Media Releases

April 2007

30 April

Come clean WAAG!!

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey has called for the group opposed to a second airport at Whenuapai to open its books.

It has been revealed that the Whenuapai Airport action Group (WAAG) secretly received $19,000 as well as an undisclosed amount of research and other material from Auckland International Airport.

Mayor Harvey has criticised the Airport Company for a "complete lack of business ethics" in funding the campaign.

But since the revelations- first made in the North Shore Times - the mayor says he has been told that other self interest groups may have also funded WAAG.

"I have no problem at all with a genuine community group opposing this project. That's democracy. But secret funding by big business who are just trying to protect their monopoly isn't on."

"WAAG has defended receiving this sort of funding - well, if they've got nothing to be ashamed of they should come clean and open their (financial) books. Let everyone know whether they are a genuine group with genuine community concerns or whether they are just puppets of big business."

"As far as we are aware $19,000 might just be the tip of this scandalous ice-berg."

Mayor Harvey has written to the board of Auckland International Airport (see below) seeking reassurance that its members did not know about the "underhanded" campaign.

And, he says, his Council and newly formed NorthWest Airport Company (a consortium of Waitakere, North Shore and Rodney councils and listed infrastructure company Infratil) is now taking legal advice and considering a complaint to the Commerce Commission.

"AIAL has clearly been working in an anti-competitive way."

He rejects comments by the company that the funding was simply an effort to promote debate around the project. "If that was the case why didn't the airport have their name on advertising and so on? They only came clean when the media found them out. And needless to say their generosity didn't extend to supporting the cause of thousands of people who were opposed to the building of a second runway at Mangere!"

"AIAL knows there is strong support for commercial flights at Whenuapai from the general public and business in Rodney, North Shore and Waitakere. Perhaps that is why they prefer campaigning in this underground manner."

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Bob Harvey's letter sent to Auckland International Airport 27 April 2007 (Size 13K)

30 April

Heritage painting of many lifetimes

Allie Eagle with her painting "Child Jesus in the Temple".

Te Henga artist Allie Eagle's stunning historical painting for the Waitakere City Council's chamber building was officially unveiled today, Monday 30 April 2007.

The work, described by the artist as "a painting of a lifetime", depicts how Waitakere region's immigrants re-shaped the landscape according to their particular cultures.

It is also a possible "first" for a New Zealand council to have commissioned a painting in a narrative style, based on the "Italianate" style of both post-Renaissance court painters and Netherlandal Dutch group portraits.

Titled Child Jesus in the Temple: a civic parable for West Auckland, the painting draws from European mediaeval civic paintings of Biblical theme.

To celebrate Waitakere's diversity through the medium of a seven metre by two metre watercolour and encaustic wax panels, Allie Eagle has told a story of the ethos of Waitakere that speaks to the heart of the community.

The largely realist-expressionist painting depicts a sprinkling of Waitakere people at a hui in an apple orchard.

In contextualising an array of characters past and present Allie Eagle and her Atelier*-style workshop of artists and assistants drawn upon subjects both celebrated and lesser known, past and present.

The buccaneering Portugese Don Buck rides his horse in the background to the hui. The painter Goldie has already arrived, in the company of such present people day folk as historian Graeme Murdoch, in the role of narrator, Maraea Tahinu as a Maori gum digger's daughter, historian Ben Copedo (English and Italian descent) and Ross and Vicki Bethell.

At the painting's axis a young woman examines a wedding dress in the company of some of the elders of Henderson's Dutch, Croatian and Lebanese descendents. The young woman is Anna Nicholson of Te Henga, the daughter of a close friend of the artist's; the couple nearest to her are Councillor Assid Corban and his wife Miriam. From this nucleus, hui participants are each intent on his and her own tasks. However, in the style of group portraits from the European tradition, the subjects are all looking in the same direction.

Allie Eagle's passionate attachment to the interconnection of Waitakere's land and people is evident in every centimetre of this extraordinary work. She has paid particular attention to the interface between Maori and Pakeha. Acknowledged as a foremost feminist radical painter of the 1970s, Allie has taught many students at Elam School of Fine Arts, Manukau Technical Institute and at major high schools in the Auckland region.

