Media Releases

February 2007

27 February

Rock star gets helping hand at concert

Cathrine Pyne aged 5 received a very special thank you from Hello Sailor’s Graham Brazier when she thoughtfully retrieved his tambourine during the Waitakere Sounds Harbourview Concert on Saturday 17 February..

Rock ’n roll action during the energy-filled event at Te Atatu Peninsula even included some guitar smashing during Hello Sailor’s set. The group performed to 2500 people who enthusiastically sang along at the free concert sponsored by Waitakere City Council. New Zealand rock legends were complemented by the backdrop of Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, the Sky Tower and Rangitoto with picture-perfect weather throughout the day.

The Waitakere Sounds concert series features Solo Sundays at Falls Park, Alderman Drive, Henderson and concludes with Party in the Park at Luckens Reserve West Harbour on Saturday 24 March.

This final concert will feature Indira, Hot Property and the RNZ Airforce Band.

23 February

Hihi Reintroduced to the Waitakere Ranges

Today is a special day for the Waitakere Ranges. It marks the return of a once locally extinct native bird - the hihi or stitchbird.

Waitakere City Council is joining with environmental groups around the country in congratulating Ark in the Park on this significant achievement.

Ark in the Park is a partnership between Auckland Regional Council and the Waitakere branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society. Countless volunteers have worked tirelessly; trapping pests and monitoring the environment to ensure the1000 hectares of land within the Waitakere Ranges are safe enough for these returnees.

“It’s incredibly exciting to see a bird that has been missing from the ranges for 125 years back with us. Many of our residents have never seen New Zealand’s native stitchbird. Through the dedicated efforts of our volunteers we’re bring life back to the bush,” says Councillor Penny Hulse.

Since European settlement a number of native bird species have become extinct in the Waitakere Ranges, including brown kiwi, käkäriki, bellbird, kaka and weka. “Until today hihi was on that list,” says Councillor Hulse.

The hihi had not been seen in the area since 1880.

The Waitakere Ranges is of national significance for the rich diversity of its forest types and vegetation communities, the intact sequences of vegetation from the coast up to the inland hills, the wild nature of its coastal ecosystems, and wetland and dune lake systems..

The area contains more than a quarter of New Zealand’s flowering plant species and two-thirds of all native fern species and is home to more than 50 species of native birds and 542 species of native plants.

As a key source of birds, the Waitakere Ranges play a significant role within the North-West Wildlink – a network of green spaces that link the Ranges to the Hauraki Gulf Islands. Indeed, the birds today were captured from another successful community-based restoration initiative within the Wildlink on Tiritiri Matangi.

Such projects demonstrate clearly our ability to restore the places and things we treasure and the council congratulates Ark in the Park on its important contribution to this goal..

21 February

Waitakere’s Artists Open Their Doors

Waitakere’s artists are opening their studios in the first weekend in March to give the public and artists a chance to meet each other and give the public an insight into their creations.

More than 120 artists will open their homes and studios to the public on Saturday and Sunday, 3 and 4 March, as part of the Third Annual Free Waitakere Artists Open Studio weekend.

Multimedia artist Jasmine Clark says opening her studio at the Corban Estate Art Centre gives her the chance to show the public what she does..

“Our studios are a great place to interact with the public – it gives us an opportunity to show them what we’re doing and to let them ask questions,” she says.

“Some people just come because they are interested while others are looking for inspiration.”

But there is also a hidden dark-side – “I’ve got to go and spend the next few days cleaning my studio,” she says.

The weekend will feature a wide range of talented artists across a range of media, including glasswork, mosaics, painting, sculpting, pottery, weaving, jewellery, batik, Maori wearable art, dolls, photography and tivaevae.

While some artists focus on displaying their current works in progress others have artwork for sale.

The free tour and open studio weekend will run from 10am to 4pm on 3 and 4 March.

A bus tour will be visiting various studios and the event is proudly brought to you by the Waitakere City Council and Waitakere Arts Network.

