Media Releases

January 2007

30 January

Summerslamz hits city

Youth in the Auckland region will be converging on Te Pai Park, Henderson on Saturday 24 February for 7 hours of free entertainment and leisure activities.

Attendees can expect to see some mind-blowing hot rods and muscle cars on display as well as BMX riders and skate boarders strutting their stuff in competitions.

Blindspott who are back from touring Asia and New Zealand will be headlining the main stage after a five year hiatus from playing in front of a home crowd. They will be supported by Runninghouse, Autozamm and fellow westie band False Start.

An original sponsor of this event for the past 4 years has been Cheapskates West. This skateboarding retailer sees great value in supporting constructive youth activities and acknowledges that sometimes the store is a home away from home for skating youth. "We've got a feel now for what's important to youth. We've watched them growing up and with so many backgrounds and attitudes coming together through this activity it's exciting for us to deal with the diversity. These guys look forward to this annual event, supporting us as much as we support them," enthuses owner/manager Amanda Shariff.

Skate competitions at the event will challenge all levels of skill. "Skateboarding is all about having fun", explains Sven, a young skateboard enthusiast. "We like testing our physical limits and there's a great sense of achievement when we nail a new trick - that promotes respect for each other. It's a shame that everyone stereotypes us when they see us with a skateboard. We're not into stealing stuff or tagging, just serious skill development and fun."

Summerslamz is a Waitakere City initiative now into its 4th year. Other sponsors include 95bFM, Juice TV, Bike Barn, Breakers Café and Bar.  Up to 10,000 visitors are expected throughout the event.

26 January

The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere wins the bid for 2007 World Netball Championships

The Trusts Stadium management are thrilled the bid to host the 2007 Netball World Championships has been successful.

The Trusts Stadium Chief Executive, Simon Wickham noted his team felt like school kids waiting for the postie to bring their exam results this week.

"We love hosting Netball New Zealand and the Silver Ferns and we were on edge waiting for today's announcement," notes Wickham.

"We're grateful for the support of Waitakere City Council, Tourism Auckland, Netball Auckland Waitakere, the Auckland City Council and wider Auckland region as this will have benefits Auckland wide," notes Wickham.

"When we first heard of the possibility of IFNA moving the event we started talking with Netball New Zealand about Auckland and The Trusts Stadium as an alternative to Fiji.

We're absolutely committed to helping Netball New Zealand, they've done a great job in securing this event on such short notice.

Netball New Zealand have once again shown confidence in The Trusts Stadium and our team and we look forward to working with them and other Auckland wide partners to deliver a World class event Auckland and New Zealand will be proud to host.

"The Silver Ferns have an unbeaten record here at The Trusts Stadium and we're hoping that good omen will continue throughout next year," says Wickham.

"This is a great endorsement of the foresight of our major Stadium investors The Licensing Trusts and Waitakere City Council in helping us complete this venue and ensure we could host major events of this nature in Waitakere for the Auckland region. When we built The Trusts Stadium just two years ago, Auckland had no venue of this scale or design. We knew with the help of the Council and The Licensing Trusts this Stadium would be good for our community and for the Auckland region" says Stadium Trust Chairman and Waitakere City Councillor Ross Dallow.

"This is good for netball - but it is also very good for the young people of this region. Sport builds good citizens for the future and I am very, very proud of all the opportunities that this stadium is giving to youngsters.

"To be able to present the Netball World Cup is the icing on the cake.

"It offers great sport and entertainment, great role models to inspire our youth, opportunities to develop volunteers, an economic boost for the city and puts our region on the World stage once again," he says.

"Having recently successfully hosted the Scottwood Trusts National Provincial Championships and international netball test matches to sell out crowds this year we're confident these events will be a great success," notes Wickham.

"The Trusts Stadium is a Trust owned and managed purpose built facility for events and this is precisely what the trustees and designers had in mind when the project began," says Dallow.

The Trusts Stadium is New Zealand's only full international standard six court netball venue and has played host to many international sporting and entertainment events since opening including the Schick Quattro Fight For Life, David Tua's only New Zealand based professional bout, Commonwealth Judo Championships, netball and basketball test matches and numerous other events ranging from dog shows to fashion shows.

The Trusts Stadium was Metro Magazine's pick for best Stadium of the Year 2006 and has won a number of awards for design and function since opening..

