Category: Auckland Council

Source: Auckland Council

If you were living in New Zealand in the 80s and you’re old enough to remember staying up all night to watch Telethon or when milk was delivered in glass bottles, you’ll probably recall waking up to the news that the anti-nuclear Greenpeace vessel the Rainbow Warrior had been bombed at Marsden Wharf on July 1985, killing crew member Fernando Pereira. As the truth came to light that French Secret Service agents were responsible, it solidified our stance as an anti-nuclear country.

The theme of this year’s Auckland Heritage Festival, which runs from 23 September – 8 October, is Peace, Love and Protest. It’s an opportunity to learn about and remember the important issues that have caused many Aucklanders to take a stand. Here are some of the highlights.

Take a walk through our anti-nuclear history

On 2 October, Richard Northey will lead a walking tour through the central city of important sites in our anti-nuclear and peace-activism history. Richard, who serves on the Waitematā Local Board, was President of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Coalition Against Nuclear Warships and belonged to other peace campaigning groups, will share anecdotes along the way.

Richard Northey’s Auckland Peace Heritage Walk tour begins at the Visual Artists Against Nuclear Armaments mural on the corner of Karangahape and Ponsonby Roads.

The Auckland Peace Heritage Walk tour starts at the iconic Visual Artists Against Nuclear Armaments Mural on the corner of Karangahape and Ponsonby Roads, which was created by a group of artists taking a stand against weapons of mass destruction in 1985.

Other locations on the walk include St Matthew-in-the-City, where Anglican priest George Armstrong launched the Peace Squadron, where brave Aucklanders headed out into the harbour on boats, canoes and even surfboards in an attempt to block the arrival of nuclear warships and submarines from the US into New Zealand. St Matthew-in-the-City is also the site where Nelson Mandela thanked New Zealanders in 1995 for protesting the apartheid regime in South Africa.

No peace heritage walk would be complete without stopping in at the Auckland Women’s Suffrage Memorial on Khartoum Place, by artists Jan Morrison and Claudia Pond Eyley. It was installed in 1993 to recognise a century of women having the vote in New Zealand and being the first country in the world to do so. Here you can pick out important Auckland suffragists, such as Amey Daldy, president of the Auckland Women’s Franchise League.

Poignantly, the tour, which takes around three hours to walk, ends up at Marsden Wharf, where the Rainbow Warrior was berthed when it was bombed in 1985.

The tour is free but spaces are limited to 40 (this isn’t no protest) and bookings are required.

Protest on display

The festival also presents slices of Auckland’s protest history at exhibitions across the region. Learn more about protesting against nuclear testing in the Pacific at the New Zealand Maritime Museum’s exhibition Nuclear-free Pacific: A Maritime Story, 23-27 September, which features images of Kiwis that undertook a 6000km journey and committed three months of their lives to protesting nuclear explosions in French Polynesia.

Delve even deeper into our nuclear-free history at the Nuclear Free New Zealand Peacemaker Exhibition, a display of art posters, photographs and memorabilia of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Campaign at Lopdell House in Titirangi.

To get even more local, take a photographic tour through individual suburbs. Ōtāhuhu residents will enjoy seeing what their neighbourhood used to look like in the display of historical protests and parades, including two films of centennial celebrations in 1948, at the Ōtāhuhu Historical Society at 12-16 High Street, Ōtāhuhu. And whatever side of the fence you were on, many West Aucklanders will remember the protests against insecticide use to wipe out painted apple moth. Check it out in the J.T. Diamond Room, level 2, Waitākere Library.

And if you’re old enough to remember milk bottle deliveries, you’ll also remember when this closed-circle service came to an end in the late 1980s and our reliance on single-use plastic began. Back then, groups like Friends of the Earth, Forest & Bird and Greenpeace knew that this was bad news. View old photos and ephemera from the ‘Save Our Milk Bottles’ campaign at the Central City Library.

Aucklanders protest in Queen Street in 1985 against the All Black tour of South Africa.

For budding activists

The festival has plenty of opportunities to ignite the spirit of activism in the young people in your life. They can learn about the power of symbols at Albany Library and how their meanings can change depending on the causes that adopt them. You can help them create an exhibition for the library’s art wall.