20 February

Parking Angels watching over us

Parking Angels Glenn Nash and Stephen Lamusitele watch over Marina View School pupils and parents with Councillor Linda Cooper and Principal Maurice Young

Waitakere City’s “Parking Angels” are more concerned about caring for the lives of all Waitakere City residents young and older, than just focussing on revenue collection.

Working closely with schools and other community agencies these guardian ’angels’ are kept busy making sure that residents can use our roads as safely as possible. This month they are supporting good behaviours demonstrated by parents picking up and dropping off children at school. Certificates and lollipops are being handed out whenever the angels see parents exhibiting safe parking behaviours and there are warning notices issued to parents who use dangerous behaviours.

“Tickets are not the solution to the congestion and speed around schools. We supply public education, cones, high-visibility vests for crossing supervisors and we fund road safety scholarships for safety monitors in schools. There are plenty of positive opportunities to help in our communities” explains Kitch Cuthbert, Team Leader Road Safety for Waitakere City Council.

The angels do a lot more for their community than traditional road safety education and enforcement. They often find themselves witnessing distressing events such as attempted suicides and assaults. In a number of cases the parking angels have been instrumental in saving lives other than on the roads. They also find satisfying ways to promote neighbourhood harmony.

Stephen Lamusitele recalls a recent occasion where his community assistance is likely to become an annual event for one street in Te Atatu South. He received a complaint in regards to cars parking outside two houses which had stunning Christmas light displays. “Hundreds of locals showed up with children and overseas visitors and they blocked driveways, medians, left vehicles unattended, in fact it was pretty chaotic. Although I did a bit of ticketing most people had a positive attitude because I let them know why I was there; helping people get safer parking and a good view, alleviating street congestion and noise. Things improved so much with my help that I was befriended by the neighbours and given hot and cold drinks, even a hot dinner and I made a lot of friends. The whole experience turned out to be so positive for everyone” he says.

Other responsibilities of the Parking Angels include looking after abandoned, stolen or burnt-out vehicles and consulting with schools, businesses and churches on how to manage their parking and traffic flow issues. They are currently supporting a national campaign “Speed Kills Kids” and are part of Waitakere City’s drive to reduce driving speeds to 40kph around schools.

Community organisations needing road safety help and advice can contact the council call centre for angelic assistance.

20 February

Annual Plan Deliberations Begin

Waitakere City Council today began deliberations on its Draft Annual Plan (budget) for 2007/08.

Annual Plan Special Committee chairman Janet Clews says that during the next week councillors will be examining the “first cut” of recommended work plans and budgets and the outcomes will form the Draft Annual Plan and budget that is offered for public submissions.

“During this process we will be considering recommendations from the council, community boards and the chief executive," says Councillor Clews.

“It is important that the public know that this is the second year of the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) that we adopted last year. This means that nearly all the work is already programmed, consulted and agreed upon and this is mainly a fine tuning exercise,” says Councillor Clews.

“It is also important that the public realise that the council will be doing everything possible to reach the balance between the lowest possible rates while not sacrificing the level of public services.”

The council is scheduled to adopt the Draft Annual Plan on March 2 for public consultation.

Public submissions will open on Monday 26 March and close on Friday 27 April.

At its meeting this morning councillors discussed an urgent item regarding any possible financial contribution for an upgrade to Eden Park for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

While the council has not formally been asked to contribute funding for this, it resolved that if any such request is received from the Government it will consult with residents (during the Annual Plan process) before making a decision.

While the Annual Plan sets the council’s budget for the coming financial year the LTCCP outlines the direction and spending intentions for the coming 10 years.

Submission forms will be available in the April issue of the Waitakere News, on the council web site, at the Civic Centre, service centres and libraries.

20 February

Council Promotes District Plan Change

Waitakere City Council is reminding residents that the closing date for feedback on a proposed district plan change (Plan Change 22), which affects land currently occupied by the Whenuapai Airbase, is March 7.

The proposed district plan change, which was notified in December, allows for the creation of an Airport Special Area at Whenuapai.

