Media Releases

January 2008

 

30 January

Waitakere perfect location for new government policy announcement

24 January

Touch!

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey literally kicked off the inaugural three day World Indigenous Touch Tournament which began today at Parrs Park in Glen Eden, Waitakere.

As the tournament's patron Mayor Harvey and fellow touch enthusiast Maori Party co-leader, Pita Sharples, began the proceedings (albeit, at a somewhat slower pace than the teams themselves).

Seven teams from throughout the Pacific - including the Cook Islands, New Zealand Maori, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, and a pacific unity team, comprising of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, will compete over the next three days for the title of world indigenous touch champions.  Play begins at 10am each day and it is a free event to attend - so get a along and be prepared to be impressed!

21 January

Summer Event ready to Slam Waitakere
 

Summer Slamz featuring the band Atlas

Auckland's biggest skateboarding and BMX event, Summer Slamz returns to Te Pai Park this year on Saturday, 16 February.

This year's event has an exciting line up of bands which will be headed by Christchurch band Atlas playing at 2pm.

Bands that featured at the Big Day Out: Motorcade, Die Die Die, The Exiles, and The Checks will also entertain the crowds.

The one day event captures the vibrant lifestyles of music, sk8 and BMX cultures and draws athletes of all ages from around the North Island.

"Summer Slamz has without a doubt grown into one of the big occasions on the events calendar - but this year, we believe it will be truly wicked," says organiser Richard Attwood.

The skate and BMX heats kick off at 11am with the U13's, and will be followed by the U16 and senior grades.

Huge category and spot prizes are up for grabs.

Summer Slamz has started a new partnership with Coca Cola, which has come on as the official soft drink sponsor.

Coca Cola has been involved with some of the biggest events in New Zealand and Summer Slamz organisers are rapt to have them on board in 2008.

The support of Coca Cola and the other key sponsors - Juice TV, ZM, Bike Barn, Haro, Go West, Cheapskates and the Waitakere City Council - ensures this will be a day not to be missed!

For more details go to the website www.summerslamz.co.nz

18 January

Waitakere to host commemoration service for Sir Edmund Hillary

Renowned former All Black Va'aiga 'Inga' Tuigamala is helping organise a commemoration service for Sir Edmund Hillary next Tuesday with assistance from the Waitakere City Council.

The public is invited to attend Waitakere's commemoration service, which will be held at the Waitakere City Council's civic square and will begin at 11.45am - coinciding with Sir Ed's national funeral.

The service will be addressed by Inga Tuigamala and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, as Mayor Bob Harvey will be attending Sir Edmund Hillary's State funeral in Auckland city.

Mayor Harvey knew Sir Ed personally and describes him as "humble, generous and the epitome of that old fashioned term 'gentleman'".

"We have lost a truly great New Zealander," Mayor Harvey says.

At the service, 88 white doves will be released - one to mark each year of the peace advocate Sir Edmund Hillary's life.

Sir Edmund owned a holiday home for many years at Anawhata on Waitakere's west coast - a beach he described as "the most beautiful place on the planet".

In his book Westies Mayor Harvey wrote that he remembered "Ed's huge sense of fun, tempered by wisdom and care for others: to all New Zealanders Sir Edmund Hillary is more than just the face on the five dollar note, he is someone special: a father figure of the nation, a colossus in our lifetime".

There will be a condolence book available for the public to leave their personal tributes to Sir Ed and the ceremony will finish at midday.

18 January

Candidates Announced

Four candidates have been nominated for the 2008 New Lynn Community Board by-election.

They are John Capener, Wayne Davis, Ray Kernaghan, Rebecca Robertson.

Candidates now have the opportunity to campaign for votes for the one vacant position before voting papers start appearing in the New Lynn ward letterboxes.

38,000 voting papers will be mailed to registered voters in the New Lynn Ward from Thursday 14 February, with all papers expected to be delivered by Wednesday 20 February. People who have not received their papers by then should contact Waitakere City Council's Electoral office at 836 8000 ext 8263.

"Although electoral rolls have closed, people can still enrol to vote. However, they will need to request special voting papers," Electoral Officer Darryl Griffin says.

Voting closes 12 noon, Friday 7 March 2008.

For further information please contact:

ElectoralOffice@waitakere.govt.nz or phone 836 8000 ext 8290.

15 January

Hillary Remembered

A book of remembrance in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary is available for the public to sign at Waitakere City Council's civic centre (6 Henderson Valley Rd).

The book is under a portrait of Sir Edmund, signed by the adventurer himself. There is also a battered old back pack, worn by Sir Edmund on one of his polar expeditions.

