Media Releases

April 2004

27 April 

Council Welcomes Additional Spray Study

“We are pleased that the report finds that Foray 48B needs a lot more study to see if it is truly as innocuous, long term, as is being claimed.”

“We have put in several years of sustained effort to get that point acknowledged.”

That is the response of Councillor Penny Hulse, Chair of Waitakere City Council’s Environmental Management Committee, to the report by Wellington Medical School released by the Ministry of Health, today.

Councillor Hulse says “the report confirms that the spray will cause allergic reactions in some people. We already knew that and MAF has acknowledged it from the beginning, which is why they have moved some 200 people every spray day.”

“The fact that there are effects from the spray has always been known and the decision to spray was made by government with that knowledge. However, the data available from BTk spraying, is still far too limited for anyone to say that we know everything there is to know about the long term effects of spraying. 

“We have been banging on Government’s door demanding recognition of the fact that we have no idea of what long term health effects might be caused by sustained spraying of large populations. We are very supportive of the recommendations in the report that call for further long term work to be done to look at population health over a prolonged period and this will compliment the work already being done in this area by the MOH." 

“This study by the Wellington school of medicine supports our position that a much more open-mind is needed into potential effects and much more study is required.” she says. 

Councillor Hulse added that the peer reviews raised several concerns about the lack of scientific and medical data in the report but essentially, they did not affect that central conclusion that more study is needed.

“The community have been asking for more study to be done and we have supported them, although it looks as if spraying in Waitakere is nearing an end, other communities may face this aerial bombardment and so, the work needs to continue.” 

We want to make sure that if the decision is ever made to spray a community again, the FULL facts are available to the cabinet and the real impact on communities well understood."

27 April

Whenuapai Airport Welcomes Support

The promoters of a commercial airport at Whenuapai, with an associated industrial and commercial development, have welcomed the backing of Enterprise North Shore, the business arm of North Shore City.
 
Bryan Mogridge, chairman of Waitakere City's Mayoral Task Force on Whenuapai, says the enterprise boards of Waitakere City, Rodney District and North Shore City all now back the proposal, which is also supported by Kaipara District Council.
 
Mr Mogridge says it is clear that business in the north west is enthusiastic about the potential benefits of a commercial airport, and associated development at Whenuapai because they understood how it would create employment, generate wealth, bring more tourists, and stimulate the activities of budget airlines offering cheaper fares in and out of the region.
 
Announcing its support for the commercial airport proposal the Board of Trustees of Enterprise North Shore say that as the fourth largest city in New Zealand, with more than 19,000 businesses, North Shore warrants more efficient infrastructure, including transportation.

Chairman Maurice Boland says Enterprise North Shore has participated in many meetings and discussions on the future of the Whenuapai land, and says the majority of businesses support the commercial airfield option, as it will resolve, in part, the serious challenges of transportation and freight.
 
"Whenuapai is much more conveniently located for business in the north west, some of whom spend hours travelling to and from Mangere at peak times, and is also more convenient for customers visiting them, who currently face the same access difficulties."
 
Mr Boland says there is considerable cost in demolishing the current airport facilities and runways, and it is unlikely another airport would ever be built in the north west if the opportunity of converting Whenuapai to commercial use is lost. He notes that more than half of the Whenuapai land will still be available for development, which would complement an airport.
 
Mr Mogridge says he hopes the Government will listen carefully to the views of business and the general public in the north west, where a number of professional public opinion polls have demonstrated strong support for developing a commercial airport at Whenuapai as the Air Force withdraws over the next few years.

The full text of the Enterprise North Shore announcement is available on the web site of Enterprise North Shore www.ens.org.nz.

26 April

Early Birds to the Draft Annual Plan

Boy racers and bicycles, flooding and footpaths are some of the issues raised in early submissions to the Waitakere City Council’s 2004/2005 Draft Annual Plan.

Roading and transport make up a third of the 34 submissions received so far. Requests range from a special area for boy racers to a cycleway along Great North Road and other roads.

There are also calls for improved rural roads in Swanson and Whenuapai and for better footpaths between Kelston to New Lynn. One submittor asked for an express bus service to West Harbour, while another wants the Council to continue to advocate for double tracking of the western line from New Lynn to Waitakere.

The restoration of the historic Tui Glen Wharf in Henderson has been called for and there is a request for the Council to buy land alongside waterways to develop recreational water space.

