Media Releases

Waitakere City residents will get a rare opportunity to view a vintage steam locomotive up close at an open day for Mainline Steam on Sunday 7 June.

The steam engine is being brought out to Sturges Rd station as part of an initiative to give local residents the opportunity to find out more about and give feedback on a proposal to move the heritage rail operator to KiwiRail's Paremuka site in Ranui.

The steam locomotive will be on display from 10am to 3pm giving local families and rail enthusiasts a close-up view. KiwiRail and Mainline Steam staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the proposal.

KiwiRail is searching for a suitable use for the land, since the Auckland Regional Transport Authority decision not to proceed with a proposal for commuter train stabling on the site.

"We are excited about the opportunity to show off one of our beautiful historic locomotives to the public," says Michael Tolich, marketing and operations manager for Mainline Steam.

Mr Tolich says the group is also looking forward to meeting and talking to local residents about its activities.

"We understand that some of the community is nervous about development on the site. This open day gives us an opportunity to explain what our activities would be and reassure them that this scheme would not create significant impacts on the community. By bringing a steam loco out here they will be able to see and hear what we are all about."

"We are excited about moving out to Waitakere City - with 31 of our 300 members living in the city we already have strong ties with that community."

The Sturges Rd Station park and ride will be open for parking during the open day.

Mainline Steam Open Day
Sturges Road Railway Station
Sunday 7 June
10am-3pm

About Mainline Steam
Mainline Steam is a respected heritage rail operator which restores and operates steam locomotives for excursions.
It has depots in Parnell, Plimmerton and Christchurch.
It has 300 members nationwide including 31 in Waitakere.

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29 May

Memorial plaque honours Titirangi stalwart

June Henderson and her grandson James unveil the plaque recognising Ian Henderson's services to the Titirangi community.

A permanent reminder of the late Ian Henderson's contribution to Titirangi and Waitakere's natural heritage has been unveiled.

The former president of the Titirangi Residents and Ratepayers Association (TRRA) and a driving force behind campaigns to rid the west of pest weeds such as ginger, Mr Henderson passed away in 2007.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey recently joined Mr Henderson's widow, June, members of their extended family and friends to unveil a plaque in recognition of his work. The plaque was organised by the TRRA and installed with the approval of the Waitakere Community Board.

The plaque in the garden, next to the Titirangi Library, and Mayor Harvey says it is a fitting location to remember the former civil engineer who spent his retired years making Titirangi a better place to live.

From the laying of a wreath on Anzac Day on behalf of the TRRA to a new village sign and helping with remedial reading classes at Glen Eden Intermediate, Mr Henderson left his mark on the community in many ways, says Mayor Harvey.

A strong advocate for the environment, after his death Mr Henderson was recognised in Parliament by local MP David Cunliffe for his work on the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill.

In 2005 he received the Kauri Award from Keep Waitakere Beautiful which recognises a volunteer working in the community to beautify Waitakere by reducing litter, weeds and or graffiti.

28 May

Bravery recognised by Mayor Bob Harvey

Kafoa Ngauamo's son Moteiva and wife look on as Donna Kitchener receives a certificate for her part in Moteiva's rescue

Kafoa Ngauamo's son Moteiva and wife
look on as Donna Kitchener receives a
certificate for her part in Moteiva's rescue

Heroism tinged with tragedy has been recognised with the awarding of a certificate for bravery to a man who lost his life trying to save his son.

At a formal Waitakere City Council meeting last night, Mayor Bob Harvey presented an In Memoriam Certificate on behalf of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand to the family of Kafoa Ngauamo.

On January 30, 2006, the Ngauamo family were enjoying a day at Green Bay Beach on the northern shore of the Manukau Harbour.

Mr Ngauamo's 10-year-old son, Moteiva, had been paddling in the shallow water but ventured out in to chest deep water and soon got in to difficulty. Unable to swim and with the tide coming in the youngster had become stuck in the mud.

A good swimmer, Mr Ngauamo swam out to his son, wrapped his arms around him, freed him from the mud and pulled him out of the water.

The boy was rescued with help from passer by Donna Kitchener, but the celebration soon turned to heartache as Mr Ngauamo himself was sucked deeper into the mud.

Unable to free himself, the incoming tide rose over his head and tragically he drowned.

"This is an absolute tragedy," Mr Harvey says.

"My heart goes out to Mr Ngauamo's family whose joy at having their son still with them is tinged with the utter sadness of Kafoa losing his life in such circumstances."

The Mayor also presented Donna Kitchener with a certificate for her brave efforts in helping rescuing Moteiva.

