Media Releases

September 2004

30 September

Son of the city honoured
 

Mayor Bob Harvey congratulating Ant Williams. Photo: Chris Holt.

28 September

Labours of love sought for competition

The Waitakere City Mitre 10 Schools Garden Competition is open for entries, but you’d better be in quick!

Entries are being collected from kindergartens, preschools, primary and intermediate schools in Waitakere and Avondale until 18 October. To enter your classroom, ring Peter and Jocelyn Coombs (09) 834 6483 for more information.

Judging will be 8 - 12 November and a prize-giving ceremony will be at the Civic Centre, 8 Waipareira Ave, Henderson at 2pm on Sunday, 28 November.

Mt Wellington Nurseries will give each classroom entering the competition two punnets of seedlings. These may be collected from Mitre 10 Mega, Henderson, on presentation of a letter acknowledging entry.

27 September

Corban Arts succeeds against odds
 

Looking westwards from the centre of the precinct.

Over 17,000 visitors visited the CEAC’s galleries’ 20 exhibitions and a range of diverse arts-related activity was offered, including classes, events and cultural immersion programmes.

The 9.6 hectare former winery property was purchased by Waitakere City in 1991.

Last week, the City’s creative hub moved a step closer to becoming the Corban Estate Arts Precinct when the preliminary Concept Plan was accepted by the City Development Committee as the first of two arts precincts to be developed at Waitakere (the other is at Lopdell House at Titirangi).

“We have identified a need for attractions in the town centre that will bring people from out of the area, so we need a combination of attractions to extend the average time spent here to be over one and a half hours,” says Waitakere City’s Arts Manager Naomi McCleary.
“The Corban Estate Arts Precinct will serve a vital role as a focal point for all creative and artistic endeavours.  When connected to the town centre it will attract more visitors to the centre of Henderson,” she says.

The proposed Corban Estate Arts Precinct design includes: a performance centre, outdoor performance space, arts studio, Nga Toi Ora –Living Arts Centre, a paper mill, Pacific Arts and Cultural Centre, gallery space, an Arts and Heritage Museum, historic buildings and retail.

20 September

Workshops feature at festival

Does immigration to New Zealand mean a slide down the dragon from the head to the tail?

Asian community leaders and young adults will discuss current issues facing the community at the Waitakere Moon Festival this weekend.

Organised by the Waitakere City Council with the support of Office of Ethnic Affairs and Asia 2000, Families in Transition: Cultures in Collision consists of two workshops, designed to raise awareness and provoke discussion on topics affecting Asians in New Zealand.

The workshops are an innovative addition to the festival and aim to push the boundaries of cultural celebrations in New Zealand.

Asia Down Under producer Melissa Lee will be convening the Enter the Dragon panel with panellists Sue Lim, Kitty Chiu, Kenneth Wang and Dr Samson Tse. Discussion will focus on pre-migration expectations and their impact on families and communities.

The Asian Generation X panel of young adults will invite discussion on topics affecting youth such as maintaining culture and traditional expectations while integrating with New Zealand culture.

Other topics include Chinese culture, civilisation and economy and why people living there can justifiably be proud of who they are and their place in the world.

Held on Saturday 25th; 11am for Asian Generation X and 1pm for Enter the Dragon.

17 September

Officers turn to detective work to find Sheep-killer dogs in Ranui

Having been unable to catch two sheep-killing dogs in the act, Waitakere City Council Animal Welfare Services are now following up a variety of different leads in the hope that detective work will lead them to the culprits.

The dogs have killed or injured large numbers of sheep in Ranui, in several attacks over the last 10 days but descriptions are sketchy and patrols have failed to find them. The dogs are believed to be a tan colour and are possibly Staffordshire terriers or similar dogs.

Night time vigils will continue in a scaled down format and cage traps will continue to be set and monitored on the property.

Waitakere City Council Public Affairs Manager, Dai Bindoff says that a number of factors might account for the dogs not being found. These might include poor weather or dog owners keeping the dogs inside. It is even possible the dogs have been taken out of the area following the last attack.

The Council thanks the community for supplying the information it has received to date and is urging anyone with additional information to contact the Council’s call-centre.