The Council-run Wild Out West Jazz Festival, held last Sunday at Falls Park in Henderson, was singled out for praise and the submission suggests that more events of this kind are needed.

Several submissions opposed Council funding land for a Te Kawerau A Maki marae and several more were against the proposed purchase of Kaikoura Island (neither project is currently in the draft annual plan).

Included in this year’s Draft Annual Plan is a rates increase of 3.97%. This is approximately $45 for the average inner residential property with a land value of $90,000. The total proposed rates is $93.5 million.

The biggest slice of rates goes to Wastewater in the inner area, (25%), with parks and roads/footpaths costing 14.5% and 14.3 respectively. Democracy costs 9.0%, libraries 7.4%, stormwater 6.6% and leisure 6.6%. Other areas include: rubbish collection and disposal 4.5%; city development 3.1% and business development and promotion 2.6%.

Waitakere City’s 2004-2005 draft Annual Plan is open for submissions until 5pm on 13 May.

Hard copies of the plan (and copies of the submission form), are available for viewing in libraries, the New Lynn Council Service Centre, Citizens’ Advice Bureaux, community centres and at Waitakere City reception.

21 April 2004

Whenuapai ‘critical’ to Civil Defence

Retaining Whenuapai as an airport is “strongly desirable”, according to the region’s Civil Defence officials.

Waitakere City Council’s case for Whenuapai Airbase to be retained as an asset has been strengthened on the grounds that the airport is a valuable asset for civil defence purposes.

In a report released today, a project team established under the umbrella of the Auckland Region Civil Defence Emergency management Group (CDEMG) says Whenuapai is the only credible backup in the region to Auckland International Airport (Mangere) in the event of a disaster.

The government has announced that the existing RNZAF base will close in 2005. Waitakere City Council and airport operators Infratil want the base retained as a commercial airport. This will help replace the $250 million a year economic loss that Waitakere City will suffer as a result of the closure of the base.

The CDEMG is made up of representatives of all the local bodies in the Auckland region. After being approached by the New Zealand Defence Force to provide information, officials supporting the Group established a project team to evaluate the importance of Whenuapai Airbase in terms of Civil Defence. The New Zealand Defence Force is currently considering options for disposal and future use of the airbase.

Its report says the use of Whenuapai could be “critical” in the event of Auckland International Airport being disabled in an emergency. It says that Whenuapai can also provide an alternative in handling emergency air traffic, to allow Mangere Airport to function normally.

A benefit of having both Whenuapai and Auckland International Airport (AIAL) available for emergency services is that they are served by two completely different parts of the road network, a risk mitigation strategy against the risk of network damage, says the report.

The report also says that Mangere is potentially more susceptible to earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions.

“Retaining a backup capability where one already exists makes good sense if this can be done at minimal cost to emergency management agencies and the Crown,” says the report.

The report goes on: “With the likelihood of Whenuapai being expanded if it were to be operated commercially, Whenuapai is likely to be in a position to deal with larger aircraft than at present. This would enable it to cater for almost all aircraft likely to be used in an emergency event response.”

Meanwhile, a public opinion survey, conducted in Waitakere, North Shore and Rodney indicates that a vast majority of residents want commercial flights to begin from Whenuapai as soon as possible. Cabinet is expected to make a decision on future options for the airbase in the next few weeks.

20 April

New School Welcomed by Mayor

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey has welcomed plans for a major new school in Hobsonville. 

While the Sunderland Education Trust is still to receive resource consent for the development, Mayor Harvey says it is an exciting proposition in one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

The private school will cater for up to 120 pre-schoolers, 400 primary school students (year 1 to year 6), and 1000 secondary students. It is hoped it will open next year (February 2005).

The Sunderland campus will be on Brigham Creek Road, next to the proposed new Hobsonville motorway. 

“The location is perfect. Not only will it service families from Waitakere but also people on the North Shore and in Rodney,” Mayor Harvey says.

“The whole of the north-western sector of the City is opening up for development and with that comes the need for schools, parks, hospitals and so on. I’m delighted that the Sunderland Trust has seen the potential in Waitakere.”

Mayor Harvey also says that the 150 staff expected to work at the school will be an excellent boost to the local economy. “Schools are hugely important for their education and social aspects, but we can’t under-estimate the positive impact of 150 new jobs either,” he says. 

