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Applications open for latest round of Ngā Hapori Momoho / Thriving Communities Grants

Source: Auckland Council

Community organisations across Tāmaki Makaurau take note – Auckland Council’s Ngā Hapori Momoho / Thriving Communities Grants open today, 27 November 2023, with a pool of $295,000 available to support community-led projects that help build inclusive and vibrant communities.

Mirla Edmundson, Auckland Council’s General Manager of Connected Communities says the grant programme’s aim is to build an Auckland where diversity is celebrated and all Aucklanders have a sense of belonging.

“This regional programme commits funding that supports a range of activities relating to whānau financial security, improving health outcomes and growing community connections.

“The fund invests in activities that fulfil Auckland Council’s obligation to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. In the last round of funding three Māori organisations were funded a total of 27 per cent of the allocated fund.”

In the previous funding round, Auckland Council approved grants for 13 organisations. These included the Island Base Trust – a youth mentoring project for Māori and Pasifika; the UMMA Trust – a empowerment programme for Muslim women refugees and Auckland Disability Law, which offers free legal services for disabled people on disability related legal issues.

Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee says Auckland Council is proud to support community organisations in Tāmaki Makaurau that want to make a difference.

“These grants are for regionally significant groups, services, events and activities that benefit residents across Auckland.

“We welcome community organisations in Auckland who want to have a tangible positive impact on their communities to apply for a grant.”

Grants of up to $60,000 are available for projects that help us support thriving communities, with applications open until 26 January 2024.

Find out more

The full eligibility criteria and funding priorities are explained in the Ngā Hapori Momoho / Thriving Communities Grants Guidelines, available on the Auckland Council website.

Key dates

Applications are open from 27 November 2023 until 26 January 2024.

Funding decisions will be announced in April 2024.

The Ngā Hapori Momoho / Thriving Communities Strategy 2023-2024 document is available on the Auckland Council website.

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NZCTU presents Briefing for the Incoming Government

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has today provided its briefing for the incoming government.

NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff said since 2017, the country has made significant progress on a range of economic and social issues.  

“Under the last Government, many measures improved. Child poverty has fallen. Unemployment reached record lows. The minimum wage increased by 44 percent. Benefits were increased and linked to wages rather than inflation. Paid parental leave was extended to 26 weeks, and sick leave was doubled. All of these changes helped to deliver a more equitable Aotearoa and helped to ensure that some of the poorest New Zealanders had a real boost in their quality of life. We hope that the progress made to date continues under this new government. 

“New Zealand needs to become the best country in the world to be a worker, by creating good work, and building a more productive, sustainable, and inclusive economy.” 

 To continue making progress the incoming government should prioritise action in areas such as: 
 

  • Work to eliminate the barriers that disadvantage kaimahi Māori  
  • Increasing the minimum wage to the living wage 
  • Continue working to improve pay equity 
  • Reform the Holidays Act 
  • Criminalising wage theft 
  • Introduce corporate manslaughter legislation 
  • Eliminate migrant labour exploitation 
  • Ratify all International Labour Organization fundamental conventions 
  • Increase the capacity of New Zealand’s labour and health and safety regulators 
  • Support vocational education and workforce development 
  • Continue to plan for just transitions 
  • Rebalancing the tax system 
  • Increase the supply of affordable housing 
  • Establish a Ministry of Green Works to close our infrastructure gap 
  • Improve competition in key sectors 

“There are also a range of areas where the CTU believes that the incoming governments agenda could do with fresh ideas. Reversing progress on honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi; repealing the Fair Pay Agreements Act; reinstating 90-day trials for all businesses; continuing to misclassify employees as contractors; stopping further work on social income insurance; cutting public sector funding; and repealing the Reserve Bank’s employment mandate are not going to help. 

“If implemented, these policies will take New Zealand backwards. They represent outdated ideas that have been proven not to work.

“This briefing is just the start of the work that the incoming government will need to complete. There is much to do, and every day that action is delayed in these areas real workers and families suffer across New Zealand. The NZCTU wants to engage with government urgently on these issues and more.  

