form of keynote presentations, then themed
workshops where two or three presenters talk about their work. The Council’s
Events team is assisting with the conference, but the Board is also supported
by an expert advisory group to help shape the programme.
18. There will also
be the opportunity to present displays of work. There may be spin-off events
such as site visits, walks, and exhibitions. This will be an opportunity for
history buffs to get together and share work.
19. I will report
more as this develops.
Publication of Exhibition
Drive – 100 years of making the grade
20. In 2014, the
Local Board gave a grant to Friends of Arataki towards the publication of a
history of Exhibition Drive, Titirangi. The drive was built to bring visitors
into the Waitakeres in the year of the Great Exhibition, 1914.
21. It was
superceded by the construction of the Scenic Drive during the Depression of the
1930s.
22. Today it is a
very popular walking and cycling route for locals from Titirangi and visitors
alike. In 2010, the regional parks of Auckland Council completed a project to
link the drive to Arataki Visitor Centre via a new track, the Beveridge Track.
23. In 2014, the
Friends commemorated the centenary of the drive with a morning tea, insertion
of a time capsule and parade of vintage cars. The ARC had previously installed
interpretation along the drive pointing out highlights, such as the site of the
former homestead of parks’ ranger family, the Beveridges, and the horse
paddock.
24. Former
president of the Friends, Fiona Drummond, undertook the writing of the book
which was launched at Arataki on 31 March 2016. The Board congratulates Fiona
and the Friends on the completion of this project. The book can be obtained
from the Friends or at Arataki.
Sandra Coney with author Fiona Drummond (left) at the
book launch
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Recommendation/s
That the Waitākere Ranges
Local Board:
a) Receives the
Chairperson’s report.
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Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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Anzac Day 2016 speech
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137
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Signatories
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Authors
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Tua Viliamu - Democracy Advisor
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Authorisers
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Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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Anzac Day, 25 April 2016
Waikumete
Cemetery 11am
Servicemen
and women, returned servicemen and women, families of all who have gone to war
wearing the New Zealand colours, Ladies and Gentlemen, girls and boys.
2016
is the 100th anniversary of the Somme, the battle which perhaps more
than any other introduced all the allied nations to what an industrialised war
– a war with modern techonology - could mean.
It
was not a matter of man against man, but a war of horrifily destructive weapons
and the insidious horror of toxic gas.
The
Somme offensive was designed to crack the German lines on the Western front for
once and for all.
On
the first day of the Somme, 1 July 1916, 19,240 British soldiers were killed,
and 40,000 were injured. This remains Britain’s single worst day ever in
battle.
The
New Zealand Division did not join the Somme offensive until mid-September 1916,
and we usually mark that event on 11 September. The Waitakere Ranges Local
Board will be commemorating the Somme event with a concert by the New Zealand
Artillery Band at Glen Eden on September 25.
15,000
New Zealanders went into battle at the Somme, 6,000 were wounded and 2,000
died. Half of those men have no known grave.
By
the end of the offensive on 18 November 1916, the allies had advanced at most
12 km into German held territory, about the distance a fit young man could run
in an hour.
There
are veterans of those campaigns in this cemetery, among the many soldiers
buried here.
Today
I want to talk about a very special group of the men buried at Waikumete, the
soldiers who came from the Pacific to fight in the Pioneer Maori Battalion.
One
outcome of the centenary commemorations is the recognition that there was no
one way the war was experienced at the time, and that even after 100 years,
those different experiences reverberate.
Until
the beginning of the centenary, it was not well known by most New Zealanders,
that New Zealand’s first action in the war was the annexation or occupation of
what was then known as German Samoa.
Today
Samoans are a major part of the population of Auckland. As we hold
commemorations, we are hearing how the war affected the Samoan people, particularly
the introduction of influenza, which went on to kill 22% of the Samoan
population, judged to be one of the worst pandemics ever anywhere in the
world.
On
Saturday, I was privileged to go to the unveiling of a memorial to the Niuean
soldiers in Mt Roskill, a project of the Niuean community and the Puketapapa
Local Board. It is wonderful that – 100 years on - we are able to finally
commemorate the contribution of the Pacific nations to the war, and it is a
significant outcome of the effort we are putting into the centenary.
Around
500 men enlisted from all over the Cooks, some from as far away as Pukapuka in
the Northern Cooks, where even today it takes 4 days on the deck of a boat to
get to Rarotonga.