School spokesman Alex Findlay says: “We have been wanting to establish Sunderland for several years, but have had real difficulty in finding a suitable site. We are delighted with the one we have found. It is ideally located to serve a wide catchment area, and is readily accessible from any direction. It also offers the space for us to establish a beautiful learning environment.”

The principals of the Sunderland College Trust have previously established new independent colleges at Karaka and Gulf Harbour.

13 April

Action Wanted on Whenuapai

Most people in Waitakere, on the North Shore and in Rodney District want commercial flights to begin from Whenuapai as soon as possible.

The government has announced that the Airforce will leave its base at Whenuapai by 2005. In order to fill the estimated $250million a year economic loss, Waitakere City Council want the base retained as a commercial airport. 

In a just completed survey, two thirds of people want the Government to make a prompt decision.

Of the 1200 people surveyed (by TNS in a study commissioned by Infratil), 64% are in favour of prompt Government action, a further 12% would not mind either way, 22% are opposed, and 3% expressed no opinion.

“A majority of people in the North and West want commercial flights in and out of Whenuapai as soon as possible, and they want the Government to make the necessary decisions promptly,” says Infratil spokesman Tim Brown.

Mr Brown said airlines also want a prompt decision on the Intratil/Waitakere City proposal for a commercial airport at Whenuapai, so they could have certainty about an Auckland base.

“Vested interests should not be allowed to destroy a development, which has so much to offer Auckland, by pushing for further delay.”

“Much has been made of local resident concern about noise from commercial flights, but the survey shows only 5% of residents oppose a commercial airport at Whenuapai for this reason, and a third of these people would withdraw their opposition if the noise was not significantly greater than at present.”

Mr Brown said every professional poll done to measure attitudes to potential uses for the airport land at Whenuapai showed that a commercial airport was strongly supported in the Auckland region. Kaipara District Council and business in the North and West were also strongly supportive.

Other findings from the survey include:-

• The main reasons for 59% supporting a commercial airport were that an airport at Whenuapai would be easier and quicker to get to than Mangere (33% of all respondents) and that congestion would be reduced (15%) of all respondents.
• The main reasons for 14% opposing an airport at Whenuapai was noise (5% of all respondents) and a belief that Auckland does not need another airport (3% of all respondents).
• Opposition based on noise is centred predominately on the area around the existing airport.
• Most residents of the three areas surveyed believe traffic congestion is a major problem which will get worse over the next five years and that local government is not doing enough, quickly enough, to resolve the problem.
• Better public transport, another harbour crossing, more roads and having employment and facilities closer to where people live all scored well for potential effectiveness in improving traffic flows.
• A majority of people were unhappy about travelling times to Mangere airport from their homes, particularly frequent fliers. Typical travel time to the airport was estimated to be 61 minutes on average.

View full results of the survey.

13 April

Annual Plan Submissions Open Today

Waitakere City’s 2004/2005 draft Annual Plan is open for submissions from today (April 13) until 5pm on 13 May.

Hard copies of the plan – copies of the submission form - are available for viewing in libraries, the New Lynn Council Service Centre, Citizens’ Advice Bureaux, community centres and Waitakere City reception.

A 50 page Summary of the Annual Plan is also available.

Residents wishing to have their own copy of either the draft Annual Plan document or the Summary document, can obtain them by contacting us.

The 180-page draft Annual Plan offers the Council’s proposed work programme and budget for the next financial year, for public comment. People wishing to make submissions may do so in any written form, but submission forms are available in the documents, contact us for more information.

Submitters wish to speak to their submission must indicate this in their written submission and they will be allocated a time during the council hearings between 4 June to 18 June

The Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) was adopted last year and forecasts the Council’s planned work programme, approximate costs and sources of income for the 10 years 2003 to 2013. Significant variations from the LTCCP in each year’s annual plan, must be publicly notified.

The LTCCP established priorities including transport, education, public safety, environmental protection, building better town centres.

This draft Annual Plan is the Council’s work programme and budget for year two of the LTCCP.  

For more information contact us.

8 April

Mayor Bob Seeks Nuclear Disarmament

Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey has been invited to be part of an international mayoral mission to the United Nations, as part of a campaign for a nuclear-weapon-free world. 

Mayor Harvey will attend the World Conference of Mayors for Peace in New York on 27-28 April.

Mayors for Peace delegates will meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, UN disarmament officials, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) officials and government representatives. The delegation will also visit September 11 Ground Zero and New York City Hall.

