Rubbish in parks wastes ratepayers’ money

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council

Regional park rangers are an industrious bunch who work hard to maintain Waitaha/Canterbury’s three regional parks and make them appealing places to be. But clearing rubbish is one task on the park rangers’ weekly to-do list that (literally) stinks.

In the last 12 months, rangers hauled over 36 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish from Waimakariri River Regional Park and Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park.

Disposing of this rubbish cost more than $13,000, with the bill passed on to ratepayers. This hefty weight doesn’t include the large number of animal carcasses that are collected each year and buried in appropriate locations in the parks.

A waste of limited time

Each week, it takes two rangers a full day to deal with rubbish in the parks.

“Dealing with dumped rubbish is a huge waste of our limited time and resources when we’re trying to manage 12,000 hectares of land,” said parks and forests team leader Chuck Dowdell.

“Collecting all manner of rubbish from parks and rivers each week is beyond unpleasant for our rangers. It’s not what they signed up for, and it takes them away from the positive work they want to be doing.”

Rangers deal with household rubbish, animal carcasses, tyres, vehicles, and even asbestos-containing construction materials in the parks regularly.

In the past year, 971 tyres and 30 cars have been removed from the two parks. A specialist contractor removed and disposed of the latest batch of asbestos-containing construction waste earlier in 2024, costing ratepayers $3,500.

Fines and trespass notices

Park rangers can issue instant $750 fines to those spotted littering in the parks. They can also trespass offenders from the regional parks for up to three years. However, with fly tippers going out of their way to avoid detection, we need your help.

How you can help

  • Be responsible for your rubbish. Do what most Cantabrians already do, and dispose of rubbish safely and in the appropriate place. Find out about your local waste transfer stations on your district or city council’s website. For the sake of your health and your community’s health, you must dispose of asbestos properly, following Worksafe guidelines.
  • Help with clean-up or planting events. Look out for opportunities to contribute to the wellbeing of your parks through events like river clean-up days and planting days. Our last planting day of 2024 will take place on 22 September at Baynons Brake in Waimakariri River Regional Park. Register as a planting day volunteer
  • Encourage others to do the right thing. If a friend or family member dumps rubbish in the parks, let them know it’s not the ‘free’ option they might think it is. It costs ratepayers big bucks to have that illegally dumped rubbish retrieved, and it reduces the whole community’s enjoyment of the parks.

“If a mate is dumping their household waste, commercial rubbish or carcasses in the parks, don’t look the other way,” said Dowdell. “Tell them your go-to local, legal options for waste disposal.”

Remember, if you find rubbish in the regional parks or see someone fly tipping, report it via the Snap Send Solve app, give our Advisory Team a call at 0800 765 588, or contact the park rangers directly by emailing duty.ranger@ecan.govt.nz

Green light given to enhance planting at tourist hotspot

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council

Stage two of the enhancement project will include another round of pest control, erecting a 300m long rabbit-proof fence, and planting more native species.

Of the $7,500 allocated to the church, $3,300 will go towards fencing costs and $4,200 will go to the purchasing of native plants.

Commenting on the progress, project spokesperson Tanya Izard said the fencing of the area has now been completed, though winter conditions have delayed initial planting timeframes.

“Planting will enhance the whole area aesthetically and environmentally, providing a habitat for the local flora and fauna to thrive,” Tanya Izard said.

Finishing line in sight for Kahika wastewater upgrade

Source: Auckland Council

The Kahika wastewater pipeline – part of a $22 million package to increase the resiliency in the wastewater network and cater for growth in Beach Haven and Glenfield – is now in service.

The new pipeline greatly reduces the risk of overflows and complex repairs around the southern tip of Kaipātiki Creek.

The 2-kilometre pipeline extends from Kahika Pump Station and travels up Kaipātiki Rd to connect into the existing wastewater network on Easton Park Parade.

It replaces a 50-year-old pipeline that has experienced four major failures since 2017, resulting in complex repairs and significant clean-up costs.

“The worry was that if a failure occurred at the northern side of Kaipātiki Creek or the bridge that carried the old pipeline over the creek, the cost of the clean-up and repairs – and ultimately to the environment – would be huge,” says Watercare project manager Alastair Stewart.