This plan change, if adopted, would hold open the opportunity for Whenuapai to be used as a commercial airport in the future.

Just over 200 submissions have been received so far, the majority from individual submitters.

Councillor Penny Hulse, chairman of the Waitakere City Council’s City Development Committee, says feedback from the community has been largely positive as the move is seen as a necessary step so that the commercial airport option can be preserved as a possible future use.

“The plan change was originally notified as a result of the RNZAF’s plan to relocate to Ohakea in about 10 years. Waitakere City Council felt that we wanted to see the airport remain open for commercial flights,” Councillor Hulse says.

”It’s extremely important that we look to the future for what is potentially a very good opportunity for Waitakere – and indeed for the whole Auckland region.

“Auckland will need a second airport sooner or later. I don’t think anybody disputes that. We think we need it now for a variety of reasons including helping to reduce the congestion of millions of vehicles every year, crossing the region to Mangere," Councillor Penny Hulse says.

“Whenuapai is closer to 500,000 more people than Mangere is. There would be huge cost and convenience benefits for the north western business sector, right now, if it had access to business flights at Whenuapai.

“This is about keeping options open. If we let the opportunity to keep Whenuapai slip away, it is very unlikely that we will ever get a viable second airport for the region. If in the end, we don’t use the option we will have lost nothing but if we let the option go now, we might lose one of the best economic assets in New Zealand,” says Councillor Hulse.

“The district plan changes we are proposing will protect an existing resource – an existing piece of infrastructure - for the future. This is no different to earmarking farmland for future use as a park.”

“Notification, however, is only the start of a long consultation process that will include multiple opportunities for the council and community to address key concerns and investigate any unknowns,” says Councillor Hulse.

In recognising the importance of the proposed plan change, the council doubled the statutory submission period (to 40 days).
Copies of the plan change are available at the council’s main service centre at Waitakere Central (Henderson Valley Rd, Henderson), and at libraries.

14 February

Waitakere to get tough on illegal dumping

The Waitakere City Council is asking the public to take a tough stance against people illegally dumping rubbish in the city, which has increased by about 30% on previous years.

Councillor Janet Clews says the problem of illegal dumping has massively increased recently, coinciding with Waitakere’s inorganic rubbish collections.

“The council has been finding that as soon as residents place their inorganic rubbish on the kerb side that people, often from outside the city, come in and dump their rubbish right in the middle of it,” Councillor Clews says.

“That is grossly unfair on the people whose streets are being turned into a regional tip, and it is also unfair to all ratepayers who between them, have to pay the costs of collecting it.”

Councillor Clews says the council wants to stop the illegal dumping but it needs the public's help.

“We have people sifting by hand through the suspected illegal dumps looking for vital pieces of information such as names and addresses, however, this is often insufficient for a successful prosecution.”

"We need the public to provide us with descriptions of the dumpers and registration numbers too – if people could take photographs that would be brilliant," she says.

Councillor Clews says that unless stopped, the cost of this level of illegal dumping could threaten the future of Waitakere’s inorganic collections.

The council has council officers specifically looking for offenders and has recently installed hidden cameras to detect offenders, who will be prosecuted and face a maximum fine of up to $20,000.

If you suspect someone is illegally dumping rubbish in your street, please contact the council's call centre on (09) 839 0400.

14 February

A ‘slow and steamy’ literary feast

An unusual literary event will be staged in Waitakere City at a special property in the Oratia foothills on Sunday 4th March from 4pm until sundown. Called ‘Slow & Steamy’, it’s a summer garden party styled on the iconic steam train journey that inspired the Going West Books and Writers Festival.

But this time, the steam engine is a stationary one (image attached). Dating back to 1893 it's a black, four tonne, seven-horsepower marvel owned by Oratia man Dave Harre, and he’ll be using it to cook dinner—assisted by Alessandra Zecchini, the cookery writer and Slow Food maestro. Local vineyard Artisan Wines is supplying the fine wine.