Animal Welfare officers say the case highlights the need for dog owners to be aware that all domestic dogs have instincts and can develop dangerous habits if they are not properly trained and supervised.

17 September

Free kids’ fun at Moon Festival

New Lynn Library is running free activities on the opening night of the Moon Festival for the younger members of the family.

Between 4.30 and 8 pm on Friday 24 September, there will be Chinese lollies, storytelling and face painting, supporting the main celebrations at the New Lynn Community Centre.

Kids can also try chopstick games and have a taste of moon cake at New Lynn Library, which is within walking distance of the community centre on the corner of Memorial Drive and Totara Ave.

The festival will be officially opened at 6pm, followed by performances continuing through to 8.30pm.

Other activities at the New Lynn Community Centre on Friday night include food and retail stalls open from 5pm and performances from the Cantonese Opera Society, ribbon dancing, martial arts and Japanese Taiko drumming.

Activities continue Saturday morning from 10-3pm.

16 September

Investment boost for Waitakere economy

It’s been nearly 20 years since a major commercial building consent has been issued in Henderson’s town centre.

New growth is predicted for Henderson’s centre.

The massive tower crane currently driving piles is the first sign of major commercial construction activity since the mid 1980s with the Waitakere Central library and Unitec campus and car park building project now underway at Ratanui Street.

Cranes are likely to become a regular feature of the Henderson skyline, as predictions of fresh new growth and private investment in the town centre are fulfilled over the next few years.

Mayor Bob Harvey expects the new commercial activity will kick-start further investment in the town.

“The retail heart of Henderson will be the centre of the knowledge economy that is so important to the future well-being of our citizens. This is an opportunity to take up tertiary education and future employment in Waitakere as the Unitec campus and Waitakere Central library offering the latest technology take shape,” he says.

The campus and library buildings, currently being piled, are due for completion at the end of 2005 and after internal fit out will be open for business in early 2006.  The laying of the foundation stone to commemorate the buildings starting is likely to take place early in the new year

The combined value of the buildings: Unitec, Library and six floor carpark is $38 million.

16 September

Westies achievements honoured

Henderson Community Board has decided on three new recipients to be inducted into the Waitakere Walkway of Fame, at its latest meeting.

Situated in Catherine Place, those chosen to join Michael Jones and Beatrice Faumuina in the walkway are:

• Dame Sian Elias, current Chief Justice and member of the Supreme Court. Dame Sian grew up in Titirangi and continued on to become a Judge of the High Court in 1995 before reaching Chief Justice in 1999.
• Sir Tom Clark, former Crown-Lynn head and sportsman who has also previously been inducted into the City’s Business Hall of Fame.
• Graeme Douglas, well-known local businessman whose significant contribution to the community has been recently recognised with the naming of the Douglas track and field at the new Trusts Stadium.

All three recipients will have their hand or foot imprint etched into granite slabs in the walkway along with suitable text acknowledging their achievements.

Criteria for selection is that the person must be nationally or internationally recognised and they must have been born, lived, or have worked in the Waitakere area.

A public “unveiling” will be held in late October or November.

15 September

Waitakere and Fiji sign film agreement

Waitakere is again breaking new ground having signed an agreement with the Fijian Audio Visual Commission which will ensure the city’s buoyant film industry, and the city itself, continues to flourish.

The MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) will see Fiji and Waitakere, one of the most proactive filmmaking hubs in New Zealand, working together to meet expanding international film industry needs in the South Pacific.

The agreement was signed this week by the Fiji Audio Visual Commission Chairman Joe Mar and Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey who has been extensively involved in promotion of the film industry and active in encouraging film and television productions into New Zealand.

The agreement is understood to be a first and is expected to reap benefits for Fiji, Waitakere and New Zealand.

“Our local film industry is turning Waitakere into Westiewood and this agreement means we will be able to even more effectively accommodate its ever increasing needs,” says Mr Harvey, also a former Chair and current member of the New Zealand Film Commission.

“Fiji and Waitakere will cooperate to offer film makers the best locations in the two areas, crème de la crème crews and very supportive local environments and economies. I am delighted and proud Waitakere is leading the way in this field.”

In signing the agreement the parties recognise the complementary strengths of their respective production destinations for the servicing of international film productions and seek to work together to attract projects that would benefit from these arrangements.