"I've always been an issues painter. I'm very interested in 19th Century New Zealand paintings and since the 70s have used watercolours sometimes in a politically subversive way. Watercolour is such a soft, gentle medium that I use to challenge and disturb," says Allie.

"This may well be one of the largest watercolour paintings in the world.

"In tackling this painting we researched elements of European, Croatian, Scottish and Dutch ancestry, with a firm commitment to the Tangata Whenua.

"This was an enormous research project where we became100 percent involved in the stories of people I was to paint. It was an arbitrary selection that in many ways came to me. I was looking for someone to paint who could be the model for a Croatian gum digger (a major figure in the work) and settled on someone of Irish ancestry: my friend Chris Baker, my own drain layer who does as many excavations as anyone I know: who works to keep peoples lives' sweet," she says.

"The image of Miriam Corban whose folks came from the Lebanon, showing the young woman the wedding dress is an elegant way of approaching the subject of heredity, the continuation of families.

"I wanted to hear the hopes and aspirations of Waitakere's citizens. In particular, I wanted to highlight the care of the elderly in this work," says Allie.

When the painting is unveiled, watch for local scenes such as the Babich subdivision at Oratia, Larnoch at Mt Lebanon. You'll notice changes of season, a mixture of eras and young and old represented.

* Atelier - an old style artists' workshop. Allie Eagle's Atelier included Anabelle Cameron-Lewis, Sue Strom, Karen Davis, Anna and Ronnie Nicholson, Julie Wilson, Pamela Woods, Robin Binsley, Amee Hedges, Vicki Worthington, Jasanta Changlau, Joop and John Boortman, Gillian Palmer, Julie Bellamy, Eva Holub, Tana Padarova and Deidre Tollestrup.

30 April

Annual Plan submissions in

Waitakere City Council received around 300 submissions to its draft Annual Plan (budget) for the 2007-2008 financial year.

The submissions are now being analysed and summarised before Councillors conduct hearings and then make final decisions on projects and spending, in June.

The number of submissions is slightly down on previous years.

"That's because there is nothing particularly controversial in the budgets," says Janet Clews, chairman of the Annual Plan and Long Term Council Community Plan Special Committee.

She says that the proposed average rates increase of 6.69% is one of the lowest in the region, is less than was anticipated, and there were no major issues highlighted for special consultation.

"It is a pretty bare-bones budget," says Cr Clews. "The bulk of money (over 80%) is proposed to be spent on what people would call 'the basics'- things like libraries, parks, roading and stormwater."

Some features of the draft Annual Plan include:

The next stage of work at Douglas Track & Field in Henderson (new lights & grandstand) - $2.058 million.

• Green Bay Community House upgrade ($180,000)
• $54.2 million for new roads and footpaths
• Te Atatu Peninsula Community centre and Library - planning for redevelopment ($100,000). Physical work will start in 2008-2009.
• Ranui Library extension ($617,000)
• Ongoing support for Sport Waitakere ($105,000)

Those who asked to be heard in support of their submission will be contacted over the next fortnight or so.

27 April

Auckland Airport's underhand tactics

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey is "staggered" by revelations that Auckland International Airport has been secretly funding a fight against an alternative airport at Whenuapai.

The North Shore Times has revealed that in the past year AIAL has given $19,000 in cash and an unspecified amount of research time and other material to the Whenuapai Airport Action Group, a small ginger group opposed to plans for commercial flights out of the existing airforce base.

"We have long suspected that WAAG was being funded by foul means rather than fair. And our suspicions have been confirmed.

"AIAL is the business equivalent of the Exclusive Brethren," says Mayor Harvey, referring to the religious sect's secret campaign to support the National Party at the last election.

"Here we have a major listed New Zealand company hiding behind a supposed community group, acting out of total self interest, and trying to keep it all secret."

Mayor Harvey adds that he cannot believe the chairman or the board members of Auckland International Airport would have known about or condoned the "underhanded" campaign.

He says his Council and newly formed NorthWest Airport Company (a consortium of Waitakere, North Shore and Rodney councils and listed infrastructure company Infratil) is now taking legal advice and considering a complaint to the Commerce Commission.