Or travel back in time to Aotearoa 130 years ago, when New Zealand women petitioned for the right to vote. Mt Roskill Library will be hosting a historical re-enactment of the petition being presented to Parliament at 11am on 7 October. Come dressed up too and take part.

Older children and teens will also enjoy making their own protest poster with award-winning cartoonist Toby Morris at the New Zealand Maritime Museum.

Visit Auckland Heritage Festival for the full programme of 160 free or low-cost events that will be running between 23 September-8 October.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland’s bi-annual tsunami siren test will take place at the beginning of daylight saving on Sunday 24 September at 12pm (midday). 

“It’s important to test the sirens to make sure they’re working as expected.  There’s no cause for alarm during the testing and no action is required by the public,” Auckland Emergency Management General Manager Paul Amaral says. 

Located at a number of coastal sites, sirens give a combination of alert sounds and voice instructions advising what actions residents should take in a real emergency.  You can check and listen to the siren sound sample on the Auckland Emergency Management website [.WAV]. 

We would also appreciate if you could fill out the tsunami siren testing reporting form to let us know if you heard the sirens during the test and what it sounded like.  

Where are tsunami warning sirens located in Auckland? 

Rodney: Point Wells, Whangateau, Omaha 

Albany Ward:  Waiwera, Ōrewa, Hobsonville, Herald Island 

Waitākere: Bethells / Te Henga, Piha North, Piha South, Karekare, Whatipu, Little Huia, Te Atatū South, Te Atatū Peninsula North 

Please note that tsunami sirens at some of these locations have been vandalised or stolen. This means the audible warnings for a tsunami threat at those locations will not be functioning or functioning below full capacity. 

Changes to our tsunami risk and alerting 

The Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee has voted to decommission the aging and compromised Meerkat tsunami siren network.  

AEM General Manager Paul Amaral acknowledges the decision may concern some communities. 

“We want to assure our communities that there will be timely communication in the event of a potential tsunami.” 

 “If there is a tsunami threat, Emergency Mobile Alert will be broadcast to all capable mobile phones. As well as this, news media and social media channels will be used to alert Aucklanders.” 

Councillor Sharon Stewart, Auckland Council’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee chairperson says tsunami siren testing is a good prompt for Aucklanders to familiarise themselves about what to do in an emergency. 

“Aucklanders have become increasingly familiar with the Emergency Mobile Alert as an effective way to alert them to danger, having experienced this through the pandemic and during this year’s extreme weather events. The Emergency Mobile Alert will be used to alert Aucklanders to a potential tsunami. 

“The siren testing day is a good prompt for Aucklanders to talk with their whānau about planning for emergencies and importantly organising a getaway bag and meeting place.” 

Visit getready.govt.nz for great tips on making a plan for an emergency.  

This decommissioning decision only relates to the older siren network, and not to the two new sirens installed in 2020 in Ōrewa, which are working as expected and have not experienced any vandalism or thefts.  

New computer modelling of Auckland’s tsunami risk has led to the development of new tsunami evacuation maps. When the new evacuation maps are released, residents might notice a change in how they look.  

The traditional 3-colour maps will be replaced by a simpler version which shows the area at risk when a land-based warning is issued, and when a marine-based warning is issued. 

Keep an eye on Auckland’s Hazards Viewer on the Auckland Emergency Management website for the changes later in the year. 

What are the official tsunami alert channels in the event of a tsunami emergency? 

In the event of a tsunami emergency, an Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) will be triggered. Your mobile phone will receive a message which will tell you what the emergency is and what to do. 

Besides Emergency Mobile Alerts, we will also get the messages out on radio, television, news media and social media platforms. However, if you see the natural warning signs, evacuate immediately to higher ground without waiting for an official alert. 

• Follow AEM’s official Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter) channels to stay updated. 

• For more information on tsunami warnings, visit Auckland Emergency Management website. 

What are the natural warning signs for tsunami? 

Remember LONG or STRONG, GET GONE. 