Proceeds from the $75-a-head tickets will help to fund the 2007 Going West Festival. As well as classic Kiwi fare (mussels, corn, spit roast lamb), the ticket price includes entertainment from top writers and musicians in the stunning garden setting of Murray and Penny Firth’s Firlong Nurseries. Located at 48 Carter Rd, the lush manicured grounds feature a lake, shady glades and rolling lawns. 

Guest authors are:

• Poet Glenn Colquhoun (Playing God and How We Fell) with veteran performer Cherie Barford.
• Chef Alessandra Zecchini of Slow Food Waitakere (author of Savour and Sweet As).
• Novelist and Book Show presenter Emily Perkins (The Picnic Virgin).
• Writer Philip Simpson, whose book Pohutukawa & Rata won the Environment section of the Montana Book Awards last year

There will also be musical interludes from chanteuse Fiona Ferens, vintage Dixieland Jazz band ‘The Lex Pistols’ and roving troubadours Linn Lorkin with
‘The French Toast Trio’.

Strictly limited tickets are on sale at Murray Gray’s Gone West bookshop in Titirangi Village. To book now, call (09) 817 3236 or email gonewest@xtra.co.nz

Visit www.gonewestbooks.com for more information or Email us

13 February

Going green great for business

Waitakere - the "Eco City " - applauds the Green Party’s tax proposals which encourage employers to adopt environmentally-friendly practices in exchange for financial benefits.

Councillor Penny Hulse says that as the Greens assert, it is time that New Zealand makes real strides towards becoming truly sustainable, and what better way to do this than by linking eco-friendly business initiatives to tax breaks.

Among the Greens’ proposals are tax incentives for companies which invest in R&D into sustainable production methods, for plants which minimise waste and pollution, and for those who invest in staff training in cleaner production technologies.

“As the Greens assert, these ideas make it profitable for businesses to act in an environmentally sustainable fashion,” Councillor Hulse says.

“Not only are they good for the businesses themselves, but they are good for New Zealand and the planet too.”

“The Greens’ idea of removing the fringe benefit tax for companies that provide public transport and bicycle facilities and instead of cars and car parks is another stellar initiative,” she says.

The Waitakere City Council has already implemented many sustainable transport initiatives Councillor Hulse says, including encouraging public transport use by reducing the car parking available for staff while prioritising the limited parking available for those who carpool.

The council also provides ample bicycle storage facilities and actively encourages its staff to use public transport.
 

13 February

Community groups to be temporarily re-housed

Community groups looking for a temporary venue while the Henderson Recreation Centre is renovated, may be able to use Te Atatu South’s former library building.

The recreation centre will be comprehensively refurbished and a new youth facility added between June and December this year and the council’s Finance and Operational Performance Committee has approved the use of the former library to accommodate some of the recreation centre user groups.

The Massey Recreation Centre and other community centres will also be used as temporary accommodation.

Chairman Janet Clews says that the council is committed to re-housing its community groups during the construction period.

“The decision to grant access to the former Te Atatu South library building is designed to accommodate as many community groups as possible, as well as fostering and promoting the social and cultural fabric of Waitakere,” Councillor Clews says.

The Henderson Recreation Centre is currently used by music and arts groups, a judo club and many casual community groups.

These groups have all been notified that they will have to reapply for access to the Henderson Recreation Centre once the upgrade is complete.

13 February

Land value to stay-for now

Waitakere City Councillors have voted to stick with the Land Value system for calculating rates for 2007/2008.

The Council has been examining alternative rating systems, including a possible change to “Capital Value”, which sees rates charged against the total value of a property (instead of the value of the bare land).

But in making its decision, today’s meeting of the Finance and Operational Performance Committee did not rule out a change in the future.

Councillors asked for further work to be done with a view to any changes being recommended to a new Council, which will be elected in October 2007.

Councillors indicated that whilst favouring the Capital Value rating system they want more information on the possible impacts on small and medium sized businesses in particular (which make up the bulk of businesses in the City).