The vision of a nuclear-free future is spearheaded by the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki whose cities were destroyed by nuclear weapons within three days of each other in August 1945.

The mayoral delegation is the first milestone in the Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign.

This month’s mayoral delegation will lay foundations for participating in the NPT Review Conference in August 2005, when it is aimed to have 200 mayors in New York. The 2005 NPT Review Conference will comprise grassroots groups from all over the world. It is anticipated one million people will be on New York streets during the 2005 conference.

“At Waitakere, we promote peaceful resolution to violence from domestic violence to road rage. We have flown the nuclear-free flag for the past 12 years,” says Mayor Harvey.

Waitakere City also has a long history of working towards peaceful resolution including urban design that promotes safety and community pride and harmony.

In 1998 Mayor Harvey received the U.N. Mayors for Peace Prize in Stockholm, awarded to only eight mayors in the world for the promotion of an anti-nuclear stance – Waitakere, then Waitemata, City was declared a nuclear-free zone on 28 July 1983. This prize was also for promoting alternative dispute resolution and safe community standards. The following year Waitakere City became New Zealand’s first city to receive accreditation from the World Health Organisation. In 1993, Waitakere adopted the principles of “Agenda 21” from the Earth Summit in Rio, thus becoming New Zealand’s first Eco City.

Mr Harvey is funding the New York visit himself.

6 April

Development Contributions and Financial Contributions

Waitakere City Council today decided to include a proposed Development Contributions and Financial Contributions Policy in the draft Annual Plan for 2004/05.

The contributions will be levied principally – but not exclusively - on property developers, to help to pay for community infrastructure costs that growth imposes on a community. 

“The rates we get from the new properties will cover their operational costs, but neither they nor the current developer’s reserve contributions, meet the costs of major new infrastructure,” says Cr Janet Clews, chair of the Council’s Finance and Operational Performance Committee. 

“Nor would it be fair to share those costs among all ratepayers because the existing ratepayers have already paid for, or are paying for, the infrastructure they currently use,” she says.

Most Councils in New Zealand are planning to introduce similar charges.

Community Infrastructure is the term introduced by the Local Government Act 2002 and in Waitakere City it will be applied to facilities such as the new libraries, park and rides, community centres and community houses that will be needed to serve growth.

If adopted, the new contributions will be charged from 1 July this year. They will incorporate the existing developer’s contributions and will generally be paid by land developers, on the basis of one contribution per household or commercial unit, they propose to build. 

Councillor Clews says the exact cost per household, or commercial unit, is still to be finalised but it could average around $9,000.

The contributions are a mechanism to recover the true costs of development on a city, she says.

“There will be a base figure and this will be modified by a number of factors. For example, stormwater management systems that mean the Council will not have to build new public stormwater capability, would reduce the contribution to be paid.”

“ Assuming the proposal is adopted during the annual plan deliberations after consultation, the final figure will be decided in June, “ says Councillor Clews.

April 6

Intense Networking to Aid Youth

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says more intense networking is needed between helping agencies to change the lives of young people in Waitakere City. He was the opening speaker at a Community Action on Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) Summit, where delegates from 30 Waitakere helping agencies discussed strategies to deal with increasing problems of drug misuse among youth.

“It is time to lift our game, to plan together and co-ordinate our efforts. It is time for all the different helping agencies in this city to form ‘Waitakere Community Action’. As a closely-linked network, I believe we can double our impact,” says Mayor Harvey. 

The delegates divided into workshops where they discussed strategies to deal with the needs. They heard that intermediate schools can be a ‘breeding ground’ for drug misuse and that education needs to reach the children before they get to high school. There were calls to empower families and increase pressure on suppliers and increase resiliency and life skills amongst young people. 

The mayor suggested that a community stock-take is necessary to clarify what resources presently exist. 

“We should engage with schools, marae, cultural groups, churches, sports groups and health providers to create a seamless process of referrals so that we do not end up with multiple agencies, unaware of each other, dealing with the same family,” says Mayor Harvey.

Youth at risk need a sense of belonging in the world through education and jobs, sport and appropriate role models, he says.

Community Action on Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) is a Ministry of Health initiative to improve the health and well-being of the population by reducing methamphetamine, cannabis and other drug related harm, and increasing community ownership and capacity top address these health issues. The Summit’s findings were part of a new policy-making process.