If you feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand up or a weak rolling earthquake that lasts a minute or more, see a sudden rise or fall in sea level, hear loud or unusual noises from the sea, don’t wait for an official warning. Go immediately to the nearest high ground or as far inland as you can, taking the route quickest for you. 

Be prepared 

Tsunami siren testing time is a great reminder to check out whether you live, work, or play in one of Auckland’s three tsunami evacuation zones. Check the Auckland hazard viewer map. We are updating the tsunami evacuation maps this year so remember to check back regularly to see if your zone has changed from the previous year. 

Prepare your household emergency plan and practice it so everyone knows what to do in an emergency and what you need to take if you are evacuating. 

Check the tsunami preparedness tips and what to do before, during and after a tsunami. 

Source: Auckland Council

This year Mental Health Awareness Week has a focus on five ways to improve your wellbeing. These are five super simple actions to give your mental health a boost. In the spirit of this kaupapa, here are five suggestions for ways you can find community, take notice, get active, give back and keep learning.

1. Connect with others at the UFO group at Auckland Library

If you’ve got a craft project that you’ve been wanting to complete for ages, the Unfinished Objective (UFO) Group is a space where you can finish any personal project, no matter how big or small, while being in the company of others, forging connections, and banishing the loneliness that sometimes creeps in when living in a bustling city.

Katie Richards, who facilitates the UFO Group, says that the concept behind the group – finishing unfinished projects – is broad enough that anyone can attend.

“It can be lonely in the city and we wanted to provide a space and a place where people could come and connect.”

The UFO group meets at Central City Library’s Makerspace every week Wednesday from 12-2pm – and everyone is welcome to join.

2. Give back to our community through volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, and make a difference in your community. It can also be a lot of fun!

If you are interested in volunteering there are many ways you too can make a difference. 

The Auckland Botanic Gardens has volunteering opportunities from gardening to holiday programmes and guiding walks. You don’t have to be a gardener to volunteer – a range of talents are welcomed.

Join a regular or one-off working bee, a beach clean-up, or help with pest control or tree planting in one of our local or regional parks. There is a volunteer activity for all ages and you can sign up with your whānau, friends or work mates.

If you’re a people person who loves to help others, or a practical person who’s happy to get stuck-in to more physical tasks, get in touch with Auckland Zoo to apply for Visitor Assistant, Zoo Guide, Keeper Assistant, and Zoo Crew roles. We’d love to have you join our whānau.

Share your passion about Aotearoa New Zealand’s stories of the sea with local and international visitors at the New Zealand Maritime Museum. We’re currently seeking volunteer hosts and guides and we’d love to have you onboard. Join us today!

3. Be active this season for your mind and body

Getting active is great for the mind and the body, and it takes all kinds of forms! Scale that maunga you’ve always wanted to climb or take a stroll around the neighbourhood. 

With Spring, it’s getting warmer and longer days and (fingers crossed) blue skies – it’s time to put on your trainers and get out the door. 

Here are some low-cost and free ideas to help you stay active this season.

Five short all-weather walks in Auckland

Spring into action this season with these budget-friendly exercise ideas

4. Take notice (mindfulness) and restore your wairua (spirit)

Engaging with our senses is an effective way to de-stress and be more present. There is even a mindfulness technique called the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique, which involves identifying five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.

Check out these ideas for fully engaging with the sights, smells, sounds, textures and tastes of Tāmaki Makaurau.

5. Keep learning – Try a woodworking workshop

Learning not only expands our horizons but also has the potential to improve our mental health. It encourages you to manage your time better, prioritize tasks, and break down problems — all valuable tools in stress reduction. Learning with others can also create connections. 

The ReCreators offer a low-cost woodworking class at different venues across Auckland where you can learn DIY skills and power tools. Click here to check out upcoming courses.

Source: Auckland Council

The extent to which climate change impacts Tāmaki Makaurau hit home for many earlier this year. We have seen severe weather events like the Auckland Anniversary Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle show the devastating impacts of climate change – and the importance of climate action.

Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan is a long-term approach to climate action for the Auckland region. It sets out eight priority action areas to deliver our goals to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

“Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri sets out key priorities to deliver on climate action for Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s a blueprint for the region and, overall, I am proud of the progress we have achieved in so many areas despite the challenges we have faced with covid, budget constraints and extreme weather events,” says Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee.

