Minutes of Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

15 April 2025

1 Nau mai | Welcome

The meeting was opened with a karakia.

Whakataka te hau ki te uru

Whakataka te hau ki te tonga

Kia mākinakina ki uta

Kia mātaratara ki tai

E hī ake ana te atakura

He tio

He huka

He hau hū

Tīhei mauri ora

Cease o winds from the west

Cease o winds from the south

Bring calm breezes over the land

Bring calm breezes over the sea

And let the red-tipped dawn come

With a touch of frost

A sharpened air

And promise of a glorious day.

2 Ngā Tamōtanga | Apologies

There were no apologies.

3 Te Whakapuaki i te Whai Pānga | Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

4 Te Whakaū i ngā Āmiki | Confirmation of Minutes

Resolution number DT/2025/45

MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Deputy Chairperson T Harpur:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whakaū / confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, as a true and correct record.

CARRIED

5 He Tamōtanga Motuhake | Leave of Absence

There were no leaves of absence.

6 Te Mihi | Acknowledgements

6.1

Passing of Doctor John Mayhew

Resolution number DT/2025/46

MOVED by Deputy Chairperson T Harpur, seconded by Member G Wood:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) āhukahuka / acknowledge the passing of Doctor John Mayhew and express its sincere condolences to the Mayhew family and friends.

CARRIED

7 Ngā Petihana | Petitions

There were no petitions.

8 Ngā Tono Whakaaturanga | Deputations

8.1

Bob Lang and Franco Belgiorno-Nettis Deputation Stratford Ave Presentation

Resolution number DT/2025/47

MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Member G Wood:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whiwhi / receive the presentation from Bob Lang and Franco Belgiorno-Nettis and thank them for their attendance.

CARRIED

8.2

Dame Judy McGregor Ngataringa Organic Garden Society's lease application.

Resolution number DT/2025/48

MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Deputy Chairperson T Harpur:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whiwhi / receive the presentation from Dame Judy McGregor and Kerry Chamberlain, and thank them for their attendance.

CARRIED

9 Te Matapaki Tūmatanui | Public Forum

9.1	Takapuna Senior Citizens Association
	A document was tabled for this item. A copy has been placed on the official minutes and is available on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.
	Resolution number DT/2025/49 MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Deputy Chairperson T Harpur: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) whiwhi / receive the presentation from the Takapuna Senior Citizens Association and thank them for their attendance. CARRIED
	Attachments a Takapuna Senior Citizens Financial Records

10 Ngā Pakihi Autaia | Extraordinary Business

There was no extraordinary business.

11 Ngā Pānui mō ngā Mōtini | Notices of Motion

Under Standing Order 2.5.1 (LBS 3.11.1) a Notice of Motion has been received from Member George Wood, seconded by Member Busch for consideration under item 12 & 13.

Under Standing Order 2.5.1 (LBS 3.11.1) a Notice of Motion has been received from Member Gavin Busch, seconded by Member Wood for consideration under item 14.

Notice of Motion - Member George Wood - Support for removal of heritage status of Firth Property

Resolution number DT/2025/50

MOVED by Member G Wood, seconded by Member G Busch:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that Auckland Council placed a heritage listing to the Firth property at BlackRock in 2016, this being the first time a heritage listing had been placed on the property

b) tautoko / support strong public sentiment that this listing is not a high priority for this property

c) tono / request that Auckland Council seek an update from the property owners on the status of their estate.

e) tono / request that this matter be referred to the Ward Councillors, the Mayor, and local MP

CARRIED

Notice of Motion - Member George Wood - Changes requested by Devonport-Takapuna Local Board if 100 Aberdeen Road raised crossing design is not a success

Resolution number DT/2025/51

MOVED by Member G Wood, seconded by Member G Busch:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) tono / request that Auckland Transport investigate and bring back to the local board additional options that achieve improved safety of crossing Aberdeen, including bus friendly raised table designs that meet the current standards as well as options that don't involve installing a raised zebra crossing

b) tono / request that Auckland Transport assess and advise the local board on the level of vibrations anticipated of each option and at what point those vibrations are recorded at i.e. house or boundary; and

c) tono / request confirmation from Auckland Transport that no proposed design will exceed the thresholds for human comfort and nuisance as defined by the Norwegian, British and German international standards.