In particular, Waitakere recognises the accessibility and desirability of unique locations in Fiji not found in New Zealand and the FAVC appreciates the availability of studio facilities and expertise in Waitakere.

Waitakere owns Henderson Valley Studios which has been used for productions such as the popular TV series Hercules and Xena and it is currently hosting the big-budget Disney production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The two organisations intend to develop joint marketing and business initiatives, establish a formal relationship with Film Auckland and help towards the signing of an official co-production treaty between New Zealand and Fiji.

“With the huge success of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy for NZ and now with Fiji’s high profile as a production location with Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, it makes good sense for us as neighbouring countries to look for synergies to attract more film productions to our part of the world,” Mr Mar says.

“We wish to thank Mayor Bob Harvey for his proactive ‘can-do’ attitude which many have come to recognise as a particular attribute of the Kiwis. The FAVC has been working on developing this type of arrangement with several strategic countries. While the MOU with Waitakere is the first concrete realisation of that aspiration we expect others.”

Mr Mar added that with arrangements such as that signed between FAVC and Waitakere, film producers would have more coherent and wider combinations of choices of locations, facilities, expertise and tax incentives from which they can structure very feasible film production deals.

13 September

Dogs return to kill more sheep

Mystery dogs who caused the deaths of 30 sheep at Birdwood Rd Swanson on Friday morning returned at 11pm last night (Sunday), killing another five sheep and injuring several others.

Waitakere City Animal Welfare manager Tom Didovich says that last Friday’s house to house enquiry by Council officers failed to find the culprits.

“It is obvious that someone must know who these dogs are. They will be coming home very tired, most likely with blood on their coats. However, during last night’s attack, they were interrupted, so they may still have some energy today,” he says.

The dogs sighted last night appeared to be of a Staffie-Cross breed, say the owners of the sheep Graham and Fiona Mooney.

Traps placed on site will remain throughout the week and there will be some heavy monitoring by staff with firearms to try to trap/destroy the dogs on site.

Pedigree Suffolk rams worth $180 were killed in Friday’s attack as well as pregnant ewes and lambs.

The Mooneys say they are moving all the remaining 50 sheep off the Birdwood Rd block. This is the third such attack at this property. Last March, two fox terriers were destroyed after they killed seven ewes.

10 September

The family dog to star in Woofs’ Day Out

Family dogs will be the stars of a big day out the day after the National Dog Show is held at the Trusts Stadium.

Woofs’ Day Out on September 26 – an event organised by the Ranui-Swanson Lions Club and Waitakere City Council – is not to be confused with Scruffs Dog Show which is held every March.

Organiser Anna Mac Pherson says Ranui-Swanson Lions Club has organised the Scruffs show for the past 18 years and was asked by the Council to stage a similar event after the pedigreed dogs have left the stadium.

“We are extending an invitation to any family’s dog to come and take part in the fun. There will be dogs of all shapes and sizes, with prizes of Purina One dog food for contest winners – there’ll be lots of categories including one for ‘mad hatters’ – dogs in silly hats,” says Mrs MacPherson.

A total of 500 dogs will compete for the biggest, smallest, scruffiest, waggiest, most friendly titles at Woofs Day Out, which will be a community fundraiser run by Ranui-Swanson Lions Club.

The gates open at 11am. There will be lolly scrambles and food available.

10 September

Overnight dog attacks kills 25 sheep and lambs

The killers of 25 pregnant ewes and new born lambs at a Swanson farmlet are sought by Waitakere City Council Animal Welfare officers.

Two small to medium dogs, believed to be terriers, were seen near the attack site in Birdwood Road.

Animal Welfare staff have been going from door to door seeking information about last night’s attack. They have also set traps on the Birdwood Rd property to try to catch the canine offenders.

A further 20 sheep were injured in the attack which saw the other half of the flock either killed outright or so badly injured they were put down by a veterinarian.

The surviving sheep have been penned more closely to the house.

This is the third such attack at Waitakere City this lambing season. There was one elsewhere in Swanson and another at Glen Eden.

“This was an especially awful attack. It was terrible for the farmer. People must keep their dogs under control, especially at this time of year, when the ewes are on the verge of lambing,” says Tom Didovich, Animal Welfare Manager.