I
was recently in Mangaia in the Southern Cooks. There is a very imposing war
memorial obelisk that stands in the village centre. There are 300 people
living on Mangaia today. In 1915, the population would have been larger than
this, but nevertheless it seems extraordinary that nearly 120 men went from
this one remote island to World War One.
There
were also many Pacifica men who enlisted in the New Zealand and Australian
Expeditionary Forces as individuals, and others joined the French and
Americans. One joined the elite Royal Flying Corps.
This
cemetery contains a number of graves of WW1 soldiers from the Pacific and
veterans who remained or later came to New Zealand to settle.
One
of the earliest WW1 burials in the cemetery is that of the Cook Islands
soldier, Corporal Peter Solomona, from the tiny island of Manihiki, in the
Northern Cooks. On enlistment, he was a fit young man working as a labourer.
Reports
of the men recruited in the Pacific comment on their magnificent physiques.
Many had been pearl divers and plantation workers in their home islands. They
were generally bigger and taller than their New Zealand counterparts, who quite
often are surprisingly small men.
Solomona
became ill while serving on the Western Front. He was hospitalised and a mass
was found in his abdomen. He was invalided back to New Zealand on the Marama
in January 1917 and died at Auckland Hospital on 3 April 1917. The cause of
death was cancer of the stomach.
He
was buried with full military honours. His grave is not within the military
section of the cemetery because it had not been created at that time. He is the
only Cook Islands soldier buried at Waikumete during WW1.
There
are also two Niuean soldiers who were buried at Waikumete during the war:
Timoko who died on 21 September 1916, and Taumataua who died on the 19 December
1916. Timoko went overseas with the 3rd Maori Reinforcements, became
ill and was returned to New Zealand where he died in Auckland Hospital of
tuberculosis.
Taumataua’s
story is the same: the journey overseas, illness, return to New Zealand, hospitalisation
and death from tuberculosis.
These
Pacific soldiers all volunteered. From the moment war was declared, Pacific
nations offered troops to join the British and New Zealanders.
The
offer was not taken up immediately, there was some prejudice, especially at the
British end against indigenous peoples joining the war. In Fiji, for example,
early on they recruited sons of white planters but not indigenous troops. New
Zealand had to argue for a Maori Battalion.
As
the war went on, New Zealand was finding it hard to fill numbers in the Maori
Pioneer Battalion. Many Waikato and Ngati Porou were resistant to enlistment,
Waikato’s leader Te Puea famously saying that once they got their land back,
they would think about fighting. The Maori MPs, such as Ngata and Pomare, had
quotas to fill, and this was how men from Pacific countries such as Niue and
Rarotonga filled the ranks in the Maori Battalion.
The
Niueans were the first to go and they had a terrible time with the cold,
wearing boots for the first time, and with no resistance to European diseases.
At both Narrow Neck Camp and in Europe, men from the Pacific succumbed to
diseases like influenza, pneumonia and TB.
The
Niueans were on the Western Front and both Niueans and Rarotongans were used as
ammunition loaders in Egypt, at which they excelled. For many, they were able
to visit places they had read about in the Bible and this had great significance.
One
of the Niueans buried in this soldiers part of the cemetery is Pimeleko. He
served in the 3rd Maori Reinforcements and after the war settled in
Auckland. His grand-daughter Mata Smith, kindly wrote for me about the
experiences of these men and I am going to read this.
“When the news of WW1 reached the
tiny, isolated island of Niue, the people wanted to do something to help. After
a lot of discussion between the elders and members of the community and with
the help of a missionary from the London Missionary Society, a telegram was
sent to King George offering help. Either young men could be recruited to fight
in the armies or the community could raise money for the war effort by making
copra and by weaving articles for sale.
The contents of this telegram were
published in British newspapers. The people of Britain were touched and
impressed by this kind and patriotic offer. The offer of soldiers to serve in
the war effort was accepted.
A group of one hundred and 40 men was
recruited. They were excited at the prospect but knew absolutely nothing about
the conditions they would face away from their tiny rocky home. Men who had
never work shoes before were made to wear heavy boots. The clothing, the
climate, the food, the language all posed great difficulties.
The frigate Te Anau arrived on Niue to
collect them and take them to New Zealand. It was a Saturday and all the men
were out in the plantations gathering food in readiness for their Sunday meals.
Messengers were sent out to gather them together and ready them to board the
vessel.
At Narrow Neck military camp in New
Zealand they were taken through basic training and became part of the Pioneer
Maori Battalion. Some took ill. Passed away and were buried there.