“This new pipeline addresses that risk.”

Stewart says that to help ensure the resilience of the pipeline, it has been built using 600mm polyethylene and 600mm fibreglass pipes.

“The new pipeline is more resilient to internal abrasion and can carry twice as much wastewater as the old one, enabling planned development for the area.

“It also goes directly underneath Kaipātiki Creek instead of across a pipe bridge to further reduce the risk of overflows into the environment.”

Stewart says that with the pipeline now installed underneath Kaipātiki Rd, crews are finishing off rerouting works for five local network sewers in nearby streets and within private properties.

“As part of this project, our contractors are diverting local networks away from the current wastewater pipeline to the Kahika pump station, which will pump wastewater directly into the new pipeline.

“We expect the diversion works will be completed by September, 2024.

“Work to decommission the old Kahika pipeline and network catchments will also begin later this month by in-filling them with grout to prevent water from getting into the old network.

“We want to thank residents, especially those affected by traffic and noise disruptions caused by these works, for their patience as we worked to get this critical infrastructure in place.

“We’re working to have the Kahika wastewater package completed by the end of October.”

From our Chair: Transport investment welcome – but funding gap remains

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council

The National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), released this week, supports some of our investment priorities including maintenance, risk, and safety – but does little to bolster public transport and help build and upgrade our local roads.

The number one priority in our Canterbury Regional Land Transport Plan is a well-maintained network, so the $905 million we’ve been allocated for maintenance and pothole prevention will certainly help with that.

It’s great to see a focus on bridges, which are critical to the resilience of our network. Ultimately, we want to see a real pipeline of bridge projects developed across the South Island. The NLTP includes:

  • Progression of a second Ashburton Bridge
  • Funding to replace the Pages Road Bridge in Christchurch
  • Two priority bridge replacements on State Highway 82
  • Consideration of the Upper Ōrāri Bridge replacement for 2027-2030.

It’s also pleasing that there is support for the state highway network in our high growth areas. This includes prioritising the State Highway 1 Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Wooded Bypass as a new Road of National Significance, and continuing with improvements in Rolleston, Halswell and Hornby.

However, a gaping hole remains.

Finding the balance

Despite being the country’s second largest region, we’re receiving just over seven percent of total national contestable funding. More than last time, but disappointing, when you look at the metrics. The level of investment in Canterbury needs to be on par with our population, road network length, and contribution to GDP (ours is around 12 percent).

Many low-cost, low-risk improvements sought by our local communities have been declined, while larger state highway projects get the go-ahead. That’s not a good enough balance.

Funding is still required for intersection upgrades, new essential road links, relieving congestion and improving safety. We need equitable investment across the region – not just along state highways, but for local roads too.

Another area of significant disappointment is the level of public transport investment — $350 million for Canterbury. Most of this will go towards running our existing network. We need another $737 million on top of this for our PT Futures programme.

Public transport funding falls short

We have heard time and time again about the need to improve public transport in Greater Christchurch, one of the country’s most rapidly growing areas outside of Auckland. The government itself states that “Christchurch is the economic powerhouse of the South Island, and transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity.”

The NLTP will allow us to improve frequency on one core route only, but we need to see substantial improvement across the network to drive strong patronage growth, and to ensure we reap the benefits from investment towards a mass rapid transit system in Greater Christchurch. It’s a value-for-money solution to congested roads and the key to improving travel times.

At this pace, we are more than a decade away from getting our public transport services near to where they need to be. Greater central government funding is essential to avoid delays.

A fair share

It’s important to note that funding for the NLTP is drawn from fuel taxes and road user charges. The money that comes from road use in our communities should therefore be put back into our communities. Our bread-and-butter funding is being spread like jam across other regions.

In short, the South Island is being short-changed, with revenue derived here being directed to the North Island.

Canterbury has 12 percent of the population and over 16 percent of the national roading network, but we generally only ever receive around five to eight percent of the NLTP funding.

All we’re asking for is our fair share.

Peter Scott is also Chair of the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee.