Both the portrait and pack are owned by Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey who knew Sir Edmund for over 40 years.

They worked together on a number of projects over the years, including television documentaries.

"Ed's adventures made him a huge figure in world history, but I was privileged to know him on a more personal level," says Mayor Harvey.

"He was humble, generous and the epitome of that old fashion term 'gentleman'."

"We have lost a truly great New Zealander."

Sir Edmund also owned a holiday home for many years at Anawhata on Waitakere's west coast - a beach he described as "the most beautiful place on the planet".

That connection with Waitakere saw him feature in Mayor Harvey's 2004 book "Westies". In the book Mayor Harvey wrote:

"If I remember anything it was Ed's huge sense of fun, tempered by wisdom and care for others: to all New Zealanders Sir Edmund Hillary is more than just the face on the five dollar note, he is someone special: a father figure of the nation, a colossus in our lifetime."

11 January

Mayor Harvey pays tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary

Sir Edmund Hillary, who died today aged 88 has been described as "the personification of New Zealand" by Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey.

Mayor Harvey knew Sir Edmund for more than 40 years and worked with him on a number of projects, including television documentaries.

Sir Edmund, who owned a property at Anawhata on Waitakere's West Coast, also features in Mayor Harvey's 2004 book Westies "Ed was a living legend.

His adventures made him a huge figure in world history, but I was privileged to know him on a more personal level," says Mayor Harvey.

He was humble, generous and the epitome of that old fashion term "gentleman".

"Today we have lost a truly great New Zealander."

Flags on all civic buildings in Waitakere will be flown at half mast as a sign of respect at Sir Edmund's passing, Mayor Harvey added.

10 January

UN Appointment A Milestone

The appointment of Dr Kate Dewes to the UN's advisory board on disarmament is hailed as an international milestone for this country.

Dr Dewes, a veteran peace and disarmament campaigner and coordinator of the Peace Foundation Disarmament & Security Centre in Christchurch, has been appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to his Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters.

New Zealand Peace Foundation president Bob Harvey says the significance of the appointment cannot be under-estimated.

"For decades New Zealand has had a solid and hard-working core of peace campaigners, working at the grass roots," he says. "Kate has been one of those."

"And internationally New Zealand has, through things like our non-nuclear stance, been viewed as progressive and free-thinking."

"But this appointment raises New Zealand's credibility on the world stage even higher."

Mr Harvey is also Mayor of Waitakere City which, last year, declared itself a Peace City. In 1998 he was acknowledged by UNESCO for his work as an active member of the international "Mayors For Peace" organisation.

"The peace movement will be the next great global movement," he says.

"Issues of the environment and sustainability are now ingrained into the consciousness of people around the world and peace and disarmament are, I believe, going to be the major drivers for global change over the next decade."

Dr Dewes will have three main roles with the UN:

1) To advise the Secretary-General on matters within the area of arms limitation and disarmament;
2) To serve as the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), based in Geneva;
3) To advise the Secretary-General on the implementation of the UN Disarmament Information Programme.

Dr Dewes will attend her first meeting in New York 20-22 February, and then in Geneva in July.

"My hope is that I will also be able to support the NZ Government's efforts to revive progress in the struggle for a nuclear weapon-free world, following their recent success in sponsoring a UN resolution calling for the de-alerting of all nuclear weapons," says Dr Dewes.

09 January

Time running out for candidates in New Lynn

With few official nominations received yet for the New Lynn Community Board by-election Waitakere Electoral Officer Darryl Griffin is reminding people they only have until midday on Thursday 17 January to get their nominations in.

Electoral Officer Darryl Griffin says that if you're a New Zealand citizen, over 18 years of age and you're on the electoral roll you can stand as a candidate.

"All you need is the desire to represent your New Lynn community and make a difference to Waitakere. We've had a lot of interest but potential candidates need to act soon if they are to meet the deadline for close of nominations."

Anyone wishing to stand as an elected member must be nominated by two people enrolled in the district or ward they are standing in, and pay a deposit of $200. Nominations close at noon on Thursday 17 January 2008.

"Based on enquiries, this could well be a keenly contested by-election so candidates may need to campaign vigorously in order to attract the voters' attention" says Darryl Griffin, and he urges people not to wait until the last minute to get nominations in. "If you do leave it until the last minute and there is something wrong with, or missing from, your application there will not be any extensions of time."

09 January

Hand It Over, ARC

The head of Waitakere City's finance committee supports regional funding for an upgrade of Eden Park.