Their main contribution to the war was
to dig tranches and tunnels in conditions that would have been extreme to
people who had lived all their lives in a cold country let alone to men from
the Pacific. Many became ill and died main from respiratory diseases. When this
became known a plea was made by the London Missionary Society in England to
bring these men back from the trenches before they all died. The loss of 140
men from an island with a total population of only around 4000 would have been
unthinkable.
They were removed from the war zone
but even so quite a number took ill and never returned home. Some passed away
on ship on the way home and were buried at sea.”
Mata’s
family sent four sons. Two of these sons died on the ship Corinthic
while returning to New Zealand and were buried at sea. Peni died first of
pneumonia. Sailors are told to look away and not watch the descent of the body
into the sea, but Peni’s brother Pulu, at the last moment was so overcome with
sadness, he looked and his death occurred soon after, on Christmas Day 1916.
In
all 5000 men went from the Pacific to serve in WW1, including 3000 from the
French territories. 1000 went from the Cooks, Fiji, Tonga, Niue, Kiribati,
Tuvalu, Samoa and Norfolk island. 107 of these men died from disease or enemy
action. It brings home that the first World War really was a global war, hardly
any nation was untouched.
When
we remember all the men and women who died in wars serving New Zealand, we will
remember the brave men from the Pacific, who left their wives, children and
families and familiar islands to sail to an unknown part of the world and risk
everything to play their part.
We
will remember them
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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
12 May 2016
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Portfolio update: Member Denise Yates
File No.: CP2016/07686
Purpose
1. This
report provides an opportunity for Deputy Chair Denise Yates to give an update
with regards to activity within her portfolio areas.
2. Portfolio
holders are responsible for leading policy development in their portfolio area,
proposing and developing project concepts, overseeing agreed projects within budgets,
being active advocates, accessing and providing information and advice.
3. Member
Yates has lead for the portfolios of Arts and Culture, Community Facilities,
Libraries and Events.
Executive Summary
4. Since
my last report on 10 December there has been a reasonably long list of things
to report, building up in quick succession.
ARTS AND
CULTURE
Open
Studios
5. We
are all very pleased by the success of the Open Studios weekend. We have
reviewed the feedback, and both the artists and the community are well pleased
by how the event played out! We have noted some things to take into account
next time (And there WILL be a next time!) For example we will provide
participating artists with regard to the availability of EFTPOS to simplify the
sales aspect of the event, we will look at providing more buses to take
visitors around the traps, and we will arrange for a video to be made,
recording the event and showcasing various artists and their work. We
will provide more and earlier publicity.
6. We
were delighted that Te Uru put on an associated event on the roof of Lopdell
House, with music food and drinks, attracting people to the artists who were
working out of Te Uru, and to the Waitakere Community Arts studio working out
of Lopdell House. See you all again next time!
Coastal
Art
7. This is the old
Art on the Beach in a new way. It was a fun day with lots of sand sculptures
north of Lion Rock at Piha. Children and adults, individuals and groups
and families all participated. There were lots of prizes under many categories,
thanks to the generosity of many West Auckland businesses.
8. Again
we have many ideas to improve the event next year, including more and varied
music, and involving a “famous artist” to work alongside entrants to inspire
and support them. And more and earlier publicity.
9. “Art
Supported” aka “The Guys” I have met up with a group of younger
people with special needs who produce fabulous art with support from well-known
West Auckland artist Anna Crichton. The Local Board was delighted to have them
hang a large canvas in our Boardroom to allow us to enjoy their art and to give
the wider community to view the Guys work when attending meetings in the LB
office. We held an Exhibition Opening with refreshments and speeches, in
traditional fashion. The group is planning to paint murals on the outside
of their studio in Edmonton Rd, and I would like to see them paint a mural in
Glen Eden, too.
10. I
attended Opening Night of the Auckland Philharmonia, in the Auckland Town
Hall. Did not see a lot of Westies there, so good to see the APO performing at
Green Bay High School (where a lot of our kids get their secondary schooling)
more recently.
11. We
have moved closer to setting up the Shadbolt House Writers in Residence,
following a report on the state of the house and a heritage assessment. We have
received advice re leasing the building to the GOING West Trust for the purpose
of the Writer in Residence programme.
12. The
Local Board met with staff and Trustees and tenants of Lopdell House in a
“getting to know you” situation Events like this work to improve our mutual
understanding of each other’s plans and expectations in arts activities.