Also at the Waitakere City Council meeting tonight, Mayor Harvey presented a Certificate of Merit from the society to Senior Sergeant Garth Stockley for his part in saving two swimmers in trouble at the notoriously dangerous Piha Beach last year.

The off duty policeman had been bodysurfing at the popular West Coast beach on March 22 where three swimmers were being swept along the beach by a strong current and big waves.

One of the swimmers managed to get to shore and Mr Stockley noticed one of the trio struggling to hold on to another person in the huge surf.

Mr Stockley reached a teenager in the surf struggling to hold on to another male and keep his head above water.

Fearing the worst Mr Stockley helped the teenager drag the unconscious man to shore while being battered and knocked off their feet by the large waves. He administered first aid until emergency services arrived and airlifted the patient to hospital, where he recovered.

"This is another example of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others," says Mayor Harvey, who himself has been a lifeguard on the West Coast for more than 40 years.

The Royal Humane Society of New Zealand bestows awards on those people who risk their lives to save the lives of others in peril.

27 May

Waitakere welcomes Budget insulation programme

Government funding for home insulation welcomed

Government funding for home insulation
welcomed

A Government plan to offer subsidies to up to 900,000 homeowners to insulate their pre-2000 houses is the kick-start Waitakere City Council has been waiting for.

The council is already working on a business plan for the Waitakere Housing Retrofit Project, which will be presented to its Policy and Strategy Committee in August.

The project aims to retrofit 20,000 pre-1978 homes by 2020, but news that the Government intends announcing in tomorrow's Budget that it will offer loans to owners of homes built before 2000 homes to insulate their houses, will mean more houses can be added to the list.

"This is excellent news, it's just what we've been waiting for," says Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey.

"It's all coming together. This will create jobs, reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and make houses healthier. It's very encouraging that central and local government are working together on this."

Ensuring homes are adequately insulated will improve health and quality of life, particularly for the elderly and children.

The project would also:

Create jobs, training and business development in residential construction and other sectors contributing to the Waitakere economy
Increase energy efficiency and water conservation in homes with 125L/capita per day water efficiency target.

The council will also seek partnerships to fund the project so there is little or no cost to Waitakere ratepayers.

The Waitakere House Retrofitting Project was a key issue for consultation in the council's draft 10 Year Plan, with a majority of submitters supporting the initiative.

25 May

Commissioners reject eight storey Te Atatu building

Waitakere City Council has refused a resource consent application for an eight storey apartment and commercial building in Te Atatu Peninsula.

The panel, made up of two council commissioners and one independent, said the proposed 23.34 metre building at 543 Te Atatu Road would have significant adverse effects on the residential character of the surrounding area.

Duopharma Pacific Limited applied for consent to build the eight storey building, which included commercial space on the ground floor.

"Amenity values and residential character would be compromised by the height, bulk and scale of the building, including dominance and shading," the panel said in its decision.

It also said the structure was not in keeping with existing residential development in the surrounding, predominantly low rise housing neighbourhood, and the application was inconsistent with District Plan policies which seek to maintain and enhance amenity values and neighbourhood character in residential areas.

"Development in such a location needs to be sensitively designed in order to minimise adverse impact, particularly in relation to the residential development that is located in close proximity to this site."

The commissioners acknowledged that while the proposed apartment building would have some positive effects in terms of residential intensification and supporting the economic vitality of the town centre, the adverse effects outweighed the advantages.

They also noted that the locality is at the interface of commercial and low rise residential areas, and that it may be suited for more intensive residential development, but at a lower height.

The proposal attracted plenty of interest with 174 submissions received, with just eight in support of the application.

The Commissioners who heard the application were councillors Derek Battersby and Vanessa Neeson, and John Childs.

22 May

Mayor Harvey congratulates the Government's Auckland transition leaders

Mayor Bob Harvey

Waitakere's Bob Harvey has come out in support of the new Auckland Transition Agency, saying "The Government's announcement of the members to lead the Auckland Transition Agency will be a relief to the thousands of contractors and staff needing executive decisions, and to the multi-billion dollar major projects that councils have underway."

"This is a delicate moment in New Zealand's economy and we need a safe and knowledgeable set of hands to guide us through this", said Mayor Harvey.

Mayor Bob Harvey particularly acknowledged Mark Ford to lead the Transition Agency, "Auckland's transition has always needed someone with the street-knowledge of a London taxi driver and the executive clarity of a powerful local government leader, and Mark Ford is the man for that job."