If you can help with information, please call Animal Welfare.

9 September

Double award for public management

Waitakere City Council’s Director of Corporate and Civic Services Ross McLeod has been awarded a double honour by Wellington’s Victoria University.

In Wellington this week Mr McLeod received the Prime Minister’s Prize for Public Management and the Holmes Prize for the best piece of research in public policy.

For three and a half years Mr McLeod studied extramurally with Victoria University, completing his Masters of Public Management. As part of the programme he undertook a major research project focussed on the Strategic Leadership in public organisations and the impact of the political context of public organisations.

The Prime Minister’s Prize is annually awarded for the best all round academic performance in the Masters of Public Management programme. The Holmes Prize, created by Emeritus Professor Sir Frank and Lady Holmes, is awarded to the best piece of research work by students undertaking either the Masters of Public Management or the Masters of Public Policy, or other programmes in Victoria’s School of Government.

Mr McLeod pays special tribute to Waitakere’s Chief Executive Harry O’Rourke for this supportive attitude towards his employees.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do the study while working fulltime without the support of Harry and the organisation. His approach to staff development is very supportive, and I think people repay that with commitment to Harry and the City”, he says.

“Waitakere is an exciting place to work and live. There are a lot of major projects starting to come on now. The West is no longer just a series of dormitory suburbs anymore; there’s exciting social and economic progress happening - Unitec, the Town Centres, new Libraries, the Film Industry, the Trust’s Stadium and hopefully Whenuapai airport – there’s a real vibrancy and hum happening here that people can be proud of. I’m certainly proud to be part of the team that is helping to support this progress.”

Mr McLeod, who has already attained a degree in Political Science, has worked at Waitakere City Council for 12 years.

In his role, he is responsible for a number of key areas including libraries, information management, emergency management, legal services, human resources and Maori issues.

He is married with a young family and lives in Henderson.

8 September

Building Certifier Impacts On Council

Builders, developers and homeowners who had been using the private certifying company ABC could face delays in getting consents and approvals following its deregistration.

Waitakere City Council at any one time has approximately 400 cases on its books which have been submitted by ABC Certifiers. Waitakere City Council’s Group Manager; Regulatory Grant Gillard says that all those files will now have to be reviewed and outstanding inspections will need to be undertaken to ensure that they meet the Council’s standards.

“That may mean delays of three or four days for these inspections to be carried out, but we are trying to keep those delays to an absolute minimum. Homeowners and builders are the 'meat in the sandwich' and we are doing everything we can to help them out”. Mr Grant Gillard also says that homeowners will have to pay for those re-inspections and that could add hundreds of dollars in fees. “One of the risks in dealing with Certifiers is that if they go out of business for whatever reason, the consent reverts to the Council and the homeowner or developer ends up carrying the can”.

The decision to deregister ABC was taken by the Building Industry Authority, following complaints from Waitakere and North Shore City Councils. The BIA investigation found the ABC had been “negligent and incompetent” in a number of areas.

Waitakere City Council advises people caught by the ABC de-registration issue to view the Building Industry Authority website www.bia.govt.nz  or to contact the Council’s own 24 hour Call Centre.

 

7 September

Ranges protection needs community and legislation

Waitakere City’s Environmental Management Committee today voted to prepare draft legislation for consultation as part of a package of measures to further protect the Waitakere Ranges and Foothills.

The Committee emphasised that consultation with the community was essential in the process to achieve permanent and certain long-term protection of the Ranges and foothills for future generations.

The Council has a two-part approach to protecting the Ranges and foothills, : One part is non-regulatory actions including a community forum and networking group. The other is legislation.

Both involve the community and are designed to be complementary.

The committee voted to give a clear mandate to Council staff to prepare, for consultation, a legislative approach that does not affect current ‘permitted’ activities in the District Plan, is not too prescriptive and achieves the “permanence and certainty” objectives with “minimum effect on existing actual property”.

The Council will continue discussions with the Minister of Local Government to hold open the option of including the ranges and foothills in the Local Government (Auckland) No 2 Bill.

In the non-regulatory area, the development of a community forum similar to the one that formulated the West Coast Plan was suggested. This forum could discuss forming a trust or seeking World Biosphere Reserve status.