“However, there’s more work to be done particularly when it comes to emissions reduction. To halve our emissions by 2030, and reach net zero emissions by 2050, requires the council, its CCOs, the community, and our partners to increase commitments to climate action. We all must play our part.”

The progress report outlines the percentage of actions that are completed, on track, partially underway but require more work, or not in progress. It also provides highlights of progress and key challenges for each priority in the plan along with a summary of key initiatives planned for next year.

“It is important that we regularly monitor and report on Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri to better understand our progress towards our main goals of reducing emissions and adapting to climate change impacts,” says Councillor Angela Dalton, Deputy Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee.

“This important mahi is ongoing but these annual updates allow us to identify trends and measure how well we are tracking to deliver long-term climate goals.”

What is in the report?

Auckland Council has different levels of responsibility and control over the actions in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri, which reflects the regional focus of the plan.

There are currently a similar number of actions “underway” and actions “not in progress”, compared to the September 2022 progress report. However, the proportion of actions completed has risen to 3 per cent vs 1 per cent in the previous report.

The September 2022/2023 progress report shows that we are well underway on our actions, stating that:

• 3 per cent of actions are complete.
• 31 per cent of actions are on track.
• 52 per cent are underway but require more work.
• 13 per cent are not in progress.

In the 2022/2023 year, the council made significant progress on climate action. This includes the start of various programmes and projects funded by the Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate.

This targeted rate saw more than $1 billion invested in new frequent bus routes, the procurement of new electric ferries, as well as further investment in walking, cycling and our urban ngahere.

The committee also heard key initiatives planned for 2023/24, including:

• Further engagement with mana whenua to discuss the delivery of Te Tāruke a Tāwhiri.
• The establishment of a Regional Leadership Group to accelerate climate action through collaboration and partnerships.
• The improvement of the climate action progress and monitoring framework to provide clearer understanding of progress on climate targets.

Working with mana whenua

Te Puāwaitanga ō te Tātai outlines te ao Māori principles that should be interwoven throughout the other priorities and are fundamental to the delivery of Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri.

The Tāmaki Makaurau Mana Whenua Forum (previously the Mana Whenua Kaitiaki Forum), a collective of the 19 hapū and iwi authorities of Tāmaki Makaurau, worked closely with Auckland Council throughout the development of Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri.

Over the past 12 months, Māori specialist staff have provided support to build knowledge and capability amongst staff working on Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri in preparation for the next phase of delivery.

Progress on emissions

The delivery of Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri and the progress of its actions impact on greenhouse gas emissions and the extent to which Auckland is impacted by climate change.

Despite the progress being made on climate action, Auckland’s emissions are not tracking in line with the target to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. Auckland’s current trajectory is still one of increasing emissions.

Meeting our targets set in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri, and meeting commitments to the Paris Agreement, is therefore becoming harder. This means the emissions curve is getting steeper and the interventions required are becoming more drastic.

Overall, from 2016 to 2019, gross and net emissions have increased by 647 kt CO2e (or 5.4 per cent for gross emissions, 6 per cent for net emissions).

Emissions were higher from energy, transport and industrial processes and process unit sectors, but lower from waste and agriculture sources.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council hosted its largest ever webinar on 5 September with over 700 people attending the storm affected properties webinar. If you missed it don’t worry, you can watch the webinar recording instead. 

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The event was designed for Auckland homeowners whose property or neighbourhood was impacted by severe weather in early 2023. The webinar kicked off with Deputy Mayor, Desley Simpson, giving a heartfelt address to the people of Auckland.

A panel of experts shared the latest information on:

• Placards
• Flood affected land
• Property categorisation
• Future flood mitigation
• The home buyout scheme.

“The topics are complex, so the purpose of the webinar was to explain things in a way that’s easy to understand. We used questions submitted by the audience during the registration process to create content for the presentation. Our priority was to give our audience exactly what they need,” says Group Recovery Manager, Mat Tucker.

The panel was inundated with live questions during the webinar. Feedback from those who attended was positive, “Your team has been amazing, the webinar last week was so helpful” said a North Shore resident. 