The Mayor commented on the work he had done with Mr Ford over many years. "To me it comes down to the little things, like his support through Watercare for the Waitemata Harbour Cleanup Trust. Mark and I saw that the harbour was part of Auckland's broader water system and it needed to be part of a vision of sustainability for Auckland as New Zealand's gateway. Mark's support has been vital there."

Commenting on Mr Ford's position as ARTA Chairman, the Mayor commented "He has also been a strong supporter of the New Lynn transport interchange, which will completely transform a whole suburb of Auckland. His support through ARTA for the part-funding of this project has ensured that Waitakere continues a bold vision for urban sustainability in the western part of Auckland."

"And it's also great to see my old friend the previous Mayor of Rodney John Law also part of the Transition Agency", said Mayor Harvey. John and I have worked together since we were in our early twenties for the New Zealand Herald. "John's support for Waitakere was critical during the early stages of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Act, which is now enshrined in law."

Other members of the Auckland Transition Authority are John Waller, Miriam Dean QC, and Wayne Walden.

"Overall it is an impressive looking team who have a wide range of skills and I have every confidence they will steer this region through the challenges ahead."

21 May

Letterboxes undergo literary treatment

Kaurilands School pupils from left, Katie Thompson, 6, Robert Collins 7 and Bronwyn Rhodes, 5, with one of the school's winning letterboxes.

Kaurilands School pupils from left, Katie Thompson, 6, Robert Collins 7 and Bronwyn Rhodes, 5, with one of the school's winning letterboxes.

Mountains, hidden delights and impressive art were among features of the winning creations in Waitakere Library and Information Services' Letterbox Lineup competition.

The literary-based art contest challenged students from 13 Waitakere schools to design letterboxes for their school libraries, based on the 15 books short-listed in the Junior Fiction, Picture Book and Non-Fiction categories of this year's New Zealand Post Book Awards.

The most popular inspiration came from the book The Were-Nana, with several of the winning or highly commended entries basing their creation on the book.

Students also had to write about their reasons for selecting that particular finalist and what materials they used.

Room 11 at Kaurilands Primary School in Glen Eden was one of those who based their design on the book. It featured a black veil with a nasty looking face that when lifted revealed a happy, sunny, nana.

The judges were impressed that the whole class was involved in making the letterbox and liked the step by step documentation provided about its creation.

Waitakere City councillors Brenda Brady and Linda Cooper were among those to present the winners with their prizes during the ceremony at Westfield WestCity.

"The creativity of some of the letterboxes was really impressive and a lot of thought had gone in to them," says Cr Brady.

"This is a great way for children to let their imaginations run wild while demonstrating a love of books."

The winning classes were awarded books and vouchers for their school library.

Participating schools were: Arahoe School, Don Buck Primary, Edmonton School, Freyberg School, Glen Eden Primary, Green Bay School, Henderson Intermediate, Kaurilands School, Laingholm Primary, Lincoln Heights School, Oratia Primary, Peninsula Primary and Te Atatu Intermediate.

Results:

Junior (Year1-3):

Winner: Room 11 Kaurilands School for their The Were-Nana-inspired design.
Highly Commended: Rm 12 Edmonton School (Roadworks); Don Buck Primary (Duck's Stuck); Rm 11 Edmonton School (Every Second Friday); and Rm 24 at Kaurilands School (Every Second Friday).

Middle School (Years 4-6):

Winner: Room 34 from Lincoln Heights School for their letterbox based on the book The Were-Nana.
Highly Commended: Room 4 Summerland Primary (Chicken Feathers); Room 10 Freyberg School (Roadworks) and Rm 15 Freyberg School (Every Second Friday).

Intermediate/senior (Years 7-8)

Winner: Room 10 from Don Buck School for their letterbox based on the novel (Old Drumble - the smartest drover's dog there ever was).
Highly Commended: Room 12 Green Bay Primary (The Crafting of Narnia); Rm 10 and 11 Te Atatu Intermediate (Back and Beyond); Rm 9 Henderson Intermediate (High-tech Legs on Everest).

A special award for outstanding effort went to Year 6 students from Kaurilands Primary School, who created a letterbox based on the book Piano Rock.

For a full list of finalist books across all four categories in the New Zealand Post Book Awards, visit http://www.booksellers.co.nz/nzpb_finalists.htm.

20 May

Stop dragging the chain ARC

An artist impression of the future Massey North town centre.

Waitakere City Council expressed its frustration with the continued delays to its Massey North and Hobsonville developments at today’s Regional Transport Committee (RTC) meeting.

