Media Releases

January 2006

 

27 January

Waitakere community gathers at Open Marae on Waitangi Day

The Open Marae at Hoani Waititi on Waitangi Day Monday February 6 is expected to attract a full complement of Waitakere residents.

An open invitation has gone out to the public, including members of the city's migrant and refugee communities, to mark Waitangi day in traditional Maori style.

The Prime Minister the Honourable Helen Clark is expected to confirm her presence at the Open Marae ceremonies in Waitakere.

This event is an ideal opportunity to come and learn about the meaning of Waitangi Day at the Waitakere's most prominent multi-iwi marae, Hoani Waititi.

Everyone is invited to come to Hoani Waititi marae on Waitangi Day and take part in traditional powhiri and to experience karanga, challenge, whaikörero, waiata and höngï. There will be cultural performances from ethnic, Pacific and Maori communities, art displays, demonstrations and information stalls.

Visitors will learn about the Treaty and Maori protocol, what to expect during the day and how to participate.

Waitakere City Council and Hoani Waititi Marae are planning the event with funding support from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and Waitakere City Council.

"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.

The Waitangi Day programme at Hoani Waititi:

• 12 noon Powhiri - Welcome
  - Marae host welcome to all attendees
  - Visitors respond to welcome
  - Consummate rituals (hongi, handshake)
• Marae Explanation
  A presentation about Waitangi Day and the local version
  Question and Answer Session
• 1.30pm Refreshments
• 1.45pm Performances / Activities / Share Information Stands
• 4.30pm Event ends.

See the invitation to Hoani Waititi below:

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Open Marae on Waitangi Day (Size 33K)

27 January

Settlement Support launched in Waitakere
 

Waitakere Councillor Man Fai (Peter) Chan welcomes a new Waitakere settler at one of the city's citizenship ceremonies.

A new service, Settlement Support is being launched to make it easier for migrants and refugees to gain access information and services to help them settle successfully in Waitakere.

Initiated by the Department of Labour and delivered by Waitakere City Council at Citizens' Advice Bureaux, Settlement Support aims to short-circuit the settlement process for new arrivals.

"This will help new settlers to connect with the appropriate services through the network of collaborating agencies. It's our policy to ensure that every new migrant or refugee to Waitakere settles successfully," says Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone.

"It's natural that difficulties with the New Zealand system arise in the transition phase and we are emphasising Settlement Support via the CABs as a 'first port of call'. New arrivals will be able to get face-to-face help for their specific circumstances, even if it's reassurance that they're doing the right thing. Arriving in a new country can be a confusing time, especially when migrants, refugees and their families have language difficulties.

"To help cut through the maze of cultural do's and don'ts, our city libraries are an invaluable source of information for new migrants. Anyone who knows a new family would be well advised to point them in the direction of Settlement Support, the CABs and any one of the City's libraries," says Councillor Stone.

The number to call to make an appointment with the Settlement Support Advisor is 0800 367222 or by popping in to the local CAB. If language is a problem, a telephone interpreter can be arranged.

The service will be officially launched on Friday 10 February by Hon David Cunliffe, Minister of Immigration; Mayor Bob Harvey; Ann Pala, President of the Waitakere Ethnic Board and Taha Fasi, Chairperson of the Pacific Island Advisory Board. The media is invited to attend. Please call Liz Mahoney 836 8000 ext 8942 or 021-749583 if you intend to come.

26 January

Electoral boundaries options up for discussion next month

Waitakere City Council has to make changes to its ward boundaries for future Council elections and is inviting the public to say which of three options they think is best, and why.

Four public meetings will be held during February.

Waitakere City has to choose a new ward structure because the Local Electoral Act 2001 states that wards and community boards must reflect 'communities of interest' and the number of councillors per ward must meet 'population equity requirements'.

Following the close of comments on February 28 2006 the Council will decide on one proposal for formal consultation in March/April 2006. That proposal could be one of the three options, or a variation of one or more. The formal consultation period will include a submission and hearings process.

Cr. Pat Booth

24 January

Mayor pays tribute to councillor

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey today paid tribute to Councillor Pat Booth who has resigned from the Council due to ill health.

Cr Booth has been on extended sick leave for some months and has told the Council it may be many months before he is well enough to work again.

Mayor Harvey praised Cr Booth for his "extraordinary wisdom."

"Pat was a world-class investigative journalist who helped crush a criminal empire and also to release Arthur Alan Thomas from jail. That background gave him a very wide view on the world and a first class nonsense detector, which are great assets in local government," he says.

"He usually sat through our debates, sometimes for hours saying nothing and hearing all. He would generally have his say only when he had heard all sides of the story and weighed them all up and this was especially the case during the debate on the protection of the Ranges," says Mayor Bob.

"Always measured, he has made an excellent contribution during his time on the council and we are extremely sorry to lose him. However, his health must come first and we wish Pat and Valerie well as they head into a very well-earned retirement," he says.

Councillor Booth had indicated he felt he had to resign because his enforced absence was putting an extra load on other ward Councillors - Carolynne Stone and Penny Hulse - which was unfair to them, the Council and the electorate. In addition, he planned to shift from his four-level Laingholm residence, which put extra strain on his heath, to his holiday home in Rodney District and felt that a councillor working part-time and living outside Waitakere City was not what the people of Waitakere ward had voted for.

Councillor Booth was no stranger to local government when elected to represent the Waitakere Ward in 2004. He has previously been on the Far North District Council and Northland District Health Board before being elected to the Waitemata District Health Board and Waitakere City Council in 2004.

During his time as deputy editor of the Auckland Star he identified and helped to bring down the murderous Mr Asia crime gang. This syndicate was established by New Zealanders and became one of the largest illegal drug trafficking operations in the southern hemisphere.

He had previously run a tireless - and ultimately successful - crusade to have Arthur Allan Thomas released from jail and pardoned for the Crewe murders.

Pat Booth was also the author of 16 books including Mr Asia File, Deadline - My Story and Edmund Hillary: the life of a legend. He was recognised for his writing with a Print Industry Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 2001 Qantas Media Awards.

A by-election to fill the vacancy is likely to be held in April.

24 January

Patrons won't go without

The existing Henderson Library will be closing 5 pm Sunday 5 February to relocate to the new Waitakere Central Library in Ratanui Street, but patrons are urged to visit Waitakere Libraries' six other locations until the new library opens in early March.

City Development Chair, Councillor Penny Hulse, stresses that the date of closure has been carefully considered, to ensure the library is closed for as short a time as possible.

"Waitakere Libraries does not wish to unnecessarily inconvenience its patrons; however the month-long closure is necessary to allow for relocation into the new building shared with Unitec.

The new Waitakere Central library opening in early March will have longer opening hours and a larger selection of books, along with an extensive reference and research collection," says Councillor Hulse.

To help ease the relocation of services, the Te Atatu Peninsula Library will be open 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays (12, 19 and 26 February) in addition to regular hours.

20 January

Swimming hole to be filled

Waitakere City Council will soon start work on filling in the Huruhuru Creek swimming hole in Massey.

Three children have drowned in the swimming hole in recent years and the Council resolved after the last tragedy that the hole either had to be made safe, or filled in.

After a child drowned in the hole in the early 1990's the Council built fences, removed an underwater rock shelf, cleaned the pool of rubbish and erected warning signs in an endeavour to reduce the risks. These measures did prevent two subsequent drownings.

"The very last thing we wanted to do was fill in that hole. However, it is a black spot and both morally and legally we have to do something effective to prevent any more deaths," says Councillor Linda Cooper, one of the Council's child advocates.

"The hole is deep and can be dangerous especially after heavy rain. The real danger however, is the number of children - often very young children - who swim there unsupervised or supervised inadequately."

"We simply can't stop the children getting into the pool and we can't make people supervise the children. Therefore, we cannot say with any confidence that more children won't drown," she says.

"That's why we must - however regretfully - take action. Legally, we have a duty to protect people from known dangers. As human beings, also, we would rather suffer the outcry we know is going to happen, than have another child lost in that pool and know we could have prevented it," she says.

The Council will fill the pool in and create a series of rapids.

"The aim is to make the rapids look as natural as possible and while we won't be encouraging children to play in them, we know that they will and we think that they might have a lot of safe fun doing so," says Councillor Cooper.

Work is scheduled to start on 1 February although this will be dependent on weather and the availability of enough concrete.

It will take about 1600 truckloads of concrete to fill the pool and the work will take about two months.

11 January

Upgrade of New Lynn business district starts

This week, Waitakere City Council started work on major improvements to the New Lynn business district-at Memorial Square and Todd Triangle.

Now closed to traffic, the Todd Triangle area (which is bordered by Great North Rd and Totara Ave) will be extensively replanted and turned into a park-like setting with seating, pathways and new lighting. There will also be new trees planted and two significant existing trees‑ a young, well-established Totara and a Canary Island Palm‑will be retained and protected during the refurbishment.

Stage one work starts with site clearance, including the removal of the existing brick seating at Todd Triangle.

The upgrade aims to create a new distinctive urban character at New Lynn to benefit businesses, residents and visitors.

"The New Lynn Community Board has consulted over the business area enhancements with the New Lynn community over the past two years and we are looking forward to the new Todd Triangle, as a first-rate addition to the town, a pleasant place to spend time in," says New Lynn Community Board Chair Pim Van Der Voort.

Work is also underway on the Lynn Mall side of Great North Road, between Todd Triangle and Memorial Drive. Improvements around the carved 'Waka' at the entrance to Memorial Drive which include pavements, paths, planting and seating are expected to be ready early June 2006.

The overall cost of New Lynn streetscape project is $1.6 million.

11 January

Kaumatua passes away suddenly

It is with sadness that we mark the passing of kaumatua Frazer Delamere a friend of many at Waitakere City Council, and in the wider community.

"Poppa Frazer" as he was known died suddenly on Sunday. He was a member of Waitakere City's Te Taumata Runanga (Maori standing committee) for 10 years and also served as the Council's kaumätua and protocol advisor.

Mayor Bob Harvey and a number of staff have travelled to Frazer's tangi, which is being held on the East Coast today (Wednesday).

Mayor Harvey describes Frazer as a "true friend and confidante".

"Frazer's knowledge of Maori custom and protocol was second to none. He was a true gentleman from the old school who treated everyone with respect and dignity.

"His mana in both the Maori and Pakeha worlds was immense. He had a calm, quiet, aura about him which meant that when he spoke, everyone listened.

"He anchored our thoughts and ideas to reality and whilst he had a huge understanding of history and Maori protocol, he was also a forward thinker who realised the potential of true partnership under the treaty (of Waitangi) for all New Zealanders.

"He will be missed not only by this community, his whänau and iwi, but by the many thousands of others who he touched throughout his life."