"AIAL has clearly been working in an anti-competitive way to undermine our project and protect their monopoly. For all we know $19,000 is just the tip of the ice-berg. Besides, it's not the amount of money that is the issue- this is a matter of business ethics, or rather lack of them."

Mayor Harvey says that Auckland Airport is entitled to state its point of view about the prospects for a second airport in the region, but it should do honestly and openly, not try to influence outcomes in this underhand way.

"Then the public could judge for themselves the extent to which the company is trying to defend its gold plated monopoly or how much it is really concerned with the public good."

Mr Harvey says that many members of WAAG are probably not even aware of the secret deal. "That organisation is also tainted by this. It calls into question how much of the WAAG support has been engineered by a public relations campaign, and who paid for that campaign. It calls into question who supplied much of the misleading information WAAG has been spreading. Is WAAG, in fact, just a creature of Auckland International Airport?"

"AIAL knows there is strong support for commercial flights at Whenuapai from the general public and business in Rodney, North Shore and Waitakere. Perhaps that is why they prefer campaigning in this underground manner."

Mr Harvey is also going to raise his concerns to his mayoral counterparts in Auckland and Manukau.

"I am sure Auckland City Council and Manukau City Council will be horrified by revelations that a company in which they are substantial shareholders is attempting to manipulate things, and torpedo a company owned by three other Councils which is attempting to create value for its ratepayers. I know that's not the way Mayor Hubbard and Sir Barry (Curtis) do business."

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North Shore Times Article - Thursday 26 April 2007 (Size 84K)

27 April

Sturges Road Bridge to be replaced this year

"People living west of Swanson Road will be delighted to know that work to replace the Sturges Road bridge will start later this year," says David Hallett, chair of the Western Heights Residents and Ratepayers Association.

The Waitakere City Council is going through a tendering process to replace the railway over-bridge in Sturges Road and Mr Hallett says that while there may be some inconvenience during construction, it will be well worthwhile to finally have the bridge replaced.

"Thousands of people use that bridge every day and it's a bottleneck at peak hours. The community has been asking for it to be replaced for a long time and it's great news to hear that its finally going to happen," Mr Hallett says.

The bridge - which was nearing the end of its life anyway - is being replaced with a new bridge that will allow the railway to be double-tracked.

The railway is presently being double tracked by ONTRACK, between Henderson and Swanson, as part of Project Dart.

This will lead to a double-tracked commuter rail service through to Britomart in Auckland, a "trench" to carry the railway below street level in New Lynn (complete with new station below street level), new rail layout and station facilities at Newmarket, several other stations and bridges and new signalling gear.

When complete, the double-track system will permit the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) to provide fast and frequent passenger train services between Swanson and Auckland. Ultimately, it is expected that there will be trains about every 10 minutes.

It is also expected that the system will eventually be electrified and the new Sturges Road bridge will be designed to allow for this.

No details have yet been firmed up for the project to replace the bridge but it is expected that work will begin in about August and be completed early in 2008.

"We are very conscious that we must keep any disruption to a minimum when work starts," says Councillor Penny Hulse, chair of the Council's City Development Committee.

"There will be a temporary bridge and traffic management plans that will keep traffic flowing - hopefully with very little inconvenience, especially at peak times."

In addition, we have an excellent relationship with ONTRACK and we believe that with maximum co-operation, everybody's needs can be met to the greatest possible extent," says Councillor Hulse

A community liaison committee, with Mr Hallett as its chair, has been formed from representatives of the council, the Massey, Waitakere and Henderson Community Boards and the Western Heights Residents and Ratepayers Association..

"The group will enable the council and the community to work together, using local knowledge to identify actual and potential problems - and the solutions. Local people have extensive contacts through R&R groups, schools and businesses and other organisations and we can network with them to ensure good and timely information is provided and concerns are passed back," says Mr Hallett.

"Right now we haven't any firm facts to communicate but we are preparing our systems so that when the facts become available, we'll be able to leave no stone unturned to ensure the public are well informed and this project roll-out as well as possible," he says.

24 April

Waitakere City Council's visionary travel plan acknowledged

It's simple - travel plans save money.

This was one of the key points made by Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) chief executive, Fergus Gammie, as he presented a certificate to the Waitakere City Council acknowledging its visionary transport strategy.

