Media Releases

January 2005
 

28 January

Ranges feedback due

Waitakere City residents and Aucklanders from around the region have until Friday (4 February) to provide feedback on proposed new legislation to provide long term protection of the Waitakere Ranges and foothills.

A postage paid questionnaire was included in a December Ranges Update, which was distributed throughout Waitakere City during November and December. Feedback closes at 4.30 pm on 4 February. Copies are available please contact us. Completed questionnaires can be faxed back to 09-836 8057 or you can complete the form on-line.

So far more than 2200 responses have been received.

Over the past two months, eight meetings have been organised by residents and ratepayers, private groups and Rodney District Council, with Waitakere City Council and Auckland Regional Council Councillors and staff attending to discuss proposed steps to protect the ranges.

Further meetings are planned before 4 February by resident and ratepayer and community groups at Bethells on 1 February and Oratia on 2 February.

The Ranges and foothills protection project proposes a package of measures, including legislation specific to the Ranges, to help ensure protection against inappropriate development and subdivision. If legislation goes ahead, there will be further opportunities to have a say, including formal submissions, as part of Parliament's Select Committee process.

In addition to the questionnaire, Waitakere City Council has also contracted a professional research company to survey local residents' views.

Waitakere City Council is expected to make a decision on whether or not to support legislation on 16 February, after taking into account the results of the consultation. New legislation is already supported by the Auckland Regional Council and local MPs Hon David Cunliffe and Lynne Pillay.

27 January

Safe Cycling with Fenella Murdoch, Waitakere's Bike West Co-ordinator.

Safe cycling with Fenella

Meet Waitakere's first fulltime Bike West Co-ordinator, Fenella Murdoch.

If you're a Year 6 student, there's a good chance you'll meet Fenella. It's her job to help school children learn how to cycle safely in Waitakere City.

"It's really important for 10-year-olds to have cycling skills before they ride on the road. Knowledge of road conditions and rules is equally important," says Fenella.

The Bike West training programme is aimed at Year 6 students in the hope that schools and parents support the Police and LTSA policy of not cycling on the road until the age of 10 years, unless they are supervised and have had cycle training.

When students start intermediate they need to be at least partly prepared for the road, an increasingly hazardous environment.

Waitakere City Council's Road Safety team, Safe Waitakere, LTSA, Bike West and Road Sense have jointly developed Bike West for Waitakere City Schools. Teachers (preferably Year 6) are trained and provided with resources. The Bike West training programme includes buying and fitting safety helmets, bike safety check, riding skills-bike control and road rules.

Bike West has been developed to meet a shortfall for cycle safety programmes available in the schools, says Waitakere City's Senior Road Safety Co-ordinator Kitch Cuthbert.

"We are focusing on Year 6 because studies show they are the most at risk of severe cycle injuries. One of the best things about this programme is the fun the children have when they try out the cycles on the road, after they have been thoroughly tutored in the classroom," says Ms Cuthbert.

27 January

Take extra care playing with matches

Tinder dry conditions at Waitakere City mean that residents need to be extra careful with matches, lighters, cigarettes and the back yard barbeque.

A carelessly discarded cigarette is believed to be the cause of a small scrub fire at Waikumete Cemetery last Saturday around 2pm says cemetery manager Graeme Resnick.

Residents in the rural part of the City wanting to light a fire in the open air must apply for a permit during the restricted fire season which continues until 30 April.

Permits can be obtained free by phoning the Council's Call Centre.

Residents in urban areas do not need a permit for backyard fires, as long as they comply with Council bylaws - the fire must be burning between sunrise and sunset, must be more than three metres of a neighbour's fence and should not create a smoke nuisance.  Water must also be readily available to extinguish the fire if necessary.

24 January

Democracy and Support Services Group Manager Darryl Griffin is presented with a crest of the Hong Kong Civil Aid Service by party leader Mr Chan.

International Civil Defence visitors

Hong Kong Civil Aid Service representatives visited the Council's Civil Defence headquarters today as part of a New Zealand familiarisation visit organised by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

Mr Robert M K Chan, JP, Chief Staff Officer and Deputy Commisioner (Operations), Mr Ho Wai-shek, MH, Tactical Force Commander, Mr Kwan Pak-keong, Commander, Training School A Company and Mr Leung Yuk-chee, Daniel, Assistant Operations and Training Officer (HQ) & Acting Senior Staff Officer/Command Core were shown around Waitakere's Civil Defence unit in Glendene and then continued on to the Arataki Visitors Centre and Piha.

A Hong Kong Civil Aid Service crest was gifted to the City and is now on display at the Waitakere Civil Defence unit.

The visitors will continue through Manukau to Wellington to meet with government officials.