They also want more detail on whether a change would have a detrimental affect on property investment decisions (particularly around town centres), and what, if any, impact the impending Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill will have on property values- and therefore rates-in rural areas.

Another factor in holding off on a decision is that all properties in the City will be re-valued next year and impacts of those on individual properties need to be closely examined.

“With such a significant change to the rating system it would be confusing and unfair on people to follow that up with, potentially, large increases because of revaluations,” says Janet Clews, chairman of the Finance and Operational Performance Committee.

In addition, the government has announced a nationwide inquiry into Local Government funding.

“We don’t want to make any major change only to have that negated by what is going on at national level,” says Councillor Clews.

Meanwhile, next week the Council begins its deliberations on draft budgets for the 2007-2008 financial year.

12 February

Mayors call on Government to front up on leaky building fiasco

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey and his colleagues in Auckland and North Shore are calling on the Minister of Building Issues Clayton Gosgrove to front up to the next Mayoral Forum meeting with the government’s solutions to the leaky building “fiasco”.

“It is simply not acceptable we as councils, despite the government’s resolution process, are taking the full responsibility for this issue in terms of legal judgements. The time has come for the government to face up to its responsibilities,” says Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey.

Mayor Harvey, North Shore Mayor George Wood and Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard met this morning as news of RiskPool’s decision to appeal against a $250,000 court order broke in the media.

“We also want Local Government New Zealand to show some real leadership on this issue and ensure the government responds to our request and our need for some big picture solutions,” says Mayor Harvey.

Mayor Harvey adds he did not personally want Waitakere City Council to lodge an appeal against the court decision.

“I made my wishes in that regard crystal clear internally and externally. The decision was made by the insurance people against my personal wishes.

“I am disappointed and unhappy about the decision to appeal and feel a huge amount of sympathy for Colleen Dicks and her situation she is in.”

8 February

Slow down near schools

School's back and motorists need to be extra vigilant.

Waitakere Councillor and youth advocate Linda Cooper says that while the council is looking to introduce a bylaw which will set a legal speed limit of 40km/ph around all our schools – until then motorists should adopt 40km/ph as a voluntary speed limit when driving past schools.

“We, as a community, need to get into the mindset of keeping our speed down near schools – we need to work together to keep our road toll down and our children safe,” Councillor Cooper says.

“Slowing down near a school may make your overall trip 30 seconds longer but it may save a child’s life, and save you a lifetime’s worth of guilt and regret,” she says.

Police in Waitakere have also launched their “Back to school campaign” which specifically targets motorists near schools.

Anyone travelling five kilometres per hour over the speed limit will be fined in a move Police says is designed to “reduce road trauma involving Waitakere’s vulnerable road users and the speeding motorists”.

Waitakere road safety coordinator Kitch Cuthbert says that while the police are increasing their surveillance and lowering their tolerance of speeding near schools there is simply no need for anyone to be ticketed.

“It’s simple; speed kills kids – so just keep your speed down.”

7 February

Waitakere sounds kicks off with over 3000

More than 3000 people attended the launch of the annual Waitakere Sounds concert series yesterday (February 6).

The Waitangi day concert at Henderson Park featured, among others, Herbs Unplugged and the legendary John Rowles.

Waitakere Sounds is organised by Waitakere City Council with supporting sponsors KEA Campers, the Falls Café & Restaurant and radio station Coast FM .

Judy Lawley, chairperson of the Council’s Culture, Arts and Events Committee says the show was a huge success and augurs well for the rest of the summer. “The crowd was fantastic, the weather as great and there was a real fun-filled, community atmosphere,” she says.

“And best of all people get the opportunity to have a great day out, listening to some of New Zealand’s best musicians for free.”

Councillor Lawley says that an added bonus is that the concert series, often, introduces local people to parks that they may not use regularly- or indeed know about at all.

The next concert is at Harbourview-Orangihina Reserve (on Te Atatu Peninsula), on February 17. It runs from 5pm-9pm and the headline act is Hello Sailor.