“We passionately believe in making New Zealand the best country in the world to be a worker through the creation of good work. Regardless of the differences between the trade union movement and the political parties that comprise the new government, we stand ready to work constructively with government, delivering positive policies that will make this aspiration a reality.” 

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Designs revealed for Waitematā Station (Britomart) plaza and Tyler Street upgrade

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council and City Rail Link Limited (CRLL) are delighted to announce that they will be reinstating the plaza behind the Waitematā Station (Britomart), with work starting next year. The plaza will function as an entrance and exit to the station, while also providing a relaxed place for people to meet, with easy access in and out of the central city area.

The station plaza will be constructed in conjunction with the upgrade of Tyler Street, matching the design of Galway Street, completing the section between Te Komititanga and Commerce Street. This is the next key piece in creating a high-quality network of public and shared spaces, encompassing the Britomart precinct, the Waitematā Station, Te Komititanga, Commercial Bay, Tyler, and Galway Streets and Takutai Square.

This is another big milestone and will mark the end of the City Rail Link’s work at the station, as part of the major City Rail Link infrastructure project that will transform Auckland’s public transport network.

City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney, says the temporary station buildings will be removed in the new year, making room for the reinstated plaza. “The temporary station buildings allowed us to successfully complete some amazing world-class engineering work inside the Chief Post Office to get the Waitematā Station (Britomart) ready for CRL. One job done and we are now delighted to clear the way for the plaza as the next big step for one of Auckland’s most historic buildings that will play a big part in the city’s transport future,” Dr Sweeney says.

The plaza design was developed with mana whenua and finalised following engagement with neighbouring properties, stakeholders, and the station community. It reflects the history of the Waitematā foreshore, both past and present. Design elements include the mingling of salt with fresh water, where Te Waihorotiu meets the Waitematā, and the abundance of life. It also acknowledges that this place welcomes people from many types of waka, arriving by sea, by train and by bus. The pavement design is inspired by the rich abundance of shellfish, ​mimicking the shallows of the Waitematā Harbour with dappled light and reflective qualities.

Eight native trees will be planted around the edge of the plaza. There will also be a large central seating area and station ‘lid’ designed in partnership with mana whenua which will support the meeting of people. The plaza is designed to be for people, with no vehicle access. Along with the trees, seats and bicycle racks, bollards will be installed around the plaza edge to prevent unauthorised vehicle access.

City Rail Ltd’s Design and Delivery Manager, Simon Lough says, “Designing the plaza presented a unique challenge as it serves as the roof of Waitematā Station, with the platforms situated below. This has posed limitations, particularly in terms of plant growth and water leakage from the fountain above. Despite these challenges, our design teams, in collaboration with mana whenua, have developed a design that honours the rich history of the Waitematā foreshore, incorporating both past and present elements.”

John Watson, Chair of Auckland Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee, says, “The reinstatement of the plaza and the upgrade to Tyler Street is the jewel in the crown for the Britomart precinct in Auckland’s central city. These important works are guided by the City Centre Masterplan which seeks to create a pedestrian-scale city, full of beautiful public spaces in an expanding laneway network.”

CRL will begin removing temporary structures sitting over the station early in the new year. Auckland Council is aiming to begin construction of the plaza and Tyler Street in April 2024 with likely completion early-mid 2025. The council group is committed to managing the impacts of construction on people who are living, working, and travelling through the area.

This momentum of change throughout the city centre, is supported by Auckland Council’s investment of the city centre targeted rate (CCTR). 

Read the CCTR 2022 / 23 report here

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Police arrest pair after fleeing driver incident

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Please attribute to Inspector Rod Carpinter:

Two people are in custody following a fleeing driver incident across Tāmaki Makaurau this morning.

At around 5.20am, Police were alerted to a vehicle being stolen from an address in Francis Street, Hauraki.

The vehicle was located by the Police Eagle helicopter in the Birkenhead Village shops, and had fled from Police after being signalled to stop.

Police have spiked the vehicle as it got onto the motorway, however it has continued travelling southbound through the city and onto the Southern Motorway.

The offenders have then driven to Botany, where they have dumped the vehicle and stolen another one.

