Media Releases

February 2004

26 February

Waitakere first nationally registered rescue team in region

The Waitakere City Volunteer Civil Defence Initial Response Unit has become the first nationally registered Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team in the Auckland region and only the third nationwide.    Waitakere City Council's Emergency Services Manager, Bill Morley, says the registration is the culmination of two years of dedicated training and is a credit to the volunteers' commitment and dedication to the community. All training achievements have met New Zealand Qualifications Authority requirements.

"The award means that the team can respond to any major structural collapse situation and perform search operations as a credible response team acknowledged for their proficiency by the normal emergency services," he says. 

"Additionally, the team members are qualified in general and rope rescue techniques and would also be equally as comfortable working in a Civil Defence headquarters or welfare centre. They are an integral element of the Waitakere civil defence response."

Now that the qualification has been awarded, team members are looking forward to working more closely with the local emergency services and in particular the newly formed Auckland Region USAR task force. 

"In a major emergency it is imperative that all elements of community rescue understand each other's capabilities," says Mr Morley. 

"The accreditation has been a significant achievement for the Auckland Region and in the near future our neighbouring North Shore volunteer rescue team will also gain accreditation, which will significantly raise the profile of civil defence rescue throughout the community."

Team members also received certificates from Mayor Bob Harvey at last night's Council meeting, in recognition of their achievement.

20 February

Butt out Barry

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey has accused Manukau City of selfishness aimed at preserving Manukau's privileged position as the only city in the region with a commercial airport. 

His comments come after Manukau City Council's strategic development committee was critical of Waitakere's push to turn the current airbase at Whenuapai into a commercial airport. 

"Mangere airport has been an absolute bonanza for Manukau City, not just through their shareholding, but because the airport has attracted substantial business to relocate in the area.

Sir Barry should butt out of the debate and put the interests of the region first.

Manukau is a major shareholder in Auckland International Airport and they simply want to prop up both the value of their shares and their monopolistic mates" he says.

Mr Harvey says Manukau's opposition is short-sighted and selfish.

"What about the rest of the region which has to spend up to two hours in traffic just to get a flight? Not to mention the fact that the northwest will lose $250 million a year out of its local economy when the air force goes. What does (Mayor) Curtis think we should do to replace that. Run a raffle?

Leaders in the Auckland region should support what is best for the whole region, they should want to see strategic assets delivering benefits to ratepayers, and they should be in favour of competition, choice and more convenient options for air travellers.

Sir Barry would never vote to demolish Mangere airport to build houses, and it is arrogant nonsense for him to suggest we should do that at Whenuapai."

Mayor Harvey says that when the airport was moved to Mangere 50 years ago, civic leaders of the time had the foresight not to close Whenuapai. "Now, half a century on that wisdom is going to pay dividends. It's unbelievable that Manukau isn't looking to the future."

Mr Harvey says that Manukau's view that a second airport is not needed is baseless.

"In (airport partners) Infratil we have one of the most efficient airport operators in the world. They are prepared to back the Whenuapai option because it makes economic sense. But (Mayor) Curtis and his Council think they know better that one of the best airport operators around.

The reason Sir Barry and Mangere airport are running scared is that they know a commercial airport at Whenuapai will succeed, and they want to kill it at birth and continue a monopoly that increasingly can't deliver what the region needs."

Mr Harvey also counters the claim that the proposed second runway at Auckland will serve the region for the next 50 years.

"You could have 10 runways there- but we'd still be battling for hours to get to them." He adds that millions of dollars will need to be spent to get passengers to Mangere.

Using their own growth projections there will be millions of dollars of work needed at the Puhinui Intersection, Montgomery Ave, Kirkbride Rd and others around the airport. And who will be paying for that? It certainly won't be (Mayor) Curtis and his Council. It will be the long suffering taxpayers of the rest of Auckland." 

Mr Harvey says it is ironic that Sir Barry Curtis is seeking support from other Mayors and Councils for his "hugely unpopular and grandiose" Eastern Corridor scheme costing billers of dollars of public money - "yet when someone else tries to do something with 100% private enterprise funding they are bagged for it".