CARRIED

Notice of Motion - Member Gavin Busch - Wairau Creek

Resolution number DT/2025/52

MOVED by Member G Busch, seconded by Member G Wood:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) wishes to get a guided walk from Healthy Waters and Resilience pointing out the issues that have been raised in the note headed "Stratford Avenue Flooding, Email from Nick," and also answering questions from the local board members;

b) tono / request details of the flow patterns along Wairau Creek at times of flooding in the channel and the impact of different widths and heights of the concrete channel;

c) tono / requests an appraisal from Watercare Services Ltd on when their wastewater pumping station at 102 Wairau Road is likely to be upgraded so that flood waters will not cause it to falter;

d) whakaae / recommend a second culvert be considered through the newly purchased properties to a second outlet at the Wairau estuary;

e) tono / request advice to understand the impacts of a second culvert and outlet will have on the upstream accumulation of water;

f) tono / request advice to understand if Healthy Waters and Resilience considered the advantage in removing (or making it removable) the trash gate at Milford Estuary when the Milford Creek is discharging in large volumes of flood water; and

g) that Healthy Waters and Resilience along with Watercare Services Limited provide the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board with an update on their long-term planning for the Wairau catchment.

h) tono / request an update from Healthy Waters on their action so far and the interventions they have planned including timelines that improve the flow of water in the Wairau waterway.

CARRIED

Endorsement of proposed asset transfer to Ngataringa Organic Garden Society Incorporated and grant of a lease to Ngataringa Organic Garden Society Incorporated for land it occupies at Ngataringa Park, 27 Lake Road, Devonport

Resolution number DT/2025/53

MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Deputy Chairperson T Harpur:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Local Board:

a) ohia / endorse the transfer of the Auckland Council-owned assets including kitchen, toilets, toolshed, greenhouse, pergola, containers and associated improvements to Ngataringa Organic Garden Society Incorporated in accordance with Auckland Council’s Chief Executive Delegations Register (dated October 2024 V. 1.7), expressly; Part 3, C2 (Attachment A – site plan; identified assets to the agenda report) subject to the following:

i) date of transfer 15 April 2025

b) tuku / grant Ngataringa Organic Garden Society Incorporated under section 54(1)(b) of the Reserves Act 1977, a lease for 3071 square metres (more or less) of reserve land at Ngataringa Park, 27 Lake Road, Devonport, legally described as Lot 1 Deposited plan 77578 and Lot 2 Deposited Plan 77578 (Attachment A – site plan to the agenda report), subject to the following terms and conditions:

i) term – ten years, commencing 15 April 2025, plus a right of renewal for a further 10 years

ii) rent – $1,300.00 plus GST per annum

iii) inclusion of an early termination clause providing Auckland Council as landlord with the ability to serve the society as tenant with 24 months’ notice during the lease period, including any right of renewal to vacate the premises and reinstate the land

iv) a community outcomes plan will be appended as a schedule to the lease agreement

c) whakaae / approve Ngataringa Organic Garden Society Incorporated community outcomes plan (Attachment B – Community Outcomes Plan to the agenda report)

d) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that all other terms and conditions will be in accordance with the Reserves Act 1977 and the Auckland Council Community Occupancy Guidelines as updated 1 July 2023.

CARRIED

Proposed new community lease to North Shore Rugby Football Club Incorporated at Devonport Domain/Vauxhall Sports Fields, Devonport

Resolution number DT/2025/54

MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Deputy Chairperson T Harpur:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whakaae / grant, under Section 54 (1)(b) of the Reserves Act 1977, a new community lease to the North Shore Rugby Football Club Incorporated for an area comprising approximately 712 square metres (more or less) located at Devonport Domain/ Vauxhall Sports Field, 28 Vauxhall Road, Devonport on the land legally described as Part Allotment 39, Section 2 Parish of Takapuna (Attachment A – Site Plan), subject to the following terms and conditions:

i) term – 10 years, commencing 16 April 2025, with one 10 year right of renewal.

ii) rent – $1300, plus GST per annum if demanded.

iii) Community Outcomes Plan - to be appended to the lease as a schedule of the lease agreement (Attachment B – Community outcomes plan).

b) whakaae / approve all other terms and conditions in accordance with the Reserves Act 1977 and the Auckland Council Community Occupancy Guidelines 2012 as updated 1 July 2023.

c) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note lease charges shall be reviewed by the local board in circumstances where there are changes to the Community Occupancy Guidelines 2012.