The certificate congratulates the council on its Workplace Travel Plan and becoming a recognised TravelWise workplace in which staff are encouraged to find alternatives to "one-person one car" as their means of getting to and from work.

What people need to realise, says Mr Gammie, is that the work and school travel plans being developed in New Zealand are very cost effective.

"Waitakere really is leading the way and we are very pleased to be working in partnership with you," Mr Gammie says.

Since introducing its travel plan in September 2006, when it relocated to Waitakere Central, the council has noticed a significant and positive change in the transport options used by staff.

Waitakere City Councillor Penny Hulse says the move to Henderson has made public transport a more attractive option for everyone working at the council.

"The travel plan project has been hugely successful so far and everyone involved should feel very pleased with the results," Cr Hulse says.

Eighteen per cent more staff are now using sustainable transport - like carpooling, public transport, walking or cycling - than they did before the travel plan was introduced.

This translates to 126 tonnes less carbon dioxide being emitted annually.

Public transport usage among both council staff and the general public in Waitakere is expected to increase as the double-tracking of the region's railway lines progresses and the service becomes faster and more frequent.

By providing those who carpool with preferential parking the council is encouraging staff towards more eco-friendly transport options.

Waitakere City Council has also begun using a pilot carpool software programme - Rideshare which was provided to it, free-of-charge by ARTA.

TravelWise Rideshare allows staff a quick and secure way to find carpooling partners by matching people based on their location, working hours and other preferences.

20 April

Tribute to Nagasaki's assassinated Mayor, Iccho Ito

Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey says the assassination Nagasaki's Mayor Iccho Ito is a great tragedy and the world has lost one of its great as two of the world's great active campaigners against the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Mayor Harvey who had met Mayor Ito during a peace initiative at the United Nations, has written in his Mayoral report:

"I am almost at a loss about what to say in terms of the killing of Nagasaki's Mayor Iccho Ito on Tuesday, April 17. Mayor Ito was born a month after Nagasaki was destroyed by a nuclear bomb in 1945 and was the vice president of Mayors for Peace to which I belong. He will be tragically missed by the people of Nagasaki, the people of Japan and indeed all of those around the world who share his vision of a nuclear weapons-free world.

I met Mayor Ito in New York in 2004 as part of a delegation I was involved in that was asking the United Nations to try and stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. We shared a bus ride from downtown New York to the site of the World Trade Centre, then still being cleared of the rubble.

Both Ito and his Japanese colleague and Mayor of Hiroshima,Tadatoshi Akiba put relics from their respective bombings on the memorabilia wall. I recall them pinning glasses of victims that had been frozen in time by the blast of the bombs. It was a very moving experience as we were being hosted by family and friends of those who had perished in the 9 / 11 tragedy.

Mayors Ito and Akiba at that time were regarded as two of the world's great active campaigners against the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Mayor Ito's loss to the anti nuclear cause is a great tragedy and he was an outstanding mayor for his city. I have sent our condolences to Nagasaki and plan to visit the city to pay tribute to Mayor Ito when I am in Japan in June."

19 April

Surveying device stolen

On Wednesday morning the Waitakere City Council had a surveying device stolen from the corner of Great North Road and Palmer Avenue.

The surveying device, a Theodolite, is sometimes mistaken by the public for a speed camera and the council suspects someone may have thought they were stealing a speed camera.

While expensive to buy, there is no second-hand market for a theodolite and it is extremely unlikely it could be sold.

If you have seen this piece of equipment please contact the council's call centre.

A photo of a theodolite is attached.

18 April

Waitakere Council to consult on new consent fee structure
 

18 April

Death of Community Board member

Waitakere City Councillors today acknowledged the passing of New Lynn Community Board member Bill Buchanan.

This morning's Council meeting began with a minute's silence after which Mayor Bob Harvey and councillors including Carl Harding and Assid Corban paid tributes.

Mr Buchanan died suddenly on Monday night.

Mayor Harvey says he was a hard working member of the community board with a real affinity for the New Lynn area.

"He worked at grass roots level in the community and was very much a doer rather than a talker".

This morning's Council meeting also noted the recent passing of John (Jack) de Vere, who was a former Glen Eden Borough Councillor, as well as the deaths of former Helensville Mayor Eric Glaeish and Massey resident Don Selwyn who was a central figure in New Zealand film, theatre and television.