"Manukau should concentrate on their own problems."

Fast facts

• The Airforce will vacate Whenuapai within 5 years.
• Cabinet is due to make a decision on future uses in April.
• A recent poll shows that just 13% of Auckland residents oppose the idea.
• More than half a million people live within a 16km radius of Whenuapai- roughly the same number within 16km of Mangere.

For more information see Whenuapai Air Base.

18 February 2004

New marketing taskforce to tackle economic growth head-on

A new Mayoral Business Marketing Taskforce has been established to capitalise on Waitakere's reputation as a place of business opportunity.

The group will act as an umbrella for economic development initiatives to deliver on Waitakere City Council's Draft Economic Development Strategy, adopted in October last year.

The Strategy recognises the importance of marketing, branding and building positive messages about Waitakere City as a credible business location.

Taskforce members include Mayor Bob Harvey, Massey Ward Councillor Gary Russell (who suggested the taskforce), Henderson Ward Councillor Annette Fenton, New Lynn Ward Councillor Derek Battersby and a Council director. Enterprise Waitakere has also been invited to nominate representatives and other business stakeholders in Waitakere will be approached for their input.

The Taskforce will set up a City-wide business-orientated marketing strategy (possibly including the role an industry and trade show could play), coordinate and further promote the potential of ongoing, high profile economic development projects, develop an effective business attraction and incentives package and strengthen relationships with key partners in the City, such as Maori business and economic development interests.

"The taskforce needs to develop an `image update' for the City to meet the marketing demands of its new business investors, " Cr Russell says.

"This means a marketing strategy to further encourage business clusters to establish themselves in the region. The next step is to market the commercially zoned land available in the City.

Councillor Russell pointed to the fact that at the recent international `Working at the Coal Face' economic conference in Auckland, Waitakere City was held up as a place of business opportunity, sustainable growth and quality of lifestyle, with a growing youth labour market.

17 February

Swimmers looking for Olympic qualification at West Wave

The cream of New Zealand swimming will be looking to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens at the New Zealand Open Swimming Championships, to be held at Waitakere City's West Wave Aquatic Centre next month.

Up to 300 swimmers from around the country will be competing at the championships, which run from March 31 to April 4. Heats will be held in the morning from 9am and finals in the evening from 6pm. 

Philippa Bouzaid, spokeswoman for the championship hosts, the Auckland Swimming Association, says swimmers to watch include Auckland's Dean Kent, Cameron Gibson, Hannah McLean, Alison Fitch, Corney Swanepoel, Helen Norfolk, Melissa Ingram and Scott Talbot-Cameron, Dunedin's Liz van Welie, Wellington's Toni Jeffs and Bay of Plenty's Moss Burmester.

Prominent local swimmers include West Auckland Aquatics' Mark Herring, Matthew Palmer, Lauren Boyle, Kelly Newcombe and Tracey Sheehan and the Waterhole Swim Club's Daniel Ryan and Carmen Ooi.

There is also the possibility of having swimmers qualify in relay teams, but the teams will have to qualify within the top 16 in the world to be able to compete at Olympic level, Ms Bouzaid says.

12 February

Entry statement project deferred

A proposed project to construct a city entry statement at Te Atatu has been deferred until such time as the Te Atatu Interchange is upgraded by Transit New Zealand. 

Transit has indicated that the earliest the Te Atatu interchange could be upgraded is in the 2005/2006 financial year. However, due to funding availability, Transit's 10-year plan indicates that the interchange upgrade design work is more likely to begin in 2008, with construction in 2009. 

The Council is continuing to advocate for the interchange to be upgraded sooner to help ease traffic congestion at the site.

The Council's City Development Committee has agreed that it makes sense to align the entry statement project with Transit's interchange upgrade, making it easier to secure funding from other sources and reducing the risk of damage to plants and art elements during construction.

The Committee also agreed that designs for the entry statement and associated landscaping be forwarded to Transit for their consideration before the upgrade begins.

The Council's existing budget for the entry statement will remain unspent for this financial year.

In the meantime, other components of the project, separate from the entry statement itself - such as native planting areas or walkways within or bordering Harbourview Park and a pedestrian bridge and cycleway - could still be developed as part of other Council projects in the area.