Councillor Linda Cooper, who chairs the Northwest Urban Development Committee and is Waitakere’s representative on the RTC, said delays by the regional council were putting the entire development and its associated transport benefits at risk.
"This is an urgent request to the ARC to stop blocking the development and the major transport benefits it will bring to the Northwest and region as a whole."
"The Massey North, Hobsonville Village and Hobsonville airbase developments are a regional priority expected to generate 15,000 jobs and 3,000 new dwellings by 2021."

The ARC is holding out on appeals to Waitakere City Council’s plan changes, which give effect to the Metropolitan Urban Limit (MUL) shift and Plan Change 6, even though the ARC has already approved in principle the development in Plan Change 6.

"The distance that people need to travel to work or go shopping will be reduced significantly," said Councillor Cooper.

"The benefits include an estimated 3.8 kilometre reduction in average vehicle trip length, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and public transport trips expected to increase at least 5%."

"Waitakere residents will have more local job and amenity opportunities, so will not have to leave the area to go to work, resulting in more even traffic flows along state highways 18 and 16."

“The ARC must stop dragging the chain with these appeals. It needs to urgently understand that this incurs extra costs for the developers and affects their ability to provide the planned transport and stormwater benefits,” says Councillor Cooper.

"The developers are incredibly frustrated with the lack of speed and cooperation from the ARC."

"The ARC needs to actively support the development and not subvert the process."

"The planning for the Northern Regional Strategic Growth Area (NORSGA - Massey North, Hobsonville Village and Hobsonville airbase) is a good example of integrated land use and transport planning and gives effect to the goals of the Regional Land Transport Strategy,” says Councillor Cooper.

"There are huge transport and environmental benefits placing jobs close to where people live, and it fits entirely with the objectives of the RLTS and Regional Growth Strategy."

"Integrated transport plans were prepared first, at the stage when the extension to the MUL was proposed, and adjusted recently when developers presented their comprehensive development plans for their first stage of development."

Waitakere City Council involved the ARC, Auckland Regional Transport Authority and Transit NZ (now NZTA) throughout the planning for the MUL shift. The Joint Hearings Panel decided to incorporate a shift in the MUL for Massey North, Hobsonville Village and Hobsonville airbase and the ARC confirmed that decision. The appeals against the MUL shifts (Plan Change 7) have now been resolved, but the regional council is holding out on confirming that Plan Change 7 is fully operative.

Other transport benefits of the project include:

A bus interchange at Massey North to serve the town centre, existing suburbs and new development areas.
(NB: ARTA’s plans for bus services connecting Massey North with other town centres depend on the density of development proposed at Massey North and along Hobsonville Road).
A network of walking and cycling routes.
Bus priority measures.
More efficient truck movements because the Northwest’s industrial areas will be able to serve the Northwest.
By 2051 it is forecast that 80% of additional traffic will be contra-flow travel in peak times on SH18 and 90% on SH16.

18 May

Representatives from Netball Waitakere were among submitters on the first day of hearings.

10 Year Plan hearings begin

The first day of hearings for Best of the West - Waitakere City Council's Draft 10 Year Plan (2009-2019) got underway today with more than 140 people scheduled to make verbal submissions over the next week.

Hearings allow the public an opportunity to give their views on how the city will be shaped over the next decade, the council's key priorities and projects and their estimated costs.

The plan incorporates a draft budget for 2009/10 which shows an indicative rates rise of 2.98 percent (around $1 a week for the average residential property).

Around 300 submissions were received this year, with the mobile library service, funding the Rugby World Cup, retrofitting houses with insulation, disposal of land surplus to requirement and the development of Wilsher retirement village among the issues attracting most responses.

Other popular items for submitters was funding of the Waitakere City Orchestra, parks planning, community safety (injury and crime prevention) and play facilities including skate parks and playgrounds.

People also used the opportunity to have their say on the issue of Auckland's regional governance.

Janet Clews, chair of the council's Long Term Community Plan and Annual Plan Committee, says councillors put a lot of thought in to preparing the draft.

"We worked very hard to strike that balance between being fiscally responsible in tough economic times, while still investing in the future growth and development of the city."

Councillors will deliberate on the draft between 5 June and 18 June before the final version is adopted on 30 June.

15 May

Libraries bring Samoa to Waitakere

Samoan language and culture celebrated at Waitakere libraries this month

Samoan language and culture celebrated at Waitakere libraries this month

Bringing the culture and language of Samoa to a wider audience is the focus of a week of activities at Waitakere libraries later this month.

Waitakere Library and Information Services in association with the Human Rights Commission are holding Samoan Language Week from 26 May to 30 May.