17 April

Submissions Still Open

Waitakere City Council is gearing for a rush of submissions on its draft Annual Plan (Budget).

The draft Annual Plan sets projects and budgets for the next financial year and is part of the Long Term Council Community Plan (2006-2016), which outlines priorities for the next 10 years.

Public submissions on the draft Plan close on April 27.

So far just a few dozen have been received, but staff expect the usual surge in the last few days before the deadline.

One of the reasons for the relatively low numbers so far is that there is nothing particularly controversial in the budgets, says Councillor Janet Clews, chairman of the Annual Plan and Long Term Council Special Committee.

"The proposed rates increase (an average of 6.69%) is lower than was anticipated and there are no major issues that we have highlighted for special consultation," she says.

"This budget is very much business-as- usual, but we still want to hear from our community about where they see the priority areas for funding."
The draft budget shows the bulk of the rates money collected by Waitakere City Council (82%) being spent on what Councillor Clews describes as "the basics" - things like stormwater, wastewater, parks, leisure facilities, libraries, and roading.
Some features of the draft Annual Plan include:

The next stage of work at Douglas Track & Field in Henderson (new lights & grandstand) - $2.058 million.

• Green Bay Community House upgrade ($180,000)
• $54.2 million for new roads and footpaths
• Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre and Library - planning for redevelopment ($100,000). Physical work will start in 2008-2009.
• Lopdell House art gallery redevelopment ($1.029 million)
• Ranui Library extension ($617,000)
• Ongoing support for Sport Waitakere ($105,000)

After the close of submissions, hearings will be conducted and the final Annual Plan adopted in June.

Submissions can be made on-line and submission forms are also available at all City libraries, community centres and service centres.

A special edition of the Council's newsletter, delivered to most homes and businesses also contains a submission form.

13 April

A Great Totara has Fallen

Kua hinga te totara nui o te wao nui a tane!

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey today paid tribute to a central figure in this country's television and film industry.

Donald (Don) Selwyn passed away after a long illness.

He and Mayor Harvey, a former member of the New Zealand Film Commission, had known each other for decades.

"Don was a wonderful character actor- in fact one of this country's finest. In later years he took to directing and producing and delivered some of New Zealand's most memorable projects," says Mayor Harvey.

"He was a mentor and inspiration for a generation of young Maori performers. He pioneered the way for the likes of (actors) Cliff Curtis and Temuera Morrison and I know that he took real pride in seeing young Maori take their culture onto the stage and screen."

Don Selwyn lived in Massey, in Waitakere City, and in recent years performed with young musicians and performers at the Going West Literary Festival and at other local venues and events.

"Don was central to this City's Maori Creative Strategy which is still being developed and I am truly sad that he will not see that project through to the end," says Mayor Harvey.

"Not only Maori, but New Zealand as a whole has today lost a great man."

13 April

Waitakere among best in country at processing resource consents on time

Waitakere City Council had the fourth best rate among the large councils in New Zealand for processing land-use resource consents and the best record in the Auckland region, during 2005/06.

According to a Ministry for the Environment survey just released, in the two years 2005/2006, Waitakere processed 83% of land-use consents within statutory deadlines.

This is ahead of Manukau City (32%), Auckland City (56%), Rodney (62%) and North Shore (66%).

The three councils ahead of Waitakere were Hamilton (100%), Dunedin (99%) and Christchurch (90%).

"That is a good result and we can be pleased with it, especially given some of the difficulties we faced, but we believe we can do better in the future," says Councillor Vanessa Neeson, chair of Waitakere City Council's Planning and Regulatory Committee.

"We do have some issues not faced by every council - such as the amount of marginal land in the city. Consents for land of this nature are generally more complex and more difficult to carry out in time. So that is probably something we will always wrestle with," she says.

"In addition, in the last two years we moved our headquarters and have been introducing a new computer system. The biggest problem, however, was that we were understaffed for much of this time because of the shortage of people qualified for this sort of work.

"We now have more staff and so we expect to be able to post an even better result in the next survey," Councillor Neeson says.

The report measures outcomes in a number of categories.

The key statistics showed that Waitakere City Council processed 1579 consents overall.

