Minutes of Extraordinary Meeting of the Waiheke Local Board

Waiheke Local Board

30 April 2025

1 Nau mai | Welcome

Deputy Chair K Matthews opened the meeting with a karakia.

Whakataka te hau ki te uru Cease oh winds of the west and of the south

Whakataka te hau ki te tonga Let the bracing breezes flow

Kia mākinakina ki uta over the land and the sea

Kia mātaratara ki tai Let the red-tipped dawn come

E hī ake ana te atakura with a sharpened edge,

He tio, he huka, he hauhū a touch of frost

Tihei Mauri Ora! a 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 He Tamōtanga Motuhake | Leave of Absence

There were no leaves of absence.

Annual Plan 2025-2026: local board consultation feedback and input

Resolution number WHK/2025/46

MOVED by Chairperson C Handley, seconded by Member R Tucker:

That the Waiheke Local Board:

a) whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on the proposed Waiheke Local Board priorities and activities for 2025/2026.

b) whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on regional topics in the Annual Plan 2025/2026 from people and organisations based in the Waiheke Local Board area.

c) tuku / provide input on regional topics in the proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026 and key advocacy initiatives to the Governing Body as follows:

Overall Plan:

i) note that the public feedback from the local board area is supportive of the overall plan, however there is widespread discontent with the quantum of rates paid by local ratepayers relative to the value received in terms of Auckland Council/ Auckland Transport services.

ii) support the implementation of Fairer Funding for local boards, but note significant concerns that the Fairer Funding model will not adequately provide for necessary improvements in Waiheke’s infrastructure.

iii) seek a fully informed central review of Waiheke Local Board funding, noting that there was significant feedback on the conditions of Waiheke roads and the lack of infrastructure for active transport modes.

iv) thank the Mayor and CEO for agreeing to manage 2025/2026 cost pressures and budget oversights.

v) request increased department resources to meet the increased advice and delivery needed to support the implementation of Fairer Funding.

Destination management and major events:

vi) continue to support a bed night visitor levy at a fixed rate conditional on repatriation of locally raised funds, but note that feedback was opposed to it however:

a. that included those opposed to it in in its current form, proposing variously a transport levy on visitors and a fixed rate instead of a variable rate, and

b. that many residents who opposed the visitor levy proposal did so because they did not want local operators funding regional events that have no impact on either Waiheke or its accommodation providers.

vii) note that public feedback supports the view of the local board that any visitor levy funds raised from Waiheke be expended locally by the local board to provide improved facilities and infrastructure.

viii) note the Waiheke Local Board receives no additional funding to support the impact of up to a million visitors per annum to the motu.

ix) note that travel to Auckland by Waiheke residents is financially prohibitive and prevents most residents, other than Gold Card holders, from attending regional events.

d) note public feedback on the Waiheke Local Board’s priorities and commit to considering that feedback when making investment decisions in the 2025/2026 financial year.

e) note the following Waiheke Local Board advocacy areas to the Governing Body:

i) Planning resource: the board seeks planning resource to review and finalise the draft Waiheke Area Plan and review Hauraki Gulf Island District Plan provisions prior to the Auckland Unitary Plan review.

ii) Marine Protection: working with relevant authorities, partners, and mana whenua, the board supports implementation of marine protection and regeneration strategies.

iii) Stormwater Management: implementation of effective flood control by use of nature-based solutions, proactive stormwater maintenance and necessary capital investment.

iv) Equitable and affordable public transport: passenger ferry services from Mātiatia and Kennedy Point wharves must be equitably subsidized, to align with all other public transport ferry services in the region, to ensure community resilience, equity and affordability.

v) Removing barriers to competition on and around transport infrastructure and service contracting.

vi) Fairer Funding formula to be reviewed for Waiheke to ensure an equitable basis for council funded infrastructure and assets.

f) delegate to the Chair to finalise resolution wording.

CARRIED

Deputy Chairperson K Matthews closed the meeting with a karakia.

Waiho i te toipoto kaua i te toiroa

Let us keep close together, not far apart

1.58 pm The chairperson thanked members for their attendance and attention to business and declared the meeting closed.

CONFIRMED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT RECORD AT A MEETING OF THE Waiheke Local Board HELD ON

DATE:.........................................................................

CHAIRPERSON:.......................................................

Chairperson	Cath Handley
Deputy Chairperson	Kylee Matthews
Members	Bianca Ranson
	Robin Tucker
	Paul Walden