13. Board
members attended the launch of a new book, “100 Years of Making the Grade - The
Story of Exhibition Drive” by Fiona Drummond, which was published by the
Friends of Arataki, with some funding and advice from the Waitakere Ranges
Local Board. Copies are available from the Friends, so you can contact me, or
the Local Board office for details of availability. It’s a really great book.
14. I
participated in my third round of Creative Communities Grant Allocation. I am
proud to be doing this task as only 2 Boards are involved for North and West,
Waitakere Ranges and Kaipatiki.
EVENTS
15. It
was quite a shock to learn that Tracy Haggo, “organiser-extra-ordinaire” had
decided to retire from her job as Civic Events organiser after more than 20
years. Since the 1990’s she has organised major events such as Anzac Day
services, Citizenship Ceremonies. We had a farewell for her, though most people
were still in shock, and could hardly comprehend that Tracy really was leaving.
She will be an exceedingly hard act to follow, and we wish her the very best
for the future.
16. Kauri
Karnival - thoroughly enjoyable and well-attended, great music, good
displays, good messages, and a highly successful Zero Waste event. 93% of the
waste produced went to recycling, and only 7% went to
landfill - how’s that?!! This event will get bigger and better,
and will become a major item on the Events calendar without a doubt! Held on
the meadow at the back of Parrs Park, so very accessible for families.
See you there next year!
17. Waitangi
Day at Hoani Waititi – great food, great music, great interaction with the
community. Gets better every year!
18. Open
Day at Waikumete Cemetary - What an amazing day! About 2000 visitors
came on the day, and many were able to locate the graves of family members,
inspect the crematorium, learn how Muslims prepare their members for burial,
listen to talks and learn how to restore old tombstones. We’ll repeat this in 2
or 3 years’ time.
19. Citizenship
ceremonies - Whenever we can, board members attend these wonderful events.
It’s great to see the pride on the faces of our newest citizens, as they make
their vows of allegiance to Queen and country, and receive their citizenship
certificates. We could do with more of us to sing the waiata as the
chorus is often somewhat thin.
20. Sandra
Coney, WRLB Chairperson and staff member Sharon Davies, and I attended an
International Women’s Day event put on by a group of disabled women, at Royal
Oak. We had an opportunity to look over their community garden, which raised
for me a need to look again at our community gardens in the West.
21. A
highlight of the year is the Titirangi Music Festival, as held recently. As
ever, it was a really outstandingly successful event. I also attended a
Caribbean Steel Band event at the Fickling Centre. It is a great annual event
with food as well as music, but quite different from our music festival.
22. Movie
in the Park. Our scheduled movie event had to be cancelled due to rain,
so we rescheduled and relocated to the grassy area at the back of Hoani Waititi
which was, as we knew from Waitangi Day activities, the perfect location!
A big crowd attended to see “Despicable Me” and the Board is now considering
whether we could have 2 movies next year on this great site, one for families
and on for adults. Our thanks to Hoani Waititi for welcoming us to their great
space!
FACILITIES
23. Renewals
of leases almost complete. A couple we thought we had settled had to be
re-negotiated, but are pretty much sorted out now.
24. We
have been looking at upgrades and improvements to Community Houses. Council
officers ideas and priorities do not always line up with the community’s ideas
and priorities, so while we can sometimes simply provide the things people ask
for, or we propose, that is not always possible. We will however be creating a
grassy knoll at the front of the Titirangi House to soften the current
situation of opening directly onto the carpark, and provide wifi for the Glen
Eden people who use the Community House there, but that may well be all that we
can do at present.
25. We
are preparing to relocate and rebuild the toilets at Titirangi. With the corner
section sold we have to remove the old ones, (which we have been considering
for a long time). We will be looking to build an imaginative design and colour
scheme.
26. The
Board will be making a grant to locally owned and/or operated halls using the
same formula as we used last year.
Libraries
27. Both
Glen Eden and Titirangi libraries continue to provide a great service over a
big range of activities.
28. At
Titirangi the new deck provides a great place to sit and read, or talk to other
people.
29. Glen
Eden a major redesign and redevelopment of the grassy area at the front will
create a number of grassy knolls and places to sit, thereby rejuvenating the
space and provide not just new life to the area outside the library, but at the
same time provide a “lift” to the whole Glenmall area. We expect that we will
be able to follow through using the same design principles started outside the
library, throughout the whole mall area.
Kia ora katoa
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Recommendation/s
That the Waitākere Ranges
Local Board:
a) Receives the
portfolio update from Deputy Chair Denise Yates.
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Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
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Authors
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Tua Viliamu - Democracy Advisor
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Authorisers
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Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
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