It had an overall compliance of 80.3% compared with a national average of 73%.

It processed 83% of land-use consents and 72% of non notified sub-division consents within the statutory timeframe.

Only 20% of notified consents met the deadline - but there were only five in total (out of 1579).

13 Aprill

Waitakere moves to call time on family violence

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey is setting up a Mayoral Taskforce against Family Violence.

For several months Mayor Harvey has been considering possible strategies to address his city's "horrendous" crime statistics and he believes the taskforce is a good place to start.

"In December last year Waitakere was very proud to accept the World Health Organisation's Safe City re-accreditation but the reality is we are not capable or determined enough to keep our children and families safe," says Mayor Harvey.

"Just look at the police statistics. This is no time for lame excuses. Family violence in this country continues on a daily basis with all too often fatal consequences and the time has come for action. I think Waitakere can take the lead. We were New Zealand's first eco city so I see no reason why we can't be the first city to put a stop to family violence."

The taskforce will be made up of about dozen people - "movers and shakers" - representing a number of local organisations including District Police Commander, Inspector Mark O'Connor.

"We are still in the early stages and much of this is about building on existing initiatives and pulling them altogether for the good of the city and of course we need to consult widely with the whole community but I know we could do better."

Mayor Harvey says he will discuss the taskforce with the government with a view to developing a community response as a national pilot and to seek funding.

"We can no longer sit around and shake our heads at yet another family violence incident or murder. I have had enough of the scourge that is family violence in this city. It has to stop and we have to be part of the solution."

In announcing the establishment of the Taskforce, Mayor Harvey has also supported the Women's Refuge movement in their condemnation of All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu, who was yesterday discharged without conviction on a charge of assaulting his wife.

"That case shows that no-one, no matter what their job or standing in the community is immune. Domestic Violence is a problem right across all levels of our society," Mayor Harvey says..

11 April

Auckland united on energy

Auckland's eight councils have provided joint submissions to the draft New Zealand Energy Strategy and associated energy and climate change policy consultation documents.

The submissions were prepared and approved by the Auckland Regional Council, Rodney District Council, North Shore City Council, Waitakere City Council, Auckland City Council, Manukau City Council, Papakura District Council and Franklin District Council.

"The councils of the Auckland region have established a comprehensive and substantial position in response to the New Zealand Energy Strategy and the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy," said Paul Walbran, chair of the ARC's Regional Strategy and Planning Committee.

"We welcomed the Government's preparation of a national energy strategy, which we had requested for some time. We support the vision and principles of the strategy, which aim to address the energy challenges posed by climate change, ensuring security of supply and affordability. These are all issues of vital concern for the Auckland region," Cr Walbran said.

The councils emphasised the importance of land use planning, particularly to encourage a more energy-efficient urban form, and encouragement of public transport, walking and cycling as ways to improve energy efficiency associated with transport.

The councils also stressed that security of affordable electricity supply was important for the Auckland region and that a proactive approach to energy efficiency and more renewable generation was needed.

The councils supported the introduction of smart meters and pricing incentives to encourage residential consumers to shift non-essential energy use away from peak times, as peak loads in the Auckland region exceeded all predictions last winter.

The councils also sent joint submissions to the Government's climate change documents: Transitional Measures, Reducing Greenhouse Gases Post-2012 and Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change.

The joint regional submissions can be viewed on http://www.arc.govt.nz/ and at www.franklin.govt.nz.

11 April

Council to restructure Trash to Fashion to secure a bright future

Trash to Fashion - the fashion show where the garments are made from recycled materials rescued from the rubbish bin - is to be taken to a whole new level.

The council's City Development Committee has agreed to one-off additional funding in the 2007/08 budget, to ensure the show can go ahead this year while it is being restructured.

The committee has voted to provide up to an extra $190,000 in the 2007/2008 year.

However, Councillor Judy Lawley, chairman of the Culture, Arts and Events Special Committee says that the extra funding has been underwritten rather than granted.

"The events company hired to stage the show is expected to find as much of the extra money through sponsorship, as possible" she says.

Councillor Lawley says that the council has faith in the Trash to Fashion concept.

"The concept isn't the problem. The show actually has an international reputation. The problem is that it has 'outgrown its strength'; it isn't structured in a way that can sustain its growth or capitalise on its success," Councillor Lawley says.