"Samoan is one of the most widely spoken languages in New Zealand. We have a large Samoan community living in Waitakere and we want to celebrate that," says chairperson of Waitakere City Council's Culture and Community Committee Judy Lawley.

"This week is about raising awareness of the Samoan language and recognising its use in the home, in education, at work and in the media."

The week is also a chance to promote the Waitakere Libraries' Samoan titles which are included in its multicultural collection.

The service has an extensive collection of adult and children books in more than 40 different languages from Afrikaans and Albanian to Tamil and Vietnamese.

Ranui Library will be at the centre of most of the activities for Samoan Language Week, recognition of the large Samoan community who make the area and surrounding suburbs their home.

An educator from the Auckland Museum will lead a series of sessions at the library such as card making using Pacific designs and tapa rubbing.

There will also be demonstrations of traditional pump drills, the use of lavalava - the Samoan form of a sarong and storytime for preschoolers read in Samoan.

New Lynn and Te Atatu Peninsula libraries will have bilingual storytimes.

Programme is as follows:

Ranui Library
26 & 27 May	12.00pm, Samoan language storytime for preschoolers
28 May	5.00pm, Tapa rubbing, card making and traditional pumpdrill replicas
29 May	5.00pm, Tapa rubbing, badge making and traditional pumpdrill replicas
30 May	12.00pm, Lavalava the Samoan way, card and badge making and traditional pumpdrill replicas
Te Atatu Peninsula Library
26 May	10.30am, Bilingual (Samoan-English) storytime for pre-schoolers
New Lynn War Memorial Library
27 May	110.30am, Bilingual (Samoan-English) storytime for pre-schoolers

15 May

New artwork on the cards

Daniel Mayo-Turner shows off some of the new library cards on offer

Waitakere Libraries and Information Services' library card coordinator Daniel Mayo-Turner shows off some of the new cards available.

A dragon, a book-loving cat and a photo taken at Piha beach in 1895 are among the images featured on Waitakere Library and Information Services' new range of library cards.

The designer cards feature works from local and international artists as well as old images from the service's own history print collection.

Twelve new designs have been introduced this year and four others have been reprinted from previous series. Waitakere City Council is one of the few councils in New Zealand to offer such a wide range of artistic library cards.

"The images appear on cards for both adults and kids and have become really popular," says Culture and Community Committee chairman Judy Lawley.

"It's a novel way to get art in to the community as well as celebrate some of the scenery, buildings and history of Waitakere. It would be great if they were to become collectable items."

Titirangi artist Sarah MacClure says she didn't have to look far for inspiration for one of her designs, a likeness of her pet Jack Russell named Dusty features on one of the cards.

Her other two designs of a werewolf and a dragon tap in to a common theme in her work, fantasy creatures.

"Books about fantasy and supernatural creatures are quite popular and it's something I enjoy doing," says the horticulture student who has previously done some work experience at the Oscar award-winning Weta Workshop.

"It's neat that to think that something I have created is now on a library card that people will carry around with them."

Other images appearing on this year's cards include a scene from 'Mr Muggs the Library Cat' by New Zealand author/illustrator Dave Gunson, a character by Canadian comic book artist Bryan Lee O'Malley, a photograph Chinese lanterns and historical images of Scenic Drive (1938) and Titirangi Hotel (1935).

A photo of four unknown people singing and dancing on Piha Beach was taken in 1895 and is one of oldest in this library's historical collection.

Waitakere residents becoming a new library member or wanting to replace their old card can choose whichever design they like. A reminder that there is a small charge for replacing a library card.

And if you can't decide which one you like the library will be selling commemorative sets of all 16 cards from the shop at Waitakere Central Library.

14 May

Waitakere awards Creative Communities

Creative Communities funding aims to improve art participation in Waitakere

Opportunities for at-risk youth to record their own music and an anthology of hand printed poems are among projects allocated money in first round of Creative Communities Scheme in 2009.

Waitakere City Council, which disburses grants of up to $5000 to individuals and organisations on behalf of Creative New Zealand, made 23 grants totalling $49,333.24 to projects which meet the scheme's criteria to increase participation in the arts at a local level, and increase the diversity of arts available.

There were 46 applications received for this round with the 45 eligible groups requesting funds totalling $147,059.98.

Successful recipients cover a wide range of genres from kapa haka groups and youth band competition organisers to community visual art groups.

"It's exciting to see the range of projects some of these recipients are planning and with limited funds it's always a hard task to make the final decisions," says chair of the council's Creative Communities Scheme Allocation Sub-Committee, Councillor Assid Corban.