The pair has driven across South Auckland towards the airport, then along State Highway 20 through the Waterview Tunnel and towards Auckland City.

They have continued onto the Southern Motorway, heading back to the Ōtara area where it has been spiked again.

As the vehicle approached the Princes Street off ramp, the vehicle has caught fire and the occupants have surrendered to Police.

Two people were arrested without incident and Police enquiries are continuing.

Police are aware of the hazards these types of events can cause and we thank the public for their cooperation this morning in allowing Police to bring this incident to a close safely.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police 

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SAVE THE CHILDREN CONDEMNS EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN FOR GEOPOLITICAL END AS FIRST GROUP OF CHILD HOSTAGES AND CHILD DETAINEES RELEASED

Source: Save The Children

RAMALLAH, 26 November – Save the Children has welcomed the release of some Israeli children held hostage in Gaza and some Palestinian children held in Israeli military detention but reiterated a call for all remaining hostages to be released unconditionally, for more to be done to protect children in Israeli-run prisons, and for a ceasefire to protect children in Gaza.

The child rights organisation said the right to safety, protection and assistance must be fulfilled for all children, including Israeli child hostages and the hundreds of Palestinian children outside of Gaza who remain in Israeli military detention at risk of abuse and ill-treatment. This right to protection must also be extended to children in Gaza where an estimated 5,500 have been killed in the past seven weeks, according to officials in Gaza.

Prior to the ongoing escalation, about 500-700 Palestinian children were subjected to the Israeli military detention system every year. Between 7 October and 3 November, about 145 Palestinian children were detained by Israeli military authorities. A large number are being held without charge, trial or due process guarantees, which does not meet international juvenile justice standards.

Palestinian children are the only children in the world who are systematically prosecuted in military courts, with an estimated 10,000 Palestinian children held in the Israeli military detention system over the past 20 years. Denying children access to legal representation and to see their family, are both longstanding measures imposed by Israeli authorities.

A Save the Children report earlier this year found that the majority of Palestinian children detained by the Israeli military who we consulted experienced physical and emotional abuse, including being beaten (86%), threatened with harm (70%), held in solitary confinement (60%) or hit with sticks or guns (60%). Some children reported sexual violence and abuse, and 69% reported being strip searched during interrogation. 

Save the Children’s Country Director in the occupied Palestinian territory Jason Lee said: 

“We welcome the news of the release of some of the Israeli children held hostage in Gaza, and those Palestinian children held in Israeli military detention so far.  They have experienced horrors no child should ever endure and must be provided with support to help them start the long-road to recovery.

“However, this exchange is just the first step needed in addressing the decades-old protection crisis of children, which can no longer be ignored.

“A lasting ceasefire must be agreed immediately, all hostages in Gaza must be released, and the appalling emotional and physical abuse of Palestinian children in detention must end.” 

Save the Children has been calling for an immediate moratorium on Israeli military authorities arresting, detaining and prosecuting children until comprehensive reforms to the system are made.

Save the Children have been providing essential services and support to Palestinian children impacted by the ongoing conflict since 1953. Save the Children’s team in the occupied Palestinian territory has been working around the clock, prepositioning vital supplies to support people in need, and working to find ways to get assistance into Gaza.

ENDS 

*******************************************************************************************************************

For further enquiries please contact:

media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409

Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.

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Greens launch petition to save oil and gas ban

Source: Green Party

The Green Party has launched a petition to save the ban on oil and gas exploration.

“The new Government’s plan to expand oil and gas exploration is as dangerous as it is unscientific. We need to come together to stop them,” says Co-leader of the Green Party, James Shaw. 

“If anyone needed a basic rule of thumb for dealing with the climate crisis, it would be this: stop burning fossil fuels. 

“Burning fossil fuels drives the temperature of the planet ever higher, which increases the frequency and severity of the storms, floods, fires and droughts which are causing so much damage to our homes and communities. 

“Whatever you think about the new government, there is simply no mandate to trash the climate. Poll after poll shows that New Zealanders want more climate action, not less. 

“Even if the government and big oil win this time, we all know that fossil fuels are not our future. The Green Party will re-introduce a ban on new sources of fossil fuels as soon as we are back in government. 