“Some homeowners are feeling unsettled about what the future holds, which is understandable. I hope the webinar provided some clarity on the way forward,” says Mr Tucker.

Further support

If you’ve watched the webinar and you’ve still got questions about storm damaged properties, the information below will point you in the right direction.

• Read our frequently asked questions document. This is a good place to start as it includes answers to our most common queries relating to remediation, buyouts, placards, property categorisation and more.
• If you want to understand how property categorisation works, we’ve got a handy video and article that explains it all.

If you have a property that you believe needs to be categorised as part of the assessment process, and you haven’t already completed the flooding and landslide registration form, go online here.

Email navigators@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz if you’re a storm affected property owner and want to discuss support options for mental health, finance, insurance or accommodation. If your storm damaged property question doesn’t fit into any of the scenarios above, then email your question to recoveryoffice@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Source: Auckland Council

Revised timeline for GHD assessment

GHD has nearly finished conducting assessments of affected properties in the Piha and Karekare areas. GHD’s assessment included geotechnical site inspections and the assessment of damage from landslides.

As part of the ongoing geotech fieldwork, drone surveys will be undertaken for properties with restricted access from the week starting Monday 18 September 2023. We have been liaising with landowners of affected properties to obtain permission prior to flying the drones. We would like to express our thanks to the homeowners who have given us permission to undertake these surveys. We do encourage your cooperation as it enables us to provide the most comprehensive geotechnical assessment possible, while helping us keep the programme of work on track and avoid further delays. Final permission for these drone surveys can be given up until Monday morning, 18 September.

Over the next two weeks, GHD will revisit some properties at both Piha and Karekare to gain additional technical information, and be present for some of the drone surveys where there are access restrictions. Geotechnical reporting will continue at the same time for the remaining affected properties.

Drone surveys and orthomosaic imagery are very useful for geotechnical assessments as they can provide a detailed view of the entire site, provide high-resolution aerial imagery and topographic data. Orthomosaic images stitch together multiple individual photos (“orthophotos”) which are then overlapped to capture a comprehensive view of an area. Orthophotos can provide site overviews, precise measurements of landforms and features and terrain analysis, to create digital elevation and surface models for geotechnical analysis.

Timeline for release of GHD’s draft reports

Unlike Muriwai which had two large escarpments and associated large scale instability, the landslides in Piha and Karekare consist of numerous localised landslips and land instability. Because of this, it is more appropriate for GHD to produce multiple reports – one per landslide or area of instability. In some cases, reports will cover single properties, while others will include multiple adjacent properties.

Due to the number of reports being produced, we will be releasing GHD’s draft reporting with property owners in Piha and Karekare in tranches, as the reports become ready. This approach means that individual property owners will get their information as soon as practically possible, rather than waiting for every report to be completed.

Affected property owners will be emailed a draft geotechnical report and their initial property category, and will have the opportunity to provide feedback and discuss the report one-on-one with a geotechnical expert.

We will be contacting property owners directly over the next week to advise them of next steps, including whether they are impacted by GHD study and, if so, when they will receive a draft report and invites for follow-up discussions with technical experts.

Auckland Council will use GHD’s reports to inform decisions on final risk categorisation, as well as reviewing RBA placards.

Timeline for upcoming engagements

Community meetings, Saturday 23 September

The purpose of these meetings is to provide updates on the categorisation and risk assessment processes, and provide an update on the progress of the GHD study. At this meeting, we will explain how the placard review process will work once the geotechnical findings are available, so the next steps are clear for you.

All members of the Karekare and Piha communities are welcome to attend these meetings.

At each of these meetings, Auckland Council Head of Resilience Ross Roberts will discuss the geotechnical reports and answer any questions you may have.

Piha community meeting – 10am – noon, Barnett Hall, 2 North Piha Road, Piha

Karekare community meeting – 2–4pm, Karekare Surf Club, 34 Watchmans Road, Karekare

Release of GHD reports and initial property category

Reports will be released in clusters based on when they are completed by GHD. These clusters are:

Exact dates will be confirmed directly to affected property owners once confirmed. 

GHD assessment area

The assessment areas are shown in the maps below.