He says Creative New Zealand has increased the allocation to Waitakere to reflect the current census figures for the city.

"Waitakere and its residents will be the benefactors of the creatively talented people who live here."

There are two funding rounds each year with Waitakere increasing its grant to $110,000 allocated to disburse for 2009/10.

Recipients of funding for the first round of 2009 were:

Applicant	Funds Allocated
Primal Youth Trust	$2,000
Violence Free Waitakere	$3,000
Waitakere Ranges Protection Society	$3,182.24
McLaren Park & Henderson South Community Initiative	$2,500
Hosanna Creative Arts	$1,800
Integrated Neurological Rehabilitation Foundation	$2,000
Holy Cross Samoan Parent Support Group	$1,700
Integrated Neurological Holy Cross Samoan Parent Support Group	$1,700
N Z Society Of Authors	$2,500
M Endt	$2,000
Te Atatu Village Kindergarten	$1,000
Croatian Cultural Society Inc	$2,500
B Serjeant	$2,000
Marina View Primary School	$2,500
N Gunawardana	$1,000
Sunderland College	$2,000
Massey Rugby Union Football Club	$1,000
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Kotuku Inc	$2,500
Aotearoa Young Peoples Theatre Trust	$1,800
West Coast Community Arts Trust	$3,000
Titirangi Community Arts Council	$1,350
Audio Cafe Limited	$2,500
Henderson Valley School	$3,000
Titirangi Folk Music Club	$2,500
TOTAL	$49,333.24

12 May

Feedback wanted on Pomaria and Rathgar roads cycle plan

Feedback wanted on cycleway plans on Rathgar and Pomaria roads

Public feedback is sought on plans to create cycle lanes on two city streets as Waitakere City Council moves ahead to provide more sustainable travel options for residents.

Council is proposing to install on-road cycle lanes along the length of Rathgar Road and Pomaria Road. The proposal will see some road widening that retains as much car parking as possible.

"These projects will create a much safer route for cyclists. Cycle lanes improve visibility for riders and help improve motorists' awareness of cyclists," says Councillor Linda Cooper.

A recent survey conducted at the intersection of Rathgar and Pomaria Roads during peak travelling times counted 85 cyclists. In the last five years 12 crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists have occurred on these two roads.

"The council's vision for transport in Waitakere is to have a sustainable transport multi-use system that contributes to our eco city ideals and encourages people travelling in single occupancy vehicles to consider alternatives - such as cycling, walking and taking public transport," says Cr Cooper.

By providing safer passage for cyclists through designated cycle lanes, she says parents of local school students can encourage their children to ride to school rather than driving them, taking more cars off the road and reducing the need for car parks.

Some on-street parking will be affected as a result of the work, with 48 parks retained on Pomaria Rd and 17 removed. On Rathgar Road 72 parks will remain and around 70 removed.

Existing recessed parking bays on both sides of Pomaria Rd and on street parking on the south side of the road will be retained, as will angle and parallel car parks outside Rathgar Road shops.

The council is spending $16 million over the next 10 years developing 48 kilometres of cycleways, to create an integrated, citywide network. It will also include the off-road cycle and walkways already established by Project Twin Streams alongside Waitakere's beautiful waterways.

Once completed, Waitakere cycleways will form part of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) regional cycleway network.

Public feedback closes on 5 June 2009.

More information, concept designs and how to provide feedback are available on the Cycleways Projects webpage.

12 May

Henderson Community Board considers golf course idea

Further information is being sought on a community-led proposal to establish a nine-hole golf course on Taipari Strand at Te Atatu Peninsula.

Council staff presented a report to Henderson Community Board last week responding to a request to the board from a member of the public to investigate the possibility of building a golf course.

The board was asked to carry out further investigation on the proposal, or to defer the work until the Waitemata Harbour Foreshore Reserve Management Plan, under which Taipari Strand is held, is reviewed. Instead it requested council staff to come back with more information, including talking to key stakeholders of the park, before considering it further.

"There are many things that need to be taken in to consideration before we would even think about going to the next step," says Henderson Community Board chairperson Elizabeth Grimmer.

She says an activity like golf is a departure from the current management plan which allows for passive activity only on the site. The site is also an old landfill.

If the project went ahead, the council would not develop or manage the course. Instead it would provide a lease or licence to a third party, which would carry out the work and maintain the course and any associated facilities.

12 May

Youth Week in Waitakere

Click to open a .pdf version of this poster (Size 338K)

Music, dance and song performed by some of Waitakere's talented young people are the feature of national Youth Week celebrations later this month.