Committee chair, Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone, says it has always been the Council's intention to seek the majority of funding from external sources to get the project completed at the lowest possible cost to ratepayers.

"The light towers and sustainable energy elements of the project may be candidates for such funding. And, as the cost of planting the large site is in the order of $500,000 to $600,000 alone, it also makes sense for us to work in with Transit to have some of that cost shared amongst both our projects," she says. 

"Ultimately this could lead to an enhanced project, resulting in a win-win situation for the two lead parties and the opportunity that a partnership brings in respect of cost savings.

"There are a number of landscaped projects that have been undertaken along motorways in the region, but none have been in Waitakere. We would like a quality, landscaping feature that provides a visual gateway into Waitakere and that makes a statement about the principles and values of our City, its heritage and vision. It would be a unique New Zealand landmark, seen daily by thousands of motorists."

10 February

War graves inspected

The head of the London-based Commonwealth War Graves Commission is currently in New Zealand as part of an eight-day nationwide inspection of war graves.  Commission Director-General, Richard Kellaway, visited Waikumete Cemetery - the country's largest war cemetery - on February 7. "Mr Kellaway spent about an hour looking at Waikumete's 342 war graves, which are scattered throughout the cemetery," says Waikumete Cemetery manager, Graham Resnick. "He was suitably impressed with what is being done to maintain the war graves, which have all been cleaned and re-lettered over the last two years."

Richard Kellaway and Graham Resnick inspecting one of the war graves

The commission was established in 1917 and is responsible for commemorating the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth Armed Forces who died during World War I and World War II.  Costs are shared by partner governments in New Zealand, Australia, Britain, Canada, India and South Africa.

Mr Kellaway is the first senior commission representative to visit since similar inspections were carried out by deputy director-general Roger Dalley in 2000.

The periodic tours are designed to raise public awareness of the commission's work and verify that New Zealand is maintaining its graves to a high standard.

5 February

Preliminary designs released

Plans for New Lynn's new library took another step forward today with the unveiling of preliminary designs at the Council's City Development Committee meeting.

Presented by architects Craig Craig Moller, the preliminary drawings show the proposed layout of the new 1000 sq m civic building - which will also include a new Citizens Advice Bureau and Council Service Centre - and the design of the new Memorial Square (incorporating the New Lynn war memorial). Detailed design work will be undertaken over the next few months. Construction is expected to be complete by August 2005.

The building is designed to fit with and revitalise the New Lynn Town Centre. It provides an edge to the new Memorial Square, which complements and completes the existing memorial. The project will feature a range of art work designed into the building and it surroundings.

Councillors were pleased with the concept presented. 

"We are happy that things are now moving full-steam ahead to fulfil our long-standing commitment to the people of New Lynn to build them a stylish and modern library facility they can be proud of and which will cater for the needs of our growing community," says New Lynn Ward councillor, Derek Battersby.

Fellow New Lynn Ward councillor, Judy Lawley, agrees:

"This will be a library for the 21st century - a community living room. The exciting indoor and outdoor spaces, the central position and the beauty of the building, art works and landscaping will be a source of great pride for New Lynn. And, of course, it will be important for our 'Learning City' goals."

The preliminary design concept will now be presented to the New Lynn Community Board, which also gives residents an opportunity to view the drawings.

The total budget for the project stands at $4.3 million.

5 February

Waitakere Central to give city new environmentally-advanced town centre

Waitakere Central. That is the name chosen today for the new transport hub and civic complex that will be built in the heart of Henderson, over the next couple of years.

Waitakere City Councillors also approved design concepts for a cluster of environmentally-advanced buildings on either side of the railway, linked and integrated by an airbridge over the tracks. 

"We've had difficulty describing this development because it fulfils a range of functions. It is, in itself, a new town centre - hence the name Waitakere Central", says Waitakere Mayor, Bob Harvey.

"There are new Council facilities and a bus-rail interchange - like a small Britomart - and the use of air space to link everything together - and at the same time, to link the two sides of the town which have been separated by the railway for over a hundred years," says Mr Harvey.