The Council is expected to agree on the package of ways to better protect the Ranges and foothills later this year. Once that decision is made, the details will be communicated to the community and consultation will take place.

6 September

Wellbeing initiatives at cutting edge says Race Conciliator

Feedback from Waitakere’s Wellbeing Summit has confirmed the direction and progress in addressing social wellbeing issues.

New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres congratulated participants and Waitakere City on progress in addressing wellbeing issues.
"It's great to see such clear and practical goals and concrete progress in achieving them", he said. “The focus on housing, youth and inclusiveness is very much in line with the Status Report on Human Rights in New Zealand.  He says the Human Rights Commission will be consulting on a national action plan on human rights over the next two months.
“The work already done in Waitakere is leading edge and will receive further impetus from a national commitment to address these issues.”

Coordinator of Waitakere Health Link and WADCOSS Chair Meredith Youngson says one of the most promising outcomes to come from the Summit is the recognition that collaboration at all levels is the way forward.

“By tackling wellbeing issues in a collaborative and holistic way, we will make a difference in the long term,” says Mrs Youngson.

“Most wellbeing issues do not have a single cause. An individual’s health is affected by their education, their home and social environment, their socio-economic status as well as diet, exercise, and genes,” she says.

The two-part summit, organised by the Waitakere Wellbeing Collaboration Strategy Group, brought together government, council and community agencies over two separate days in July and August to discuss initiatives around the state of social wellbeing in Waitakere City.

The first session on July 16 focused on a recent document “Waitakere Wellbeing Report 2004” and discussed the current situation and gaps in the approach to the city’s wellbeing. The concluding day on Friday August 20, discussed “where to from here?” and identified further actions to be picked up by a variety of agencies.

More than 100 people attended each session, including Members of Parliament, City Councillors, and representatives from more than 80 community, government and council agencies, as well as interested citizens.

The focus at the summit on August 20 was on the future to check if current strategies are working, or if new paths needed to be considered. Highlights from Friday’s session (August 20) included overwhelming confirmation that the wellbeing collaboration project was ‘on track’, two potential ‘calls to action’ identified (housing and information management). The first session involved presentations to update the “collective portrait” of what is happening in Waitakere and discussions on what needs to be done in the future – collectively or by individual groups or agencies. Discussion centred on the current situation in Waitakere, as reflected in the 126-page “Waitakere Wellbeing Report 2004”.
A total of 33 projects have been identified through the Waitakere Wellbeing process: five have been completed and at least 14 are in action. About 45 groups are actively involved in the ‘Calls to Action’.

Background

The Wellbeing process began in 1996, involving community and government agencies working with Waitakere Council to assess report and strategise. The last Summit in 2002 was attended by more than 170 individuals from more than 70 agencies. From there, a series of Calls to Action were formulated to provide a gathering point for action.
‘Calls to Action’ include: that every child has access to a quality preschool education, that every new migrant and refugee to Waitakere City settles successfully, that violence against children and women is reduced, that every Waitakere student leaves school with a plan, that a ‘culture of inclusion’ is developed to fully include all people in Waitakere City and that schools and communities work together.

6 September

Waitakere City filmmakers off to the Emmy Awards

Four Waitakere City filmmakers are on their way to Hollywood, having been nominated for this year’s Emmy Awards.

Ralph Davies, Nick Bassett, Andy McLaren and Jill Cormack, who have been working on film sets in Waitakere City for more than 15 years, are leaving for the Emmies on September 10th, thanks to local sponsorship from Waitakere City property company, IMF Westland, the owners of Westgate.

The filmmakers have been nominated in the category of Best Art Direction/Design. Ralph is the Production Designer, Nick and Andy are Art Directors and Jill the set decorator.

The film, Ike: Countdown to D-Day, starring Tom Selleck, was in the top five movies this year for TV release in America. It rated as the most successful network movie that A & E Network have ever produced.

It was shot entirely in Auckland with footage such as battle scenes involving the death of 2000 American soldiers recreated at Piha Beach.

In just 3½ months the team created the set for an American Army in 1940’s wartime Britain.

The team’s painstaking attention to detail re-created an authentic and gritty slice of southern Britain. The film is the smallest production in its award category, competing with $US50 million movies.