A series of mini festivals are being held at venues across Waitakere for the week, which runs 23-31 May.

The programme has been put together by a group of local community groups and agencies working with youth, with support from Waitakere City Council.

"There are a lot of people working really hard in Waitakere to support youth and this is a chance not just to celebrate our young people, but those groups who support them,' says the council's youth advocate, Councillor Linda Cooper.

"Through development of youth facilities and information services such as SUSS-IT and the Global Café and continuing to have a youth council, Waitakere City Council recognises the vital role young people play in the city."

Developed by New Zealand Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development, Youth Week aims to create a society that values young people and affirms their diversity. It also aims to highlight the amazing things young people (12-24 years) do.

In 2009 the focus is on relationships and the theme, Aroha: Make Time For Youth, invites adults to show love for young people and for youth to make time for others.

Youth Week

Discos, food and information stands at the following venues, 5.00pm - 8.00pm:

25 May Ranui PIC, Armada Dr
26 May Kelston Community Centre, Awaroa Rd
27 May Bruce McLaren Intermediate School hall, Bruce McLaren Rd, Henderson
28 May Best Pacific, Delta Ave, New Lynn.

Other events:

29 May 6.30pm - 7.30pm, concert at Westfield WestCity.
30 May 7.00pm - 11.00pm: Dance party featuring DJ Manchoo and DJ C-1, Global Café, Alderman Drive, Henderson. Limited tickets.

All events are free.

Youth Week celebrations in Waitakere are sponsored by Westfield WestCity, Waitakere City Council, Niu FM and Flava FM.

12 May

Scenic Drive closed for repairs

Work has begun on repairing Scenic Drive damaged by a landslip last winter.

Work has begun on repairing Scenic Drive damaged by a landslip last winter.

Part of Scenic Drive will be closed on weekdays for two weeks as Waitakere City Council repairs the road damaged by a major landslip last winter.

The road between Shaw Rd and West Coast Road will closed from 6.30am Monday 11 May to 8.00pm Friday 15 May and again from 6.30am Monday 18 May and 8.00pm 22 May. The road is open on the weekends.

People can still access Arataki Information Centre from West Coast Road or Scenic Drive.

The slip occurred 500 metres from Arataki on the northern side of the road and parts of it have become unstable. Visible signs of this instability include a large crack and slumping of the road surface.

HEB Contractors will carry out remedial work which involves improving drainage by installing boreholes and a buttress drain under the road to reduce the risk of further movement of the slope and repairing the road surface.

The cost of the repairs is around $140,000 with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) providing a 43 per cent subsidy.

12 May

Waitakere libraries celebrate New Zealand Music Month

Alasdair Robertson will perform on his Celtic fiddle

During May, various Waitakere libraries are being filled with the sound of music and song in support of New Zealand Music Month.

On 7 May, the New Lynn War Memorial Library reverberated with the voices of the Arahoe School gospel choir, who performed a line-up of Kiwi favourites.

If you missed it, you've still got the chance to catch the great line-up of local artists performing in the Waitakere Central Library during the rest of the month.

Students from the Auckland Music School will perform in concert at 11.30am on Thursday 14 May. The following day, the library hosts piano accordion-player Aonghas Anderson at 12.00pm and Celtic fiddler Alasdair Robertson at 4.15pm.

On Tuesday 19 May at 1.30pm, Liston College students will be in the limelight with performances from its Cook Island drummers and school jazz band.

Ukelele band The Nukes takes to the floor on Saturday 23 May at 11.30am, performing a set of original material, before heading up to Massey Library for a 1.30pm concert there.

On Thursday 28 May at 1.30pm, the Bruce McLaren School bands will perform at Waitakere Central Library.

Check Waitakere Libraries for the full schedule.

Waitakere Libraries has a large collection of books, CDs and DVDs on New Zealand music, musicians and performers. It is also offering special New Zealand Music Month promotions - during May, visitors can hire any music CD from its extensive collection for just $1 and borrow a second CD free.

Waitakere learning centres can also show you how to buy New Zealand music online, research your favourite band or view the New Zealand Music Month gig guide online.

7 May

Waitakere to get its first artificial turf field

Parrs Park to receive artificial turf

The council yesterday approved an update to the Parrs Park Reserve Management Plan to allow for the development of a full-sized artificial turf field on the existing number 8 and 9 fields of the popular Glen Eden sports ground.

Funding of $1.9 million is provided in the draft Long Term Council Community Plan 2009-2019 to install an artificial turf field in a citywide sports park, with associated fencing, flood lighting and changing rooms.