"With a more commercial structure and realistic marketing, it can have a very bright future," she says.

"We didn't want to drop the show, we just wanted to find a way to stop it losing money. After all it has become a Waitakere icon. It is very well supported in schools and elsewhere and there would be thousands of disappointed people if we canned it," she says.

Councillor Lawley says that Trash to Fashion also helps to educate the public - and especially young people - about the Zero Waste to Landfill message, as well as providing a popular show which could rival events like Wearable Arts.

"So, the extra budget this year - which is a one off and I want to emphasise that - buys us the time to do the restructuring this year and fully implement it in 2008," she says.

Part of the restructure will involve hiring a professional events company to produce the show. It will have to find significantly increased sponsorship and fund a much larger marketing budget.

"We don't want to have a gap year while we restructure because there is a real danger the show will lose momentum - which will make it more difficult to secure sponsorships in the future," she says.

"The best option is to give it enough resources to maintain momentum in the short term while undertaking a restructure that will set it up for the future. After that, we look forward to the amount of council support reducing as it becomes more and more self-sufficient," Councillor Lawley says.

She says the council has taken similar action with other public attractions that needed "to gain traction".

"Some things are just worth doing for the good of the community and it is our duty to see that they get done. Money isn't the only measurement.

"West Wave and the Massey Leisure Centre are cases in point. The council provided initial support and then expected to see those facilities standing on their own feet and needing less and less support from us. We established The Trusts Stadium the same way.

"And we support all manner of events without expecting any kind of return on the investment," she says.

5 April

No bye election in Massey Ward

The Massey Community Board has decided not to hold a bye-election to fill the seat left vacant by Andrew Good who resigned recently to pursue his business interests in Australia.

"There are only seven months until the next council elections and it will take at least two months to hold a bye-election, and so we felt it was better to leave the seat vacant until October," says Chairman Graeme Barnard

4 April

Waitakere welcomes Transit change of heart on ring road tolls

Waitakere City Council has welcomed Transit New Zealand's decision not to proceed with plans to toll the Western Ring Road.

The Transit board has decided to investigate alternative funding options.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says the original toll proposal did not meet Waitakere's transport and business needs and therefore, did not meet the region's needs.

"We simply could not have lived with it and so we are pleased that Transit has changed its mind," he says.

Mayor Harvey praised the Transit board for coming to Auckland, to deliberate on the issue of tolling the ring road.

"It's not easy to understand why some things simply won't work unless you go to the affected place and look for yourself. Well, they've come to Auckland and good on them," says Mayor Harvey.

He says Waitakere City understands and supports the need for a user pays system, in order to reduce region wide congestion and get vital traffic moving.

"Waitakere is one of the four cities of the Auckland region and we contribute to the congestion that is killing our regional economy. Therefore, Waitakere needs to be part of the solution. If Waitakere cannot do its part to reduce congestion and promote business and economic growth, the region cannot meet its objectives either.

"The original proposals didn't permit Waitakere to do that. The proposed toll road would have passed right through Waitakere with no way for our vital traffic to get onto or off it. All this will do is increase the problems for the fifth largest city in the country - and help to guarantee that all the work we are doing across the region to deal with congestion and promote growth will be far less effective than it should be," he says.

There is now no reason not to start on the Hobsonville deviation, the Mayor says.

3 April

Walkway of Fame

Some of Waitakere's best and brightest will be honoured at a special ceremony this week.

On Wednesday, the City's Walkway of Fame is set to grow when three new inductees are added to what is becoming a prestigious pedestrian thoroughfare.

The walkway, which was originally in Catherine mall in Henderson but now runs alongside the council's new Civic building plays host to the handprints of Waitakere "greats".

This year's additions include local pharmaceutical manufacturer and Business Hall of Fame member Graeme Douglas, the late Sir Tom Clark a top industrialist and sportsman, and the chief justice and Supreme Court member Dame Sian Elias, who grew up in Titirangi.

In Mayor Bob Harvey's book Westies Mr Douglas is described as "one of the west's most entrepreneurial and distinguished" business leaders.

After starting out as a chemist in Te Atatu South in the late 1950s, Mr Douglas has grown his business, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, into one of city's largest businesses - worth over $100 million and employing hundreds.