21 January

New services at Massey Library

The Council's services are now more accessible with the introduction of counter services at Massey Library.

Residents can now apply for LIM reports, pay land and water rates, register their dog, purchase recycling bins and official rubbish bags and make general enquiries regarding Council services, all at the library.

Payments can be made by EFTPOS and Cheque only.

The new services are available seven days a week during the opening hours of the library.

Initially a one year trial, the service will be reviewed and implemented in other libraries depending on the results.

If you have any enquiries about this new service, please contact us.

21 January

Te Pai Skate Park extension construction to begin

Following design approval in June 2004, construction of the skate park extension is due to start next week and should be completed by 30th March 2005.

The concept for Te Pai Skate Park extension was designed in association with Chey Ataria, Isthmus Group, Cheapskates West and local skateboarders.

Three BMX elements on the Lincoln Road side of the park have been removed due to high construction costs with the option of adding them later as budget allows.

Stairs, ledges and ramps are part of the extension along with a brand new half pipe and curved grind boxes.

The summerslamz skateboarding competition will be held in conjunction with the official opening on 2 April 2005.

19 January

Surviving a disaster

Waitakere City Civil Defence chiefs are urging people to check how well prepared they are to survive in a disaster.

Waitakere City's Civil Defence Emergency Management Controller Ross McLeod says the recent catastrophic tsunami and earthquake in the Indian Ocean is a reminder that emergencies can strike without notice.

"Residents and businesses should take time to check the disaster information in the last two pages of the Yellow Pages. If a major disaster happens in Waitakere City or the Auckland Region, we urge them to have a disaster survival kit ready and be prepared to survive without assistance, if necessary, for three days.

"The Asian tsunami has demonstrated the possible impacts of an emergency event of large scale. The possibility of a major disaster occurring here cannot be overlooked", Mr McLeod says.

"The fact that we have never experienced such an event doesn't mean that it won't happen".

"Civil Defence is just what it says - the civilian population preparing to cope with an emergency. Emergency Management is what follows. If communities are prepared to survive and know what to do beforehand, it will make the job of managing the emergency much easier," says Mr McLeod.

Waitakere City's Civil Defence Manager Bill Morley says there is a popular misconception that emergency services will always be there to help in an emergency.

"In a major disaster they will not be instantly available. Initially their resources will be totally stretched and will not be able help everyone. It pays to remember that Civil Defence is not an army of people waiting in the wings to immediately come to everyone's aid," says Mr Morley.

"It takes time to bring the Civil Defence Emergency Management team together. With sufficient warning such as for a cyclone, a fair degree of warning can be given to the public but in the case of a major earthquake, people need to be prepared to fend for themselves initially" he says.

19 January

Waitangi Day at Waitakere

Waitakere's most prominent marae, Hoani Waititi Marae, will host an open day on Waitangi Day from 11am -3 pm on Sunday 6 February.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy the marae experience. Visitors will learn about the Treaty and Maori protocol, what to expect during the day and how to participate.

Waitakere Council and community representatives are planning the event which has funding support from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and Council.

The day will include a powhiri (welcoming ceremony), guest speakers, art displays, demonstrations and information stalls. There will be cultural performances from ethnic, Pacific and Maori communities

"The commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi is an appropriate time to provide this informative and entertaining day - especially for those who have never before had a marae experience," says Te Warena Taua, chair of Te Taumata Runanga Committee.

Acknowledging another aspect of the Treaty, a prayer offering will be held at 9.30am for Charles Oliver Davis (aka Hare Rewiti), an official translator for the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1842.

Davis became estranged from his European peers when he protested against the unfairness of New Zealand's Land Wars. He was buried at Waikumete Cemetery in 1887. Anyone who wishes to attend, please gather at The Chapel of the Oaks at 9.15am.

19 January

Waitakere hosting Brazilian mayor

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey is to host the former Mayor of one of the world's leading cities. The immediate past Mayor of Curitiba (Brazil), Mr Cassio Taniguchi, is visiting this country en-route to an environmental conference in Australia.

Mr Harvey met Mr Taniguchi at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2002 in South Africa where they talked about their shared passions, environmental and urban solutions, and made presentations to the summit's Eco-Efficient Cities meeting.

"Cassio and I agree that cities are the engines of countries so what we do at that level is vital. Cassio and I learned a great deal from each other in 2002 and I am sure we will continue that learning experience," says Mr Harvey.

"I am delighted Cassio and his family have taken the time on their trip to New Zealand to visit Waitakere, our wonderful beaches and our spectacular rain forest. Our cities share the same issues so we are looking at similar solutions."