Detailed design work will start in 2010/11 and the field is expected to be ready for play in 2012.

Infrastructure and Works Committee chairman Derek Battersby says Parrs Park is the most suitable of a range of existing sports fields for the development of an artificial turf field.

"Parrs Park is an obvious choice for such a community asset. One of the most recognised parks in Waitakere, it hosts a wide range of sporting activities and is adjacent to a large, new subdivision," he said.

"The artificial turf will bring with it a number of benefits. Not only will it provide a significant increase in playing hours and field capacity but it will increase the reliability of fields for sports clubs and provide new sporting opportunities for others. It will also bring cost-savings with reduced maintenance and irrigation requirements."

The approved management plan revisions will also allow resident park users - the Aquatic and Ice Centre Trust, Waitemata Table Tennis Association and Oratia United Association Football Club - to extend their existing facilities, and will provide for a new network of walkways through the under-utilised north-western end of the park.

7 May

Waitakere Maori to host regional hui on Auckland governance

Te Taumata Runanga chairman Warahi Paki

Te Taumata Runanga, Waitakere City Council's Maori advisory committee, will host a regional hui on Auckland governance issues on 18 May.

Te Taumata Runanga chairman Warahi Paki says it is vital for Maori involved in local government across the region to combine their voices and perspectives ahead of the select committee process.

"Maori are united in wanting changes to the Government's model. We feel strongly about having elected representation in our region," he said.

"Without specific seats it will be extremely difficult for Maori perspectives to be heard by the new council and for Maori needs to be taken into account across the region - and we demand that this is addressed.

"Over the past 17 years in Waitakere, we have built up a solid working relationship with our council that has real benefits for our people in regards to social, environmental, economic and cultural wellbeing. It's devastating to think that such progress and mutual respect could be lost under the new regime."

Mr Paki says his committee - which is made up of iwi, pan-tribal and other representative groups - will be writing to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Local Government and the Minister of Maori Affairs to request their attendance at the hui.

Mr Paki says that like Waitakere City Council, Te Taumata Runanga supports the retention of the Royal Commission's recommended six-local council model with three Maori seats on the larger Auckland Council. It also recommends the establishment of a Maori advisory committee to the new Auckland Council with meaningful decision-making authorities.

5 May

Waitakere welcomes Social Policy Forum for Auckland

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse

Waitakere City Council has welcomed the announcement that Cabinet has approved the creation of a new Auckland Social Policy Forum to look at the social wellbeing of Auckland, under Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said: "This is great news because it will provide a mechanism to ensure that local government and the wider Auckland community can address and resolve critical social issues with the relevant national government departments."

"I would like to personally thank the minister for getting this through Cabinet – it's a win for her and a win for Auckland."

The forum will comprise the social development minister, the Auckland Council mayor, the heads of relevant Auckland Council committees and local representation.

Ms Bennett said yesterday that the annual social spend by central and local government in Auckland was about $12 billion a year. The forum was part of the Government's response to the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, which found the amount spent on social issues was poorly co-ordinated and lacked a coherent strategy.

4 May

Waitakere residents have their say on what's Best For The West

Waitakere's 10 year plan drew about 300 submissions.

Waitakere's 10 year plan drew about 300 submissions.

About 300 submissions have been made to Best for the West - Waitakere's Draft 10 Year Plan which sets out the council's key priorities and projects and their estimated costs.

While the number of submissions is lower than in previous years, Waitakere residents and ratepayers have considered and commented on a number of key issues which the council asked for specific feedback on including the council's contribution to the Rugby World Cup 2011, a possible change to the mobile library service, retrofitting the city and developments at New Lynn, Hobsonville and Massey North/Westgate.

The plan also incorporates a draft budget for 2009/10 which shows an indicative rates rise of 2.98 percent (around $1 a week for the average residential property).

Submissions have yet to be tallied and analysed however many submitters have signalled they want to speak to their submissions at hearings to be held at the council between May 18 and 28.

Several submitters have also taken to the opportunity to make their views on Auckland's regional governance known.

"Submissions this year are down and I presume that has something to do with our somewhat uncertain future, however I am delighted so many people have taken the opportunity to let us know what they think," says Long Term Council Community Plan and Annual Plan Committee Chair Janet Clews.

"Given the uncertainties it's important we continue to plan for and provide Waitakere's core services as well as make progress on major urban development projects for the long term benefit of the people of Waitakere and the wider Auckland region."

Following the hearings the council will once again consider the draft plan before a final version is adopted on June 30.