Ralph Davies says the film gained its edge because “New Zealand crews are just bloody good at what we do”.

“We give big production value to small productions, New Zealand is not just a cheap place to make films. We do top quality work and have dedicated crews”.

The skilled design team fabricated complicated sets such as a replica American Army Camp with over 50 soldiers, army trucks and tents at Monte Celia in Hillsborough. They created an authentic luxury deco army trailer to match that used by Eisenhower.

The team was expecting to watch their nominations on television because they couldn’t afford to fund their own trips to the Award Ceremony.
Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey, who is also a member of the New Zealand Film Commission, says that it is gratifying to see young, local, talent being recognised at the highest international levels.

"These creative young people are taking New Zealand and our images to the world, and the tourism and economic benefits of that are huge," he says.

"But just an importantly, recognition at awards like the Emmies grows the industry, creating more jobs locally."

Mayor Harvey says he is delighted that much of Ike: Countdown to D-Day was filmed in his City.

"Waitakere has the creative talent the locations and the infrastructure - and with success at things like the Emmies we also have a growing exposure as the film capital of the South Pacific."

IMF Westland managing director Mark Gunton says his firm decided to help because their nomination is a phenomenal achievement for Waitakere City’s film-making industry.

Ït’s a clear sign that the council’s initiative of developing a film industry by working in association with the private sector is generating benefits for local people.

“At IMF Westland we have contributed to that by building the South Pacific Picture studios in Waitakere City.

“This has provided the catalyst for a lot of other productions taking place in the region, with one of the main attractions being the build-up of film-making skills in Waitakere City. The whole region can take pride in these nominations.”
 

3 September

Waitakere’s ‘Big Buddy’ greets Tamihere’s ‘Young Male’ programme

Big Buddy, a homegrown Waitakere initiative to help young men develop better self esteem, is mirrored by the Ministry of Youth Development’s programme Young Males: Strengths-based and Males Focused Approaches launched today at Youthline Auckland.

The ‘Big Buddy’ programme, poised to be launched as a nationwide community based organisation, has been working in the area of youth esteem for the past seven years, working on the premise that “boys need good men in their lives to become good men themselves,” says Chief Executive Richard Aston.

In November, a national Big Buddy programme will be launched from Waitakere to expand to the major provincial centres throughout New Zealand

Youth Minister John Tamihere says the issues facing young Kiwi men are being reviewed to “put young Kiwi males at the top of the policy agenda.”

He says that young men are not a problem to be fixed, but require “positive role models and direction in their lives.”

The Ministry of Youth Development recognises that agencies and organisations such as Big Buddy are helping young men to develop better self-esteem, be more confident, have better health, perform better at school and reject crime and abuse.

The Big Buddy programme considers that “young men need older men in their lives. We don’t blame absent fathers. We give training to volunteers to become Big Buddies, male mentors who contract to spend about at least two hours a week with a boy or adolescent (Little Buddy) who doesn’t have a father or other male role model in his life,” says Mr Aston.

“We have developed a safe and effective programme, recruiting volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds,” he says.

The Youth Ministry’s review on the “challenges to young New Zealand men is intended to be helpful to both current programme providers and anyone considering developing programmes for young men,” says Mr Tamihere.

3 September

Moon festival returns for 2004
 

2 September

Demolition of Carter Holt Harvey Site

2 September

Water testing continues at Creek

Water monitoring continues following a surprise wastewater overflow entering the Henderson Creek (alongside Central Park Drive at the Edmonton Rd end).

The sewer pipe was blocked by newspapers dumped into the wastewater system.

Waitakere City Council officers estimate the sewage discharge started several weeks ago, but went undetected by residents, possibly because the smell was diluted by cold winter temperatures and heavy rainfall.

The overflow was found last Thursday (26.08.04) and was assessed by EcoWater, Council Environmental Health and ARC Pollution Control officers.

On Friday, samples taken by the ARC showed 300mm of deposited wastewater material suspended above the stream bed. Fish and eels captured during the stream dewatering process were released upstream of a temporary dam. Their presence indicates that the stream was in reasonable condition.

"Warning signs will remain in place until results show water quality has returned to normal at the overflow point and the outlet point at Chilcott Reserve."