CARRIED

Proposal to revoke reservation of reserve land - Secondary Accessway, Northboro Reserve

Resolution number DT/2025/55

MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Deputy Chairperson T Harpur:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

Request to Governing Body to act as administering body for revocation of local reserve

a) tūtohu / recommend that the Governing Body, through the Policy and Planning Committee:

i) progress the proposal to revoke the reservation of the land as a reserve of part of Northboro Reserve under section 24 Reserves Act 1977 being part of the land legally described as Lot 72 Deposited Plan 40536 in Record of Title 1121118 (Secondary Accessway) and publicly notify Auckland Council’s intention to revoke the reservation for the reason that the loss of the reserve could be justified in terms of the Reserves Act on the basis there is existing adequate provision of access to the Northboro Reserve.

ii) subject to successful completion of all statutory processes that Auckland Council must complete, recommend to the Minister of Conservation that the reservation of the land as a reserve being part Lot 72 Deposited Plan 40536 in the Record of Title1121118 as a reserve status should be revoked for the reason that the loss of the reserve could be justified in terms of the Reserves Act on the basis there is existing adequate provision of access to the Northboro Reserve.

iii) tono / request that staff delay seeking approval from the Policy and Planning Committee on the revocation of the secondary access way until a workshop has been held with the local board on the Lowe Street proposal.

Disposal and reinvestment decisions:

b) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note the staff advice that the Service Property Optimisation delegation is not available to the local board to give effect to the proposed disposal and therefore any sale proceeds would not be able to be ring-fenced for local board projects

c) tono / request a delegation to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board to approve the disposal of the land comprising the secondary accessway at Northboro Reserve, subject to revocation of reserve status designation and mana whenua engagement

d) tono / request approval to ring-fence any sale proceeds from the sale of the secondary accessway at Northboro Reserve such as the Takapuna Library Community hub

Clarification of Service Optimisation Process and delegation to local boards

e) tono / request that the Governing Body clarify the intention of its 2015 and 2016 delegations to local boards (FIN/2015/16 and GB/2017/118 respectively), and to explicitly confirm that these delegations were intended to incentivise and empower rather than constrain, local boards to capitalise on a range of opportunities to self-fund local priorities.

f) tono / request that the Governing Body review any guidance to staff on its 2015 and 2017 delegations to local boards, to ensure it can be interpreted and applied in a manner that gives effect to the desired outcomes including those identified on page 69 of the Governance Framework Review final report:

· releasing value from underperforming service assets to fund local services while facilitating other outcomes e.g. housing

· generating funds that are ring-fenced for the service component of a (optimisation) property or other local board projects

· incentivising local boards to deal constructively with service assets which would not usually be released for sale but are not fit-for-purpose or lack adequate funding to maintain an upgrade.

Reserves Act delegations

g) tono / request that the Governing Body review its delegation of Reserves Act powers to local boards (GB/2017/117 resolution g) to ensure local boards can act as the administering body of local reserves proposed for revocation where disposal decisions align with other decision-making powers that have already been given to local boards e.g. service optimisation delegation disposals.

CARRIED

Devonport -Takapuna Urban Ngahere Canopy Analysis

Resolution number DT/2025/56

MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Member G Busch:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whai / adopt the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Urban Ngahere (forest) programme - Canopy Analysis Report 2024 (Attachment A).

b) whakaee / support work by staff to complete the development of a 10-year Ngahere Action Plan, to be further workshopped and consulted with the local board before final approval.

c) tono / request that staff update the census data included in the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Urban Ngahere (forest) programme - Canopy Analysis Report 2024.

d) tāpae / delegate authority to the chairperson to approve minor changes to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Urban Ngahere (forest) programme - Canopy Analysis Report 2024.

e) tuhi tīpoka / note that the 10-year Ngahere Action Plan, is the next step, including clear planting plans with the right tree in the right place with approval of the local board.