26 January

Waitakere to host 2007 Netball World Championships

New Zealand and Waitakere this morning congratulate Netball New Zealand for its professionalism in securing the 2007 Netball World Championships.

"This was done on very short notice but Netball New Zealand has pulled it off brilliantly and the eyes of the world will be on this city and this country in November," says Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey.

"We're absolutely committed to helping Netball New Zealand deliver a true success at the Trusts Stadium where the Silver Ferns have never lost - a tradition we are confident will continue."

Mayor Harvey says the world championships were awarded in part to Waitakere because of The Trusts Stadium, New Zealand's premiere indoor arena and connected to the newly completed motorway system.

Fully extended the stadium has six netball courts and the layout can be contracted to a centre court with 6,000 seats.

"I thank everyone who has helped us bid for the event including my own council, The Trusts Stadium, Tourism Auckland, Netball Auckland Waitakere and the Auckland City Council.

"This is also great news for the local and regional tourism and hospitality industries."

Councillor Ross Dallow, the Trusts Stadium chairman, echoed Mayor Harvey's sentiments.

"This is good for netball - but it is also very good for the young people of the Auckland region. Sport builds good citizens for the future and I am very, very proud of all the opportunities that this stadium is giving to youngsters. To be able to present the Netball World Championships is the icing on the cake. It offers great sport and entertainment, great role models to inspire our youth, an economic boost for the city and puts our region on the world stage," he says..

25 January

Waitakere celebrates Waitangi Day

Waitakere's Hoani Waititi Marae is celebrating Waitangi Day this year by inviting the public to spend a day with them.

Organised in conjunction with the Waitakere City Council, the Open Day is a chance for everybody to experience traditional Māori activities on the marae.

The day will begin with a powhiri (traditional welcome), followed by a talk about marae protocols and the unique history of Waitakere's Hoani Waititi Marae.

After a complimentary morning tea, a guest speaker will deliver a presentation on the Treaty of Waitangi and its relevance in 2007.

The day will also include a performance by the local Manutaki Kapa Haka group, who are preparing for the Te Matatini National Festival later in February.

Visitors will then be invited to partake in a hāngī meal.

In past years over 400 people have attended the Marae Open Day.

The council is particularly keen to extend this invite to all of its migrant communities; as they may well not have had the same opportunities to share in this important aspect of our national heritage.

If you would like to attend the Marae Open Day, gather outside the entrance to Hoani Waititi Marae, Parrs Park, 451 West Coast Road, Glen Eden, at 10am on 6 February.

Attendance is free though you are invited to bring a koha (donation).

17 January

Traffic calming project in Vodanovich Road

In late January work will begin in on a traffic calming project in Vodanovich Road and Amberly Avenue in Te Atatu South.

Henderson Community Board Chairman Elizabeth Grimmer says the Waitakere City Council has worked together with local residents to develop the project following widespread concern about road safety in Vodanovich Road.

"We have received more than 200 submissions from local residents requesting that action be taken to slow the traffic on Vodanovich Road," Mrs Grimmer says.

"So in partnership with local residents, the Henderson Community Board and council staff have worked hard to achieve this positive outcome," she says.

Vodanovich Road is often used as a short-cut for vehicles attempting to bypass morning motorway queues on Te Atatu Road.

"In the past two years alone there have been more than 40 accidents in the street, Mrs Grimmer says.

There are also significant safety concerns for school children attending the two local primary schools in the vicinity.

The work will consist of raised entrance "thresholds" at intersections and installation of traffic islands at critical points to narrow the road and slow traffic.

Improved signage and road marking will also be included.

The $140,000 project is intended to deter traffic from using the road as a short-cut and to reduce speeds leading into sharp bends.

Motorists should note that sections of Vodanovich Road will be closed to through traffic at various times between 30th January and mid-March and are recommended to use Edmonton Road and Flanshaw Road as alternatives.

Bus routes using Vodanovich Road are also being diverted over this period along Edmonton Road and Flanshaw Road

Copies of the final plans showing proposed works are now on display at Lloyd Morgan Lions Club Hall Community Centre, 245 Edmonton Road.

11 January

Water service back to normal after main break

Full water services have been restored at Margan Avenue New Lynn after a break in the water main around 1pm.

"There were media reports that the area would be without water for 24 hours, but this is not true. The problem has been isolated and supply has been restored to affected residents," says Dai Bindoff, Manager Public Affairs.

The water main break affected a number of residents and streets around Margan Avenue.