The Auckland Regional Council has just announced an unexpected budget surplus of $34 million. It has been suggested by Auckland Mayor John Banks that those funds be handed over to the upgrade of Eden Park, which is needed for the 2011 rugby world cup.

Waitakere City's finance committee chairman, Ross Clow, agrees. He emphasises that his Council has not discussed the matter formally but says that in principle the idea should be looked at.

"That money has been taken from the ratepayers of the region so should be returned to major regional projects," says Mr Clow.

He suggests that "about half" of the unexpected surplus could be earmarked for Eden Park while the rest could be used for improvements to the region's public transport systems.

"Any surplus is certainly better than a deficit, but it is important that those funds are re-prioritised and spent appropriately," he says. "People would not be happy if that surplus was frittered away and then they were forced to stump up more, through their rates, for Eden Park."

07 January

Waitakere The Place To Live, Work, And Invest

Latest figures showing an 8.78% (average) rise in property values in Waitakere City are yet another example of the region's growing prosperity and climate of confidence, says Mayor Bob Harvey.

The Real Estate Institute's annual figures saw Waitakere's price increases outstripping metropolitan Auckland (6.59%), North Shore City (7.14%) and Manukau (8.15%). The suburbs of Henderson and Glen Eden are considered particularly "hot".

The good news for Waitakere City property owners comes on the back of figures from Quotable Value New Zealand, released late last year. They show sharp increases in values across virtually all suburbs.

"Clearly, Waitakere is one of the most attractive places in the Auckland region in which to live and invest," says Mayor Harvey.

"In the past 10 years we have placed a major emphasis on building quality civic amenities, such as libraries, the wonderful Trusts Stadium and parks, and we've invested for the future in basic infrastructure like roading and sewerage."

"That expenditure is now paying dividends to our ratepayers," he says.

Mayor Harvey also points to the undergrounding of the railway track through New Lynn and new growth areas in the North-West of the City around Westgate and Hobsonville as developments which will "transform" the region over the next 20 years.

07 January

Live Smarter, and Pay Less

There is only one solution to rising oil prices and the impact they have on everyday life- think "green". That is the message from Penny Hulse, deputy mayor of Waitakere, the "Eco City". 

In the past month, oil has broken through the symbolic price barrier of (US) $100/barrel and motorists in this country face almost weekly petrol price hikes.

Rising oil prices also impact massively on things like construction costs.

"There is no escaping this phenomenon if we continue to live as we have for the past 20 or 30 years," says Ms Hulse. "Every single one of us- on an individual, corporate, and City level- has to think and act sustainably if we are to have any sort of quality of life in the future."

Ms Hulse says at a City level the peak oil crisis re-enforces the need for greater emphasis on better public transport and safer conditions for walking and cycling. 

"In Waitakere we are doing our bit by spending around $8million on walking and cycling paths over the next 10 years. We're also working with regional and central government to develop better public transport facilities such as the new Henderson bus-rail interchange and the undergrounding of rail at New Lynn." 

And, says Ms Hulse, at a regional level Auckland needs to be working closely with the government on the expansion and electrification of the rail network and integrating that service with buses and ferries. She adds that improving the Auckland rail network creates the opportunity to build higher density, new, housing around the rail corridors.

"People are more willing to live closer to electric rail because it is quieter and electric trains produce less air pollution (than traditional diesel units). This in turn means much more energy efficient travel patterns."

In the home, Ms Hulse says there are a number of simple and effective measures that people can take. "Simply cutting back on the amount of travel in cars will help tremendously," says Ms Hulse. "Walk to the dairy to buy the newspaper, or walk the children to and from school. Or catch a bus or train. Those sorts of things save money and have a positive impact on the environment."

Finally, Ms Hulse advocates a "downsizing" of family vehicles. "Nobody is suggesting that we go back to the horse and cart," she says. "But do you really need that gas-guzzling SUV? A smaller, more fuel efficient, vehicle can often suit the average family and leave you with money to spare at the end of the week."

Other tips:

• Keep car tyres properly inflated. It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of car tyres are under-inflated, which can increase fuel consumption, and therefore emissions, by up to 5 per cent - as well as increasing wear and tear.
• Make it worthwhile- Combine multiple errands in a single trip.
• Drive with the windows up. This reduces drag, increasing fuel efficiency and lowering emissions. Drag can also be lessened by removing heavy items and roof racks from the vehicle when you don't need them.
• Switch off the engine if you think you will be stationary for more than two minutes. Idling for this long burns more fuel than it takes to restart the engine.