“Re-starting oil and gas exploration makes no sense. The idea that New Zealand’s wind and solar need gas to underpin energy security is a myth being spread by the fossil fuel industry itself. 

“Even if there is a viable find, production is unlikely to begin within the next three years of this government’s term, or even in the term after that. The International Energy Agency says global demand will be falling by 2030, so this also makes no sense as an export earner. 

“Five years ago, backed by a massive people-powered campaign, our Government banned fossil fuel companies from drilling for oil and gas in New Zealand’s ocean. Today we ask everyone to stand with us to tell this government that the oil and gas ban has to stay. 

“Investors and businesses need stability and predictability in climate policy. We all know fossil fuels are not our future. New Zealand’s focus should be on phasing out fossil fuels and getting to 100% renewable energy as soon as possible. That’s where the smart money is,” says James Shaw.

Click here to sign the petition.

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Road blocked, SH 1, Kaikoura

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Motorists are advised that State Highway 1 remains closed following a crash just north of Hapuku, Kaikoura District.

It happened about 7:20pm and involved a vehicle and a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, who had moderate injuries, was taken to Christchurch Hospital.

The road will remain closed while Police staff examine the scene.

ENDS

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Road Closure – Clevedon/Kawakawa Road, Kawakawa Bay

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police are currently in attendance at a serious motor-vehicle crash on Clevedon/Kawakawa Road, Kawakawa Bay.

Diversions are in place at the following locations:
(1). Clevedon/Kawakawa Road and the entrance to Waitawa Regional Park, on the eastern side of the crash site,
(2). Clevedon/Kawakawa Road and Ness Valley Road, on the western side of the crash site.

Police advise motorists to avoid this area and take alternative routes.

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Unions to hold Government to account over persistent pay gap

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

November 26 marks the day women effectively begin working for free, say the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.

NZCTU National Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges said that despite continued wage growth and low unemployment, the pay gap for women remains unacceptable.
 
“The labour market data released by Statistics NZ shows that we still have a lot of progress to make. The statistics are even worse when ethnicity is factored in. The incoming government must prioritise settling pay equity settlements to close these gaps.”
 
NZEI National Secretary Stephanie Mills said fair pay for early childhood teachers must be recognised and funded with urgency.
 
“Women in education have fought over decades to have their mahi and contribution to the learning and growth of our youngest citizens recognised and properly valued.  We’ve seen significant pay equity settlements for school support staff, but there is still work to do. The settlement of more than 70 percent pay increases for kaiārahi i te reo shows the even more significant under-valuation of Māori and Pasifika women. “
 
Melissa Woolley, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi said it was essential that progress continued to be made.

“We must keep up the momentum – thousands of care and support workers are already seeing their pay being eroded because of the failure to progress a fresh pay equity deal. They do a critical job of supporting people every day so they can live with dignity.

“Thousands of community social workers are also facing long delays just getting paid their pay equity payments that have already been agreed. So, our message to the incoming government is that in a cost-of-living crisis it is even more important that there is no backsliding. Let’s keep making progress.”

New Zealand Nurses Organisation President Anne Daniels said the health workforce were trying to reverse decades of historic sexism.

“It has been 130 years since women received the vote in New Zealand, but in terms of pay we are still treated like second class citizens. It is time for this inequity to stop; an inequity especially felt by Māori and Pasifika women.”

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State Highway 1 closed south of Ward due to serious crash – (Update: road now open)

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

5.15pm update: The highway is now open to all traffic. Drivers should exercise care when driving through the crash site and some delays can be expected while queued traffic clears

Waka Kotahi wants to thank road users for their patience and cooperation while emergency services and contractors attended this incident.

3:35pm:

Due to a serious crash, State Highway 1 in Marlborough is currently closed south Ward, near the Ure Road intersection.

The crash, which was reported shortly before 2:30 pm, has blocked the road. Emergency services are at the scene.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area. No local road detours are available, and drivers travelling on State Highway 1 between Blenheim and Kaikoura can expect significant delays until the crash scene is cleared and the highway reopened.

Check the highway’s status on the Waka Kotahi website(external link)