Mr Taniguchi was the first Mayor of Curitiba to have an-eight year tenure and during his term of office presided over the Metropolitan Area Association of Municipalities (ASSOMEC), an organisation that integrates 26 cities comprising the Greater Curitiba and overseeing a population of 2.7 million.

In his administration as Mayor, Mr Taniguchi promoted the implementation of Curitiba's New Master Plan which forecasts urban and environmental sustainability, generating actions based on four strategic objectives - job and income generation, shared management (public-private partnership), metropolitan integration and social action.

Mr Taniguchi is now one of the representatives of UNITAR, United Nations for Training and Research see www.cifalcuritiba.org.br/index_ing.htm

Mr Harvey is escorting Mr Taniguchi and his family to the Arataki Visitors' Centre on Scenic Drive in the Waitakere Ranges for a Maori welcome and blessing at 12.30pm on Friday (January 21).

The event will be attended by Waitakere City Councillors, Auckland Regional Council Representatives, and local iwi.

Following his visit to New Zealand Mr Taniguchi is taking part in the "Eco-Edge" Conference in Melbourne.

Editor's Note: Mr Taniguchi's biography is available on request.  If you would like to interview Mr Taniguchi and / or attend the event, or view his biography please contact us.

19 January

Catalysts to change young lives underway at Waitakere

"Connectors" and "catalysts" are networking to increase Waitakere's community ownership and capacity to address the health issues of at-risk youth.

The newly-formed CAYAD (Community Action on Youth and Drugs) team is gathering strength to help change young lives affected by alcohol and drugs.

"We're been busy doing a scoping exercise and developing relationships with community groups. Now we're putting our hands up and saying 'we're here'," says Project Leader Tina Meharry.

Waitakere's CAYAD programme is part of a nationwide Ministry of Health funded initiative to improve the health and well-being of youth by reducing methamphetamine, cannabis and other drug related harm.

The CAYAD team has already brought anti-drug campaigner ex Eagles singer Joe Walsh to Hoani Waititi Marae. CAYAD has also contracted Hoani Waititi Marae to provide its Methamphetamine Education Programme to communities in West Auckland.

"There are so many great groups, with lots of resources. Networking between groups will help to use those resources more effectively," says Ms Meharry.

The team's overall objectives include promoting positive whänau responses, reducing the supply of drugs to young people, developing local capacity to support young people and working in partnership with a range of community stakeholders.

The CAYAD team are taking a multi-levelled approach to developing links and co ordinate existing services.

"We are aiming to promote consistency, creativity and collaboration to achieve the best possible results for young people and their families," says Ms Meharry.

Waitakere's CAYAD steering group consists of Councillor Ewen Gilmour, Hoani Waititi Marae, Te Whanau O Waiparera, CADS West, Altered High, Pasifika Healthcare, Safe Waitakere Alcohol Project and Crime Preventon Project, Waitakere Police, Alternative Education and WCC Leisure Services.

Background

In April 2004, around 200 delegates from Waitakere helping agencies discussed strategies to deal with increasing problems of drug misuse among youth.

They identified that more intense networking is needed between helping agencies to change the lives of young people in Waitakere City.

The new team of Tina Meharry, Jacquilin Tuatara and Colin Nathan is a direct result of the Summit's key findings that 'catalysts' and 'connectors' are needed to attract additional resources and funding to support local providers and facilitate networks.

For more information contact CAYAD project staff, Tina, Jacqui or Colin on (09) 835 8000 ext. 8660 or 8415.

17 January

Summer writers' workshops

After the success of local author Lynda Finn's previous workshops, a new summer series will be run again at the Ranui Library on the first Saturday of each month.

Commencing on 5 February and running from 11.45am to 2pm, the cost of each workshop is $10 and registrations must be received by 30 January.

Additional workshops will also be held at Glen Eden Library on the second Saturday of each month from 10am-12 noon, commencing on 12 February.

14 January

Construction started on new library

New Lynn will have its new library in October 2005, with construction having begun in December 2004.

The total cost of the project is $4.5M.

The library will incorporate a Citizen's Advice Bureau, Waitakere City Council Service Centre and Memorial Public Square, with its historic war memorial.  At 1,000 square metres, the new library will more than double the size of the existing library and will front onto Memorial Square with a large verandah and entry.

In keeping with other Waitakere buildings, the library will feature numerous artworks and themes.

Designed for both adults and children, there will be informal study areas and views to the landscaped areas outside in the adults section, whilst the children's area will encourage the learning and reading experience.

14 January

Councils join forces to reduce waste and save money

Waitakere City and North Shore City will introduce 'wheelie bins' for kerbside recycling as part of a joint initiative to provide a cleaner, more efficient and easier-to-use waste collection service.

The councils have together signed a 10-year contract with the Onyx Group for the collection of all rubbish, recycling and paper in both cities. Using the same fleet of vehicles will save the two cities up to $900,000 a year.