MP Lynne Pillay, Waitakere councillor Greg Presland and Russell Phillips of Wai Health Addiction Service also addressed at the Summit on April 2.

11 April

Council and Police Shake Hands Over a Safer West

It’s official - the west is no longer “wild”, it’s one of the safest places in New Zealand.

Signing a “memorandum of understanding” with top policemen, Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey outlined how the west’s reputation has evolved over 20 years from having a high crime rate to being “one of the safest areas in New Zealand.”

“It’s not the ‘wild’ west anymore,” he said.

In 1984, there were “large groups of young men injuring themselves…the west had a lousy reputation. It struggled in the 80s, to achieve, to have investment.”

Mayor Bob Harvey and Chief Executive Harry O’Rourke shook hands with District Commander, Superintendent Roger Carson and the Waitakere Area Commander, Inspector Mark O’Connor at the full Council meeting on March 31.

“I value the relationship this council has pioneered with police… so much has happened. What a difference!"

Superintendent Carson paid tribute to the Waitakere Police District being number two out of 52 police districts.

“There is a difference and the results that we are seeing in this District are ones we are proud of but they are not ours alone as the results are a result of the entire community working together. This understanding helps us lift our performance and strengthens our ability to ensure this District continues to a safe community that all can enjoy,” said Superintendent Carson.

2 April 

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 

Next Tuesday (April 6) sees the American producers and crew of the mega-movie The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe welcomed to New Zealand. 

The Disney-Walden production is an adaptation of the C.S. Lewis childrens’ classic and will be filmed largely in Waitakere City over the next 12 months. It will employ hundreds of local people.

On Tuesday, at 10am, the American producers and New Zealand crew, along with ex-pat Kiwi director Andrew Adamson, will be welcomed with a traditional powhiri at Hoani Waititi Marae in Glen Eden. Adamson is, perhaps, best known for winning an Academy Award for his animated movie Shrek.

Government representatives, along with representatives of the film industry (NZ Film Commission, Film NZ etc) will also be in attendance.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says that the production is a huge boon to the local economy and the film industry as a whole. “It will bring jobs for young people in one of the most exciting industries imaginable,” he says.

“And it’s not every day that New Zealand crews get to work with an Oscar winner like Andrew (Adamson).”

Mayor Harvey, also a member of the New Zealand Film Commission, says the movie cements Waitakere City as the Hollywood of the South Pacific- a film and television location of international stature.

The film is to be shot throughout Waitakere City, and at the Henderson Valley Studios, which the Waitakere City Council purchased last year.

Mr Harvey said the deal was further fulfilment of a ten-year-old council vision to make Waitakere City a film and television centre of international importance.

The film follows in the tradition of The Piano, Redhead, Hercules, Xena, Shortland Street, Whale Rider, Mercy Peak, and Power Rangers all of which were shot and/or produced in Waitakere City.

“With this project come hundreds of direct and indirect jobs over the next 12 months. On the back of Lord of the Rings having another major international movie takes the New Zealand film industry onto a new level of strength and growth.”

Mayor Harvey thanked Industry Development Minister Jim Anderton for helping to bring the production to New Zealand.

He says that Mr Anderton’s work and the government’s ‘Large Budget Screen Production Grant’ scheme had significantly increased the chances that ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ would be filmed in New Zealand.

1 April

Council Presents Case

Waitakere City councillors are in Wellington today (Thursday, 1 April) to present their case for Whenuapai Airport. 

The Government has announced that the RNZAF will leave Whenuapai Airbase by 2005.

Waitakere City Council and airport company Infratil have mounted a strong bid to have the facility retained as a commercial operation. If successful, it will provide domestic airline services as well as to the Pacific Islands and the eastern seaboard of Australia. It will service a population of 500,000 living within 16 kilometres of Whenuapai.

Approximately the same number of people live within a 16km radius of Mangere Airport.

The City Council was invited to make a presentation to MPs and officials at Parliament today. The presentation focuses on the mitigation of $250 million of economic activity which will be lost when the airbase closes. The Council also points to $341 million of traffic benefits to the Auckland Region if an airport is established in the North-Western sector, which is one of the fastest growing areas of the country.

Mayor Bob Harvey and 8 of his councillors paid their own way to Wellington to present their case.

Cabinet is expected to make a decision on future options for the airbase in the next few weeks. View the Waitakere/Infratil submission to the government.