"Beyond that, it is a statement of confidence in the CBD of Waitakere which will act as a catalyst in new investment, while giving a very significant boost to public transport by concentrating so many people and so much energy, right on the bus-rail interchange," Mr Harvey says.

On the old Carter Holt Harvey site in Henderson Valley Road there will be a modern 5 storey office block and facing it, a modernistic, delta-shaped, Civic Building housing the Council chambers and a variety of public spaces. These cluster around a civic square.

Typically of Waitakere civic buildings, art works and a wide range of sustainability features, form part of the basic design. 

What are now regarded as "standard" sustainability features in Waitakere, include energy and water efficiency systems (including rainwater harvesting for non-potable use) and storm-water management.

The Council also approved the adoption of advanced sustainability features at a later date, when they can be funded through sponsorship or other forms of external funding. These include such possible features as a Green Roof, and photovoltaic cells (solar cells) and a wind turbine for energy generation.

The civic complex was designed by Architectus and Athfield Architects and is expected to cost around $25 million (after the sale of the existing Civic Centre).

5 February

Waitakere City supports transport recommendations

Waitakere City Council has decided to support major transport recommendations being made to the Government.

At a special meeting today, the Council agreed to recommendations made by the chief executives of the councils of the region.

The recommendations are in response to a government package, announced in December, which provides for an extra $1.62 billion in funding over the next 10 years and proposes a new Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA). 

The main recommendations to the Government, agreed to by Waitakere today, include introducing further new funding mechanisms. 

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says that while his Council has supported the proposed new authority, it wants the voice of local authorities to be heard.

"ARTA will need to work with a number of organisations in a co-ordinated way to deliver effective transport solutions for the region.

"Whatever the new authority does will directly affect our communities and as local councils we must have some accountability and responsibility. Because local knowledge is so essential to effective use of public money, we want to see local councils having a strong input to the solutions that are developed and the priorities for spending."

Auckland, North Shore and Manukau cities and the ARC have also agreed to the recommendations put forward by the chief executives. Papakura District Council will discuss the matter on Monday (February 9). Franklin District Council has said it requires more detail.

3 February

Waitakere City to welcome back "old friends"

A 26-strong delegation from Waitakere's Japanese sister city of Kakogawa is arriving in Waitakere on February 9.

Led by Mayor Shoichi Tarumoto, the majority of the visiting party will consist of Kakogawa citizens, along with three council staff members and the chairman of the council, Mr Myojo.

One of the citizens is Mr Onishi, a former Kakogawa City Council staff member who, together with the current mayor, Mr Tarumoto (who was then also a staff member), was one of the first people to contact Waitakere in 1990 with a view to forging a sister city relationship.

"Mr Onishi and Mr Tarumoto both have an association with Waitakere that goes back a long way, so we are looking forward to welcoming them back to the City as old friends," says Waitakere City Mayor, Bob Harvey.

The delegation will be visiting the site set aside for the new Henderson transport centre and discussing how the Japanese Garden they gifted to the City in 1998 can be relocated there from the existing civic centre grounds on Waipareira Avenue.

Also on the itinerary is a visit to the West Wave Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Piha Beach and the Arataki Visitors Centre in the Waitakere Ranges.  Disabled students from Kakogawa, who are currently visiting New Zealand as part of an annual exchange programme, will also be meeting the delegation at the historic Falls Hotel in Henderson.

2 February

Vandals destroy village trees

Two large trees- one a Kauri and the other a Titoki- were last night hacked down in Titirangi.

The Council owned trees stood 3-4metres high and the Titoki is estimated at around 40 years old. It appears the trees were cut using a handsaw.

Local business people alerted the Council to the damage this morning and contractors have since cut up and removed the foliage.

CCTV (video) footage of the attack was taken by a camera mounted on a nearby café and that has been handed to the police.

In addition, Mayor Bob Harvey has offered a $500 reward for any information which leads to a successful prosecution of those responsible.

"To do something like this is just dumb beyond belief," says Mayor Harvey. "We hadn't received any complaints about the trees at all- in fact they were precious icons of our Village." 

The trees will be replaced as soon as possible, weather permitting.