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 12.45pm and reconvened at 1.33pm

19	Devonport - Takapuna Play Plan 2025
	Resolution number DT/2025/57 MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Member G Busch: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) whai / adopt the Devonport-Takapuna Play Plan 2025 set out in Attachment A to this report. CARRIED
Precedence of Business
	Resolution number DT/2025/58 MOVED by Member M Powell, seconded by Member G Busch: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) whakaae / agree that Item 21 - Allocation of decision-making responsibilities for council-controlled organisation activities coming in house be adjourned to after ITEM NO 20 - Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants Round Two 2024/2025 grant allocations. CARRIED

Allocation of decision-making responsibilities for council-controlled organisation activities coming in house

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) tuku / provide feedback on staff proposals relating to the allocation of decision-making responsibility for:

i. the urban regeneration and property management activities currently governed by the Eke Panuku board

ii. the economic development activities currently governed by the Tātaki Auckland Unlimited board

to either the Governing Body or local boards in accordance with section 17 of the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009

b) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that staff recommendations and feedback from local boards will be considered at the Governing Body meeting on 29 May 2025 and associated changes to the allocation of decision-making table will be implemented as part of Annual Plan 2025/2026 decisions

c) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that further work is required in relation to determining the future decision-making allocation on:

i. funding of new priority urban regeneration or development locations as additional programmes are identified

ii. how anticipated demand from local boards for local economic development and urban regeneration advice is to be addressed

iii. property management decisions (undertaken as part of the Group Property Review)

d) tūtohu / recommend that the following activity is allocated to the local boards:

i) Local leadership and decision making to create a vision and holistic plan for local urban regeneration projects that include both council service and non-service assets e.g. 27 Lake Road, Devonport

ii) tono / request regular updates on the progress with the development sites involved in the Unlock Takapuna Project.

e) tono / request local boards are involved in setting the budget and timelines of urban regeneration projects

f) tono / request that funds received from any property sales within an unlock project are ring-fenced for that local area to be reinvested

g) tono / request that a proportion of funding for economic development that moves from TAU to Auckland Council, is allocated to local boards for local economic development.

h) tūtohu / recommend that the governing body increase local board operational budget to allow functions that are currently performed by CCO to be delivered by local boards.

i) tono / request that local board are involved in the tourism promotion policy

The Chairperson requested for the motion to be taken in parts, a) to i) excluding d) i and d) ii

Resolution number DT/2025/59

MOVED by Deputy Chairperson T Harpur, seconded by Member M Powell:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) tuku / provide feedback on staff proposals relating to the allocation of decision-making responsibility for:

i. the urban regeneration and property management activities currently governed by the Eke Panuku board

ii. the economic development activities currently governed by the Tātaki Auckland Unlimited board

to either the Governing Body or local boards in accordance with section 17 of the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009

c) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that further work is required in relation to determining the future decision-making allocation on:

i. funding of new priority urban regeneration or development locations as additional programmes are identified

ii. how anticipated demand from local boards for local economic development and urban regeneration advice is to be addressed

iii. property management decisions (undertaken as part of the Group Property Review)

e) tono / request local boards are involved in setting the budget and timelines of urban regeneration projects

f) tono / request that funds received from any property sales within an unlock project are ring-fenced for that local area to be reinvested

g) tono / request that a proportion of funding for economic development that moves from TAU to Auckland Council, is allocated to local boards for local economic development.

h) tūtohu / recommend that the governing body increase local board operational budget to allow functions that are currently performed by CCO to be delivered by local boards.

i) tono / request that local board are involved in the tourism promotion policy

The motion was put to vote by voices and was declared CARRIED from points a) to i), excluding point d).

CARRIED

d) tūtohu / recommend that the following activity is allocated to the local boards:

ii) tono / request regular updates on the progress with the development sites involved in the Unlock Takapuna Project.

A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

For

Deputy Chairperson T Harpur

Member M Powell

Against

Member P Allen

Member G Busch

Member G Wood

Abstained

The motion was declared lost by 2 votes to 3.

Resolution number DT/2025/60

MOVED by Deputy Chairperson T Harpur, seconded by Member M Powell: