Media Releases

Completed papers must be posted back, and received by the returning officer, by no later than noon on Friday, 21 April . Completed voting forms can also be hand-delivered to the Civic Centre at 6 Waipareira Ave, Henderson.

Eligible voters who are not on the electoral roll can also place a special vote at the Civic Centre.

30 March

Extra Week for Submissions

Waitakere residents have an extra week to make submissions on the proposed re-organisation of the City into three wards.

A recent advertisement about the proposed new electoral structure inadvertently described Oratia as being in the proposed Southern Ward. It should have been included in the proposed Central Ward.

Waitakere electoral officer, Darryl Griffin says that submissions on the proposed new structure were to have closed at 4pm on 26 April but because of the error this has been extended to 4pm on 3 May.

Mr Griffin apologises and says that the extra week will allow time for additional publicity and advertising showing Oratia in the correct ward

The proposed three wards are:

Northern ward would extend from, Bethells/Te Henga to Hobsonville/Whenuapai including Swanson, Ranui, Massey and West Harbour. It would have four councillors.

Central ward extends from Piha and Karekare to Te Atatu Peninsula including Oratia, Henderson, Western Heights, Lincoln Road and Te Atatu South. It would have five councillors.

Southern ward extends from Whatipu and Huia to New Lynn and includes Titirangi, Glen Eden, and Kelston. It would have five councillors

29 March

Mayor welcomes news on double tracking

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey today welcomed the news from ARTA that work on double tracking of the western line was being ramped up.

"It is particularly pleasing to see construction works will intensify from April and that will eventually mean improvements to frequency, capacity and reliability of train services," he said.

"This is all good news for Waitakere commuters who are well over having to wait and wait for their train to turn up, if indeed it turns up at all.

"And in the long run it will mean people can rely on public transport and therefore leave their cars in the garage."

28 March

A solution to traffic woes

The New Zealand Herald editorial of March 24 is right on the button.

The massive expansion planned for Auckland International Airport at Mangere might be nice for overseas travellers but it will only make Auckland's traffic problems even worse.

Already, 81,000 vehicles a day visit Mangere airport; over a third of them travel from Waitakere City, North Shore and Rodney, squeezing through the narrow isthmus and choking our already over-congested roads. Auckland International Airport itself projects that figure to rise to 153,500 in 10 years- a 90% increase.

So the solution to thousands more cars traversing Auckland is not a bigger airport at Mangere- in fact that will only make matters worse. And it is not the $2.9 billion that Auckland International Airport Ltd wants spent on roads and motorways. For virtually nothing, the problem can be partially solved by opening up a second airport at Whenuapai.

Already, more than half a million people live within 15 kms of Whenuapai. That population is set to double within 20 years. That's the same potential customer base that Mangere has, so as a business proposition Whenuapai more than stacks up.

But it is on the transport front where real gains can be made.

Waitakere City Council has been campaigning for the commercialisation of what is already a fully functioning airport since the Government announced that the RNZAF was to move to Ohakea.

We have the support of the Councils of the region (including the ARC) as well as hundreds of businesses who see Whenuapai as critical to their growth into the future.

Last year it was announced that the air force could take another decade to move to Ohakea from Auckland. The Government asked this City to continue to work on a proposal that would see joint military and civilian use. That's a project that we, along with other councils in the region will be pushing hard for.

Improvements to motorways and passenger transport systems in Auckland are essential - and Whenuapai airport has a major part to play in that.

27 March

Hundreds celebrate under laser lights

Waitakere's new Central Library is now officially open, after a night of public celebrations including a live band, laser lights and official speeches.


Waitakere Library and Information Services Manager Su Scott accepts the photo of Waitakere pioneer Don Buck from Councillor and former Mayor Assid Corban.		Laser lights project out from the library over the crowd whilst Batucada Sound Machine plays below

The sun sets over the official opening ceremony of the Waitakere Central Library in Henderson, Waitakere

With the sun setting, the opening ceremony saw dignitaries from both Unitec and the Council talk of the benefits to Waitakere City and Unitec in opening New Zealand's first tertiary-public library.

Batucada Sound Machine took to the stage after sunset, playing an explosive set for an hour, much to the delight of dancing members of the public.

A thirty-minute laser light show finished the evening. The green laser lights projected a tour around Europe's tourist spots, books opening and snapping shut, and other messages out over the crowd.

The Corban family, represented by former Mayor Assid and his cousin Brian, presented several gifts to the new 3650 square metre library, including a photo of pioneer Don Buck and a portrait of Maurice Gee by artist Glenda Robertson.

Mayor Bob Harvey gifted a map of the Waitakere Ranges to the library. Sketched on linen and dated at 1861, the time of the New Zealand Wars, it details plots to be purchased throughout the Ranges that were never taken up. The map will be housed in a climate-controlled storage area.

16 March

Scientists go West

The countdown is on to BioBlitz 2006 - a round-the-clock search for life in which a team of crack scientists will pluck Waitakere's urban wildlife out of its relative obscurity.

"BioBlitz - finding nature in the city" is a 24-hour quest to find as many different non-human life forms as possible. About 50 biologists from Auckland and as far south as Dunedin will descend on a 28 hectare area around Corban Estate and nearby reserve land in Henderson, recording every species they can find. The count will take place between 2pm Friday, March 24 and 2pm Saturday, March 25.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey will open the event at 1.45 pm on Friday. Green MP Keith Locke will close it after collation of results at 3pm Saturday and reveal the final total of species found.

Students from Tirimoana, Glen Eden and Konini Primary Schools and Rutherford College will arrive from midday Friday to get the first glimpse of BioBlitz, with activities and competitions planned and CSI (Corban Scene Investigation) science kits among the prizes.

Events planned during the search include a backyard blitz - searching for all forms of life in a nearby Waitakere backyard. There will be day and night searches for life on land and from the Opanuku Stream which runs through the site. And at Shed 1, where scientists will count their finds, there will be numerous displays and even video-linked microscopes available for trying. But perhaps best of all will be the botanists, entomologists, mycologists, herpetologists, nematologists, and all the other "ologists" who will come from near and far to share their knowledge.

Waitakere City Council and Auckland Regional Council are co-sponsoring BioBlitz. Waitakere City Council and Landcare Research are the main organisers, and in preparation have been digging pit traps for insects, and collecting bacteria from the park to grow on agar jelly.

Landcare Research scientist Dr Peter Buchanan has stayed awake for two previous BioBlitzes in Auckland and in the last one at Auckland Domain more than 1700 species were found, including leeches and slime moulds. Dr Buchanan says there will be plenty to stay awake for this time as well.

"This BioBlitz has more community support than ever, and we've already had huge interest in the event.

"We're very pleased to have Mayor Bob Harvey and Nandor Tanczos officiating."

The Waitakere City Council's Environmental Coordinator for Parks, Chris Ferkins says the council is delighted to host this year. "BioBlitz is a fun way to recognise the many groups and landowners who put great time and effort into caring for our environment.

"However, there is still a common misconception in Waitakere that the urban environment is so degraded that there isn't actually any nature in the city, so we don't have to care about it. BioBlitz will prove this just isn't true."

16 March

Laser lights feature at library celebrations

A stunning display of laser lights will crisscross Ratanui Plaza next Thursday as part of an evening of entertainment to open the Waitakere Central Library and Unitec Waitakere Campus building.

An official opening ceremony at 6 pm will be followed by music and dance in the public plaza from 7.15 pm with the Batucada Sound Machine. Batucada Sound Machine will take to the stage from 7.15pm for an hour of high energy, samba-reggae and Brazilian beats that mix with funk, hip hop and drum & bass for a show-stopping performance.

With members from One Million Dollars and dDub, they are regulars on the festival circuit in New Zealand, having performed at AK05, Cuba St Carnival and Jambalaya. Batucada have 15 members, so they're guaranteed to make an impression on the stage with their pulsing percussive beats.

Laser lights will project out from the library, through glass onto the public plaza in a spectacular display of words, images and colours at 8 pm.

15 March

2016 and Beyond

Waitakere City Councillors today completed their deliberations on the draft Annual Plan and Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP).

The Annual Plan sets projects and budgets for the 2006/2007 financial year while the LTCCP, a new requirement under the Local Government Act, sets priorities for the next 10 years.

Councillors have been deliberating for two weeks and the plans are open to public submissions from April 13 to May 12. After that, hearings will be conducted and the final plan adopted in June.

The draft budgets show an average rates increase of 6.85% for the coming financial year with similar figures indicated for the next 10 years. The major drivers are depreciation and interest charges which alone account for over half of the proposed increases.

In the next financial year the Council will spend the bulk of its money (78%) on stormwater, wastewater, parks and roading.

Some features of the 2006/2007 budget:

A feasibility study into a 3000 seat covered grandstand at the Douglas Track and Field in Henderson (next to the Trusts Stadium)
Water rates remain unchanged (at $1.48 per cubic metre)
$2 million in next year's budget for a re-development of Lopdell House in Titirangi (subject to a feasibility study)
Universal Dr in Henderson will get a $2 million upgrade
A new Civil Defence headquarters ($1million)

Meanwhile, the Council is also considering a change in its rating methodology. As part of the Annual Plan and LTCCP process, it will consult with the public over a proposal to change from a system based on land value to capital value (and a move to a Uniform Annual Charge for wastewater on residential properties, rather than having wastewater assessed against property values).

Under land value, the value of a property as a vacant site determines its rating valuation. Under capital value, the value of improvements (such as buildings) is also taken into account. The change would redistribute the rates burden more evenly and does not increase the Council's total rate requirement.

Over the next few weeks ratepayers will receive individualised letters outlining the impact of the proposed change to Capital Value (and the other proposals) on their property.

Other issues highlighted for consultation are:

Targeted Rates- whether specific areas that are being developed with significant Council funding, and which will benefit economically, should be rated separately.
Cycleways - the Council is planning to build approximately 30% of the City's cycle network over the next ten years.
Transport Strategy- Whether the strategy and associated programme of around $380 million on physical works in roading, public transport and other initiatives is favoured (spread over the next 10 years).

9 March

Countdown Begins to National Community Awards

Keep Waitakere Beautiful Trust prepares to represent Waitakere City

There's just one more week before Keep Waitakere Beautiful Trust will be going head to head with the country's best and brightest voluntary groups and organisations, at the TrustPower National Community Awards.

The TrustPower National Community Awards are being held in Greymouth from Friday 17 until Sunday 19 March.

Keep Waitakere Beautiful Trust is representing Waitakere City at the National Awards - an honour they won after being named Supreme Winner at the Infratil Waitakere City Community Awards last year. The Infratil Waitakere City Community Awards are run in conjunction with the Waitakere City Council.

Joining Keep Waitakere Beautiful Trust at the National Awards will be representatives from 20 other voluntary groups or organisations from around the country that were named Supreme Winner at their regional Community Awards. The Community Awards were initiated by TrustPower and are sponsored by the electricity generator and retailer in 19 regions.

At the National Awards, Keep Waitakere Beautiful Trust will give a 10 minute presentation on what the group has achieved and why they deserve the title of TrustPower National Community Award Winner. That presentation will take place on Saturday 18 March, with the Winner and Runner-Up being announced at an Awards dinner that evening.

TrustPower Community Relations Coordinator Rebecca James says the Waitakere community should be really proud of what Keep Waitakere Beautiful Trust has achieved.

"They will make wonderful ambassadors for Waitakere City at the TrustPower National Community Awards," says Rebecca.

Attending the National Awards from Keep Waitakere Beautiful Trust will be Moira Kennedy and Gretchen Schubeck, along with Waitakere City Councillor Judy Lawley.

The TrustPower National Supreme Award Winner will take home $2,500, a framed certificate and a trophy. The runner up will receive $1000 and a certificate.

The TrustPower National Community Awards are being held during Volunteering New Zealand's Volunteer Awareness Week.

8 March

Academy Awards Yet Another Boost for Flagship Industry

Last night's Academy Award success for New Zealand movies will reap huge economic rewards says Bob Harvey, a member of the Film Commission and Mayor of Waitakere City.

Mr Harvey says the technical category wins by the makers of King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe will ensure that even more international products head down under.

"They don't come any bigger than the Oscars, and these awards are a clear demonstration that our film crews and technicians truly are the best in the world," he says. "I've no doubt that many more international projects will come down here as a direct result of producers and directors wanting to work with our extraordinary crews."

In the past 10 years Waitakere has established itself as the "film capital" of New Zealand. Narnia was shot largely on location in Waitakere and at the City Council-owned Henderson Valley Studios. Currently in production in the City is "Wendy Wu; Homecoming Warrior", which is a multi-million dollar Disney television movie and the Bridge to Terabethia is also being filmed at Hobsonville.

7 March

Library opening is blessed

The library's first borrower was Unitec nursing student Grace Xu of Henderson who joined the Waitakere Central Library soon after it opened this morning. Miss Xu's choice of book was a novel by Megan Crane, English as a Second Language.

The doors of the new $15 million Waitakere Central Library were opened to the reading public today, following a dawn blessing by kaumätua, clergy and members of the partnership between Waitakere City Council and Unitec.

An assembly of Waitakere City Council and Unitec personnel toured every floor on the library in the footsteps of Anglican minister Rev Judy Cooper and Rätana Church ministers Rev Fred Holloway and Rev Takutai ("Uncle Doc") Wikiriwhi.

The morning's speakers exulted in the library as a storehouse of knowledge. These included Henderson resident Brian Corban who recalled the library's earliest days as a shed, Mayor Bob Harvey, Unitec's Dr John Webster and Hare Paniora, Lynne Pillay MP, Te Kawerau A Maki Te Warena Taua and Eru Thompson and William (Bill) Teariki (Consul General of the Cook Islands).

The library's official gala opening will be held on March 23 in the open plaza at Ratanui Street, Henderson. There will be entertainment from 5.30pm-8.30pm.

3 March

Waitakere City Council prepares new Reserves Management Plans

Te Pai Park is the City's principal skate park

Taipari Strand

The Te Pai sports park in Henderson and the local reserves along the shoreline of the Waitemata Harbour are next in line to have management plans developed.

The Waitakere City Council is required to prepare management plans for its 550 parks and reserves under the Reserves Act 1977. The purpose of the plans is to ensure parks are developed and managed in the best way to provide for public enjoyment, the protection of the environment and cultural history and ensure their development and maintenance stays within budget.

This year, the Council's Parks Planning Department is preparing the Te Pai Park Management Plan, and the Waitemata Harbour Foreshore Reserves Management Plan.

Te Pai Park is a popular city-wide park located on Lincoln road in Henderson. It has been recently upgraded and is the City's principal skate park and a regional centre for netball and tennis, providing the home of Netball Waitakere and the Te Pai Tennis Club as well as a children's playground and public toilet. Issues likely to be covered in the Te Pai Park Reserve Management Plan are the allocation of space, car parking, lighting, safety and the upgrading and extension of existing facilities.

The Waitemata Harbour Foreshore Reserves Management Plan crosses three wards; Massey, Henderson and New Lynn and includes some 80 local esplanade reserves spanning the shoreline from Whenuapai to New Lynn.

The majority of these reserves are narrow, esplanade strips. Many are undeveloped and unmarked with no formal public access. The preparation of a collective plan for the reserves will allow for their integrated management of the shoreline, in particular weed control and ecological restoration, and development of walkways, seating and signage,.

Open days will be held during April where you can meet Council staff and discuss the plans. Details of the meetings will be advertised.

2 March

EcoCity gets Eco Smart

Prime Minister Helen Clark praised EnviroSmart™, an environmental business programme set to change the way New Zealand companies do business, at the programme's launch on Wednesday.

The EnviroSmart™ programme will focus on improving the environmental performance and resource use of over 500 businesses throughout the country. It is based on an Auckland Region Pilot programme involving 58 businesses, 10 of which are local businesses currently sponsored by Waitakere City, including Tegel Foods, Lisa's Healthy Products, The Sellotape Company and Alto Plastics.

"I'm a great fan of what's happening, it's the way forward for advanced economies like ours," The Prime Minister told the audience.

The five-year, $3 million dollar* EnviroSmart™ programme, to be delivered by Landcare Research, promises to benefit both participants and New Zealand as a whole. Businesses will sign up to reduce solid waste and use energy, water and raw materials efficiently, as well as to produce and purchase environmentally sound products and services.

Waitakere City Council will be sponsoring 20 businesses over the next three years to become EnviroSmart™ businesses. Council Project Manager, Cleaner Production, Kelly Taylor says it is an excellent way of ensuring local businesses get behind the EcoCity vision.

"The plan is to provide businesses with all the tools they need to gain a recognised environmental accreditation through a well-structured programme," says Ms Taylor.

"Alto Plastics and Lisa's Healthy Foods are two Waitakere companies already leading the way - they have been certified to Enviro-Mark�NZ Silver level."

Other Waitakere companies on the pilot programme include Cremer Engineering (manufacturer of disability chair-lifts) Fumapest (pest control and personal hygiene) Future Cuisine (food) Huhtamaki New Lynn (plastics) Norcross Printing (Printer) Powder Coating 1988 Ltd (powder coater) Tegel Foods (food) and The Sellotape Company (adhesives).

Programme costs are shared between business participants and funding sponsors, including local and regional councils. The Prime Minister said the initiative is "a fantastic example of thinking globally and acting locally".

She said most businesses would like to be more environmentally friendly, but need the sort of guidance offered by the EnviroSmart™ programme to get them started.

"We have to act a lot more boldly on sustainability than we have been," Helen Clark said.

2 March

Five candidates to stand for Waitakere Ward

Nominations have been received from five candidates to stand in the Waitakere Ward by-election.

The by election to replace Pat Booth, who resigned due to ill health, will be held from Thursday 30 March to 12 noon on Friday 21 April 2006 under the First Past the Post Electoral system by postal vote.

Nominations closed at 12 noon today.

The candidates are:

Carl Harding (For A Fresh Start)
June Kearney (Independent)
Christine Shepherd (Independent)
Gary Stewart (Independent)
Denise Yates (Independent)

"Candidates' profiles will be sent out with voting papers between Tuesday 28 March and Sunday 2 April 2006," says Darryl Griffin, the Electoral Officer for Waitakere City Council.

Preliminary Residential and Ratepayer Electoral Rolls closed at 5pm on Nomination Day, 2 March 2006. Electors enrolling after this date will be entitled to apply to the Waitakere City Council Electoral Officer, at the Civic Centre, 6 Waipareira Avenue for a Special Vote, during normal office hours from Tuesday 28 March 2006 until the close of poll at 12 noon on Friday 21 April 2006.

1 March

Interest high in Pacific Trade Expo

The fast response from the business community to the inaugural Pacific Trade Expo has buoyed Waitakere City Council, a key supporter of the event.

The free entry expo will be held at Manukau City TelstraClear events centre on March 13 and 14, 2006. The event is open to the general public from 1-5 pm and the trade from 9 am-12 noon.

"This is a real chance for importers and exporters, large and small to simultaneously expand their business and support the local economy," says Councillor Judy Lawley, Chairperson of Waitakere City Council Arts, Events and Culture Special Committee.

Currently New Zealand merchandised trade with the Pacific is worth around $1 billion.

The event is supported by Waitakere, Auckland and Manukau City Councils, the New Zealand Pacific Business Council, a not-for-profit organisation formed last year to help facilitate trade between Pacific nations, and the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission.

"The speed of the response has illustrated the interest in expanding intra-Pacific trade and is a strong vote of support for this event," says Councillor Judy Lawley, Chairperson of Waitakere City Council Arts, Events and Culture Special Committee.

"The objective is to develop two-way trade and the representation from both Pacific and New Zealand importers and exporters at the expo is especially heartening," says Councillor Lawley.

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