Piha assessment area:

Source: Auckland Council

Aucklanders are being asked whether they support a deal with government to share the costs of funding $2 billion of storm recovery and resilience programmes, in a consultation which launches today. 

People have until 24 September to have their say on whether Auckland Council should enter into the $2 billion recovery funding agreement, and can share their views on how they think property buy-outs for Auckland’s most high-risk homes could work.

Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson says the consultation is an important next step in Auckland’s recovery following the unanimous, in-principle endorsement of the agreement by Governing Body.

“The proposed package goes beyond just buying out high-risk homes and supports a longer-term pathway for our region’s resilience.

“All the evidence tells us that we will experience more frequent and extreme storms in the future, so it’s vital we increase our resilience now so we’re not leaving our communities exposed to the ongoing risk of these extreme weather events,” says Deputy Mayor Simpson.

The proposed agreement has secured a $1.1b injection into Auckland to fund improvements in Auckland’s flood mitigation infrastructure and recovery costs of the transport network directly impacted by the storms. The agreement also specifies a 50/50 split between the council and Government to fund the voluntary buy-out of Category 3 properties. Category 3 properties are the most vulnerable to future extreme weather and have an intolerable risk to life.

“Securing funding from the government to accelerate this work is critical for us to safeguard people in the future.

“While I’m delighted that the government has come to the table to contribute financially for Auckland, we can’t brush over the fact that this is a cost-share agreement so the council needs to fund the remaining $900 million to make this package deal work. How we will do this, and which financial levers we are required to pull to fund it, will be part of our next Long-term Plan,” says Deputy Mayor Simpson.

Group Recovery Manager Mat Tucker says having the backing of Aucklanders allows Auckland Council to confidently move forward with recovery plans which support the thousands of people still living day-to-day with the impact of the storms.

“For many Aucklanders, the storms are just a distant memory because they came through unscathed. But we can’t lose sight of the fact that so many others have had their lives turned upside down. Seven months on, there are neighbourhoods of people across our region that can’t return to their home, and the mental and financial toll it takes on people can’t be underestimated.

“We also know that many people are living in fear of the next storm. This package will give us the opportunity to either safeguard homes against future risk by funding new infrastructure or, in the most high-risk cases, help people to get out of harm’s way by buying their home. I encourage everyone, whether they were affected or not, to have their say,” says Mr Tucker.

How to participate in the consultation

Aucklanders can have their say by completing an online feedback form at akhaveyoursay.nz/recoveryfunding, emailing stormrecoveryconsultation@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or visiting their local library or service centre to complete a paper feedback form.

About the deal

The cost-share agreement includes:

• $820 million to fund projects that will help build resilience against future flood events, including the core aspects of the council’s Making Space for Water
• $390 million towards the recovery costs of the transport network directly impacted by the storms.
• $774 million to purchase an estimated 700 residential properties where there is an intolerable risk to life and it is not feasible to mitigate this risk.

Check out the webinar

A webinar on the consultation was held on Wednesday 13 September, to provide more information to Aucklander’s about the proposed recovery funding package. A recording of this online information session is available now on AK Have Your Say.

Source: Auckland Council

Significant repairs are due to start on East Coast Road on 18 September 2023. 

Start date: Monday 18 September Time to complete: 13 Weeks (weather dependant)  Hours: 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday 

This work includes building a retaining wall and kerb, and maintenance to gutters and pavement. For safety reasons, Auckland Transport (AT) will install a steel barrier before any work begins. Signs, barriers and road cones will also be put in place a day before the retaining wall work begins. 

Please park away from the work area during the working hours above. AT may need to tow vehicles parked in the work area to a safe position a short distance from the work site. Every effort will be made to locate the owner before towing.  

This work involves heavy machinery which can create noise, vibration, and dust. All efforts will be made to minimise these disturbances as much as practically possible. We’ll park our equipment near the worksite, behind the barriers, during this time. To ensure the safety of you and your whānau, please keep young children and animals well supervised and away from the work area.  

While these repairs are underway, we recommend that you plan your journey ahead of time as changes to the road layout and access may cause minor delays. To keep you and our team safe, please be patient and follow the instructions of the onsite traffic control team. 