It is the largest waste collection contract ever signed in New Zealand, and the first time that mobile recycling bins (MRBs) will be used for collecting recycling. The new service will begin on July 1, and the bins will be provided free of charge to every household, school and participating commercial premises.

The 140-litre mobile bins, coloured navy blue with yellow lids, are three times the size of the old recycling bins. The larger capacity will allow the councils to collect every second week.

In addition, the mobile recycling bins are easier to use, safer for the collector, and are proven to reduce waste and minimise street litter.

Both cities have committed to the zero waste concept and there is an increasing focus on recycling and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.

The new service will include other recycling and resource recovery initiatives designed to encourage householders and businesses to minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill. A kitchen waste collection is being considered for later in the year.

North Shore City Mayor George Wood says apart from the obvious environmental benefits, the cost of sending waste to landfill will become a great deal more expensive in future. "The time has now come to really step up the campaign to reduce the amount of rubbish that is produced and disposed of from our cities," he says.

"North Shore and Waitakere Cities have been leaders in environmental initiatives and this revolutionary change will further strengthen our position as leading-edge councils in terms of waste minimisation and recycling."

Janet Clews with one of the new mobile recycling bins

The new policy sets the direction for other councils in New Zealand, says the chair of Waitakere's Finance and Operational Performance Committee, Janet Clews. "We are bringing our waste bylaws in line with each other. By sharing collection services we achieve cost benefits and will initiate other changes to drive down the amount of rubbish that is dumped."

There is strong support for the changes if a North Shore City trial last year is anything to go by. The 14-week trial in Takapuna of mobile recycling bins and kitchen waste collection was supported enthusiastically by participating residents.

The wheelie bin collection achieved an 11 per cent reduction in refuse disposal to landfill relative to existing services, and the kitchen waste collection was down by 24 per cent. In addition, the average refuse bag weight dropped by 25 per cent, and the number of bags set out each week fell by 14 per cent.

All recyclable materials from both cities will be taken to Waitakere City Council's Refuse Transfer Station, which has already established significant resource recovery operations and a New Zealand first green waste composting operation. Onyx Group will assemble a purpose-built fleet and construct a new sorting facility at the Transfer Station.

Another change under the new contract for the two cities will see the inorganic collection now take place over 20 weeks instead of the 42 at present. This will reduce problems of illegal dumping and achieve collection efficiencies and cost savings.

There will be no change to the regular refuse collection, which will continue on a weekly basis.

More information on the new service starting on July 1 will be provided to the residents in both cities over the next few months.

For more information on Mobile Recycling Bins view New Mobile Recycling Bins.

7 January

Waitakere Mayor plans tsunami fundraising

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey is planning a major fundraising initiative with his fellow Metropolitan mayors.

As Chair of the Metropolitan mayors he is talking to mayors around the country about organising, in conjunction with ethnic communities, a fundraising initiative that is prompt and effective.

Mayor Harvey says details obviously need to be worked out, but at this stage "we are looking at offering our residents and new migrants the chance to fundraise in civic amenities and we may try for a national fundraising day.

"We would look at the Trusts Stadium, George Wood the North Harbour Stadium or Bruce Mason Theatre and Dick Hubbard the Auckland Town Hall or the Aotea Centre. The town halls of Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington would link in with such an event," he says.

He will also talk to the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, when she returns from the summit in Jakarta to ensure the cities' efforts are in line with national and global strategies.

"It's imperative we all work together to try and give as much help as possible to those affected by the tsunami, both in New Zealand and Asia. Waitakere is a city full of people with friends and loved ones in Asia affected by the tsunami and our hearts go out to them at this truly tragic time," says Mayor Harvey.

New Year's Honours - Waitakere

New Zealand's list of New Year Honours is headed by Waitakere MP, the Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt, Speaker of the House, for services to Parliament. Mr Hunt receives The Order of New Zealand (ONZ), and as a Member of the Order, becomes one of only 20 living people who share that honour.

Professor Richard (Dick) Bellamy has long championed conservation efforts at Bethells-Te Henga and O'Neills beaches. He is now a Companion of the Order for his services to science and education.

Gary Vernon Taylor JP of Waitakere, (former ARA Chairman and Chairman of the Environmental Defence Society) has received the Queen's Service Order for community service, as did Beverley Harris JP.

Iris Donaghue became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the environment and Squadron leader Ian James Mower of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Waitakere City also became an officer.

Elizabeth Ann Malo and Matakite Rangi Malo, both of Waitakere, have each received the Queen's Service Medal for community service.

Kenneth Victor Catt of Waitakere (Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society) has received the Queen's Service Medal for public services.