Crown Lynn was a central pillar of New Lynn-based Ceramco Ltd, of which Sir Tom was first CEO and eventually chairman.

In its heyday Ceramco was a multinational conglomerate with companies involved in ceramics, engineering, heavy machinery, building, geothermal energy and exploration and tourism.

Sir Tom, descendant of Rice Owen Clark one of Hobsonville's pioneers, was also a top New Zealand racing driver in the 1950's.

Later he was mentor and financial backer of Sir Peter Blake - first in his round the world yacht race campaigns (which started with the 60 ft Ceramco) and later in assembling Team New Zealand which lifted and then defended, the America's Cup.

And the third Walkway of Fame inductee is one of the nation's greatest legal minds and voted our first female Chief Justice in 1999.

Dame Sian Elias, was born in London and emigrated to New Zealand and Waitakere where she attended Titirangi Primary School.

"It was a wonderful childhood," Dame Sian says.

"We grew up in such beauty, including our wonderful school grounds, and we had tremendous freedom to explore it."

"It was a freedom buttressed by a strong sense of community because of course, everyone knew each other."

As Chief Justice, Dame Sian is the most senior member of this country's judiciary and is also the presiding judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, established in early 2004 to replace old links to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

The public unveiling ceremony will be held at 10am on Wednesday, April 4.

Graeme Douglas will be attending the ceremony as is the late Sir Tom Clark's wife, Lady Clark.

The 2005 inductees will join the likes of rugby legend Michael Jones, athletics superstar Beatrice Faumiuina and the world famous musician Neil Finn

The criteria for being admitted to Waitakere's Walkway of Fame is that the person must be nationally or internationally recognised and must have been born, have lived or have worked in Waitakere.

3 April

Chinese sustainability classes

For the first time ever the Sustainable Living Course is set to be taught in another language.

Starting this week the Chinese community will be able to attend workshops on living sustainably that will be conducted in their own languages.

Estella Lee, founder of the Chinese Conservation Trust, is delivering the first Sustainable Living Course series in Mandarin and Cantonese.

There will be weekly discussions on energy, water, waste, shopping and eco-gardening with practical advice on how to reduce costs and impacts on the environment.

The Waitakere City Council will work with different parts of the community to ensure that the issues surrounding sustainability are accessible to all.

Further, it will support facilitators from different ethnic and language backgrounds to work within their own communities on sustainability.

For more information contact us.

The Chinese Sustainable Living Course begins on Tuesday, 3 April 7.30pm at the Sustainable Living Centre, Olympic Park, New Lynn.

The course will run over five weeks and new participants are welcome to attend.

2 April

Waitakere Sounds Success

The weekend's concert at Falls Reserve in Henderson wrapped up this year's Waitakere City Council summer music series.

The diversity of the bands, ranging from the Herbs to Hello Sailor, John Rowles and the Royal New Zealand Base Auckland Band, attracted thousands of residents to the Waitakere Sounds summer parks events.

An addition to the programme for 2007 was the introduction of the Solo Sundays series at the Falls Reserve in Henderson.

Performances by Julia Grace, Russell Walder, Derek Brown and others helped boost overall audience numbers for the entire programme to around 9,000.

Culture, Arts & Events Committee chairperson Councillor Judy Lawley says Waitakere Sounds was a resounding success.

"It was amazing to see so many people out enjoying great music and there was a really festive and community atmosphere at these events," Councillor Lawley says.

"I would like to extend the council's sincere thanks to our sponsors KEA Campers, The Falls Restaurant and The Radio Network for all their invaluable support for this music series in 2007," Councillor Lawley says.

2 April

Pedestrian bridge closed in New Lynn

The Waitakere City Council has closed a pedestrian bridge in Ken Maunder Park, New Lynn due to serious concerns about its safety.

Following an inspection today the council decided the footbridge was structurally unsafe and closed it immediately.

The bridge links Queen Mary Avenue with Ken Maunder Park in New Lynn.

Waitakere City Council spokesman Dai Bindoff says while the council regrets the inconvenience to the park's users, public safety is paramount.

"Repair work on the bridge will begin as soon as possible," Mr Bindoff says.