To report an issue or lodge a query with any of the above, please contact AT on 09 355 3553. 

Source: Auckland Council

Aotea / Great Barrier is aiming to be the first place in New Zealand to eliminate single-use takeaway cups.

From October 1, coffee retailers on the island will offer alternatives to the cups and most will no longer stock single use cups, which despite appearances are neither recyclable nor compostable.

“We’re lucky on Aotea because we’re a small, island location so something like this is totally doable,” says Jo O’Reilly, director of Aotea’s Anamata resource recovery centre and driver of the scheme. “I’ve been so impressed by how enthusiastic people are, right from our retailers to our coffee drinkers.

“We live in an ecological paradise that we all want to protect. The trick will be to bring tourists and visitors along with us.

“What most visitors to the island probably don’t realise is that every bit of landfill waste must get shipped back to the mainland at huge environmental and financial cost. We’re doing all we can to reduce those volumes,” says Jo.

Zero waste

The cups project is one part of Aotea’s bid for zero waste to landfill by 2040, and Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board is in support of the initiative.

“We want to congratulate Anamata on the initiative”, says Izzy Fordham, Local Board Chair.

“It’s been great to see the community truly embrace the initiative, with most store owners and businesses in support of eliminating single-use cups.

“The board has offered its continued support for the project, which aligns with our vision of zero waste for the island.”

Coffee drinkers will have three options once the single use cups are gone.

1. Bring their own keep cup

2. Use a mug from the café’s mug library (at participating outlets) or

3. Purchase a $10 double walled, lidded, stainless-steel cup from the island-wide “borrow” scheme, which can be kept or returned to any participating outlet for a refund.

“Or of course they can sit down to drink their coffee, at a pace more suited to island life,” says Jo. “We call the cups scheme ‘a small step for mankind but a big step in terms of what it says about our island and what’s important to us’.”

Her message to all those coming to Aotea this summer is: pack your keep cup!

The initiative is supported by the New Zealand Packaging Forum.

Stay up to date

Want to stay up to date with all the latest news from your area? Sign up for Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board E-news and get updates direct to your inbox each month.

Source: Auckland Council

Significant progress has been made across the Auckland region over the last month on permanent repairs to storm damaged roads.

With over 2000 slips and issues reported across the region following the January and February weather events, there is still a long road of repairs ahead.

The overall programme of repairs to more than 500 medium-large scale slips and issues is expected to take 2-3 years to be completed.

In northern parts of Auckland, rural areas experienced 363 sites of slips or damage – of which 140 minor slips and nine major slips have already been completed. In urban areas, there were 48 sites of slips or damage, of which one is complete.

Below are a selection of photos highlighting just a small portion of the great work the construction and maintenance teams are doing in these areas. We will look to show progress in other areas of Auckland in future newsletters.

East Coast Road update

Significant repairs are due to start on East Coast Road (near Haigh Access road) on 18 September 2023, and are expected to take 13 weeks to complete.

Photo Credit: AT and Downer

Permanent repair at Mahurangi East Road began on Monday 28 August. Piling works are already underway – with holes for the piles visible in this photograph.

Photo Credit: AT and Downer

At Tauhoa Road, Tauhoa (west of Warkworth), piling works are underway to stabilise the roadway. This will involve an impressive 36-meter timber pile retaining wall, composed of a total of 24 poles. 

Photo credit: AT and Downer

On Ahuroa Road, several major slips have completely closed the road through to Puhoi, two of which are shown above. The tiny settlement of Ahuroa now have an extra hour’s journey to connect back to Puhoi – previously just a few minutes. Progress to date includes soil nails (acting like anchors) ready for steel mesh and/or shotcrete (sprayed on concrete).

Photo Credit: Fulton Hogan

Paremoremo Road, Paremoremo also has a number of very large slips across four sites. At this slip site, all of the concrete columns have been completed now, ready support the backfilling which will occur over the coming months.

Photo credit: Fulton Hogan

On Glenvar Road, Torbay, the team have made fantastic progress with the road sub-base now largely in place.  Over the next month or so, the focus will be on road surfacing and barrier installation.

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