Media Releases - August 2003
Summit shows shared vision for mental health services
29 August
Survey shows Waitakere businesses remain optimistic
14 August
Top business experience brought to Techscape board
5 August
29 August
Summit shows shared vision for mental health services
The future for mental health is optimistic if plans unveiled by the Government yesterday, are carried through.
The plans were explained yesterday at a Mental Health Summit held in Waitakere City. Guest speakers included Health Minister Annette King, the Deputy Director-General of Mental Health, Janice Wilson, Mental Health Commission Chair, Jan Dowland and the Regional Director of Mental Health, Derek Wright.
The summit, hosted by Waitakere Shared Vision - representing mental health interests in the area
- and Waitakere City Council and attended by more than 80 people was designed to establish whether there is in fact a "shared vision" for the future provision of mental health services in Waitakere City.
Minister King said the government is committed to providing additional resources to mental health funding and underlined the importance of primary health care in future mental health services.
She quoted the World Health Organisation as saying that the burden of psychiatric conditions, particularly depression, has been heavily underestimated across the world.
Afterwards, Waitakere Shared Vision spokeswoman, Elaine Underwood, said that the summit proved that there is indeed a local, regional and national 'shared vision' for mental health.
"It became clear today that there is awareness, at both national and regional levels, of the un-met gaps in services and the challenges that still exist," she said.
"We are confident that the changes being introduced will result in a quality, comprehensive mental health service in Waitakere in the future."
Waitakere City Councillor Penny
Hulse, who facilitated the meeting, says it was useful to have decision-makers from all levels in one room to listen to community concerns and hopes the outcome will mean improved mental health service delivery in Waitakere.
"We have made it clear to the Minister that equitable funding for the Auckland District health boards is absolutely crucial and we hope she has taken this on board, " she says.
"Accurately predicting future mental health needs is also vital to defining what constitutes adequate resources.
"Twenty percent of people, at some point in their life, are going to need some sort of mental health support but, at present, we are only funded to cover 3% of the population nationwide. That is clearly already not enough. When you take into account the likely effect of methamphetamine (or 'P'), for example, that 20% is only going to grow."
A wide variety of mental health issues were raised at the summit, some of which included how the development of more regional health services will impact on local groups established to have input into mental health planning, the need for equitable funding of all health boards in the Auckland region, resource allocation for improved collaboration among all providers, future mental health needs for an ageing population and the effects of increasing methamphetamine use on mental health services.
Cr Hulse paid tribute to Waitakere Shared Vision saying it was held in high regard by the Ministry and will continue to play an important role as a mental health advocate in the City.
14 August
Survey shows Waitakere businesses remain optimistic
The Waitakere business community is generally optimistic, with almost all expecting local investment to increase or remain at current levels, according to the Council's latest
Business Connection survey.
Eighty-two percent of businesses also claim they are supportive of Waitakere's Eco City goals.
Businesses have stated positive investment and employment intentions since the first Business Connection survey was undertaken in 1997 - and the trend looks set to continue. In 2003, 57% of businesses expect investment to be maintained and 37% expect it to increase. Similarly, almost all expect employment to be maintained or increase. More than 55% expect profitability to increase.
Eighty-six percent of businesses regard their present location as good or very good and two-thirds would prefer to stay there. Some 88% rate their premises as very good or good and 80% are satisfied with their land price or rent. Henderson Town Centre businesses rated Waitakere City most positively as a place to have business (71% very good/good)
The ease of contacting the Council by phone, email, in person, or via the website, is also seen as very good or good by the majority of businesses. An increasing number of businesses are also hearing about and using Enterprise Waitakere - the Council's business development arm. Seventy percent said they had heard of Enterprise Waitakere, and of those who had used its services, almost three-quarters rated its usefulness as very good or good.
The majority of businesses (61%) have three quarters or more of their workers living in Waitakere City, similar to 2000 (58%). Businesses less likely to have Waitakere City residents working in them are medium to large businesses (with 10 to 24 full time equivalents) and those located in New Lynn, Glendene/Kelston and Lincoln/Central Park Dr. These areas have a high number of businesses and generally have good access to main roads that join to other cities in the Auckland region.
Around 160 businesses made comments on what the Council could do to support business and promote local economic development. The most frequently mentioned were to reduce rates and improve the appearance and cleanliness of business areas, especially in town centres.
"The survey results have provided the Council with some excellent feedback about business habits and expectations in this City," says
Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone, chair of the Council's
City Development Committee.
"It helps us to help business in a number of areas and is particularly useful for both elected members and staff in setting priorities and improving services to meet the needs of local businesses."
The survey results are also being used in the formulation of an Economic Development Strategy, which seeks to maximise the benefits of existing structures, such as Enterprise Waitakere, and to build on the well-developed community and central government partnerships that already exist. It proposes objectives and actions that address issues raised by businesses in the survey.
For more
information see the Business
Connection Survey Results.
5 August
Top business experience brought to Techscape board
A significant amount of international business experience has been brought to Council-controlled company
Techscape Limited with the appointment of three additional directors.
The appointment of Nelson Cull, Peter Hassell and Miklos (Mike) Szabo to Techscape's independent board, brings its total number of directors to six - the maximum allowed under the company's constitution. Existing directors included Ross Jewell (chairperson), Bruce Connor and Noel Fowler.
The three new appointees were deemed to have the necessary skills and experience for the job, including local authority knowledge and experience, sound knowledge of the maintenance and construction industry, strong community and customer relations focus, financial reporting and legal and strategic planning experience, and commitment to and experience in corporate governance.
Mr Cull brings more than three decades of management experience, having worked for a number of petroleum companies in New Zealand, Australia and London. In recent years he has held the positions of General Manager (Retail) at Contact Energy and Chief Operating Officer at Works Infrastructure. He is currently the director of three companies, including Netball New Zealand.
Mr Hassell is the former partner of a major law firm and has experience in governance, strategic planning and financial analysis from having advised or worked for such organisations as the Auckland Regional Services Trust, Infrastructure Auckland and America's Cup Village Ltd. He has also worked for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet as a policy advisor.
Mr Szabo brings about 40 years experience in engineering, local government management, strategic planning and contract management. The former Franklin District Council CEO and Auckland University director is currently a principal consulting engineer with Fraser Thomas Partners and a consultant to Watercare Services on local authority relations.
Owned equally by Waitakere and North Shore city councils and operated as a Council-controlled Trading Organisation (or CCTO), Techscape Ltd specialises in maintenance contracting and asset management, primarily in water, wastewater and greenscape areas.
Techscape is a major competitor for physical works and maintenance contracts in the Auckland region - and also provides emergency services support when required.
Waitakere City Councillor, Greg Presland - a member of the Joint Working Party established to form the interview panel for the directorship positions - says there was no shortage of candidates. Eight people were short-listed for an interview from an original pool of 42 applicants.
"The three successful applicants demonstrated a good understanding of the governance role required and what Techscape is seeking to achieve, as well as a commitment to working for the benefit of both Councils," he says.
"We're confident we've found the best people to fill the positions."
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