Board backs Pahurehure islands recognition

Source: Auckland Council

A proposed plan change that acknowledges nine sites of significance to mana whenua has been supported by Papakura Local Board.

Board chair Brent Catchpole has been appointed to speak to the board’s view at any hearing and says the changes seek to recognise the association mana whenua have with outstanding natural features and historic places.

“The Pahurehure islands have been nominated as a site of cultural significance in our area,” he says.

“The developers, Karaka Harbourside Estates Limited and Pararēkau Island Limited, have made a submission in support of the scheduling, but have asked for some changes to the extent of the site, and to the Unitary Plan’s historic heritage schedule.

“The submission generally reflects an agreed position between iwi and the landowner before the plan change was notified, and we are very keen to see the site included.

“We think it’s critical that we get this right and that we have a sound way of working with mana whenua around which groups should be consulted on future development proposals on scheduled sites of significance.”

Determining the correct iwi to deal with was a theme of wider submissions to the plan change, with calls to include a requirement that only the ‘appropriate’ or ‘correct’ hapū, those recognised as ‘tangata whenua’, were engaged with.

“Across Tāmaki Makaurau there are 19 recognised mana whenua entities.” Catchpole says.

“We should do all we can to understand the cultural values of sites and places of significance to those groups.”

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Spring into action and book an affordable holiday escape on the doorstep of Tāmaki Makaurau

Source: Auckland Council

With warmer weather just around the corner, weekend getaway spots will soon be booking out, but you don’t have to miss out. You don’t have to travel far either. Spring into action and book an affordable holiday escape right here in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Whether you’re interested in booking a couple’s getaway, a family friendly excursion, a group trip or a solo adventure, your ideal spot awaits! You can choose from a pet- friendly beachfront staycation, a unique coastal escape or a tranquil waterfront experience thanks to Auckland Council’s three holiday parks.

Consider your next weekend or mid-week plans sorted – just book using the links below and you’re off!

Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park

Situated a merely 30 minutes north of Auckland is the Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park. Located on the stunning Ōrewa beachfront, this holiday park has a range of accommodation options from regular and beachfront powered sites, standard to self-contained deluxe cabins, all the way to large eco-structure glamping tents.

It’s also pet-friendly for camping sites outside of peak period (conditions apply).

Here, there’s plenty to keep you entertained, such as:

  • safe swimming with surf club patrolled all tide beach and water sports
  • playground, basketball hoop pad, BBQ areas
  • lounges, recreation or TV rooms and table tennis
  • pedal carts available for hire
  • boat ramp
  • in adjoining reserves, younger to older play, fitness equipment to skate / scooter park and tidal estuary to explore
  • local eateries, bars, grocery stores, shopping, farmer & artisan markets, walk / cycle ways, leisure entertainment and events.

For more information, visit Destination Ōrewa.

Click here to book your stay at Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park.

Martins Bay Holiday Park

You’ll find a unique tranquil coastal escape with a beautiful long sandy beach and grass and tree shaded embankment at Martins Bay Holiday Park, Martins Bay, Mahurangi East.

Only an hour’s drive from Auckland city, this holiday park offers amazing scenery, safe swimming and beach launching access ramp in the main Martins Bay Reserve for boating and fishing.

Accommodation options include regular, plateau with elevated view, second row to beachfront powered camp sites, caravans with awnings, standard, ensuite to fully self-contained cabins and an eco-structure glamping tent.

As a visitor to Martins Bay Holiday Park you also have access to:

  • safe swimming beach with all tide pontoon

  • 3 amenities blocks, 2 kitchens, BBQ’s and sheltered dining areas

  • playground with tower tube slide, trampoline, recreation room, children’s games, toys and books to borrow to further enjoy your stay

  • kayaks, stand-up paddle boards (SUP’s), pedal carts are available for hire at reception (BYO bikes)

  • fish cleaning area, boat wash and casual trailer boat/pwc parking sites

  • Scandrett and Mahurangi East Regional Parks.

Click here to book your stay at Martins Bay Holiday Park.

Whangateau Holiday Park

A similar distance from Auckland to Martins Bay, is the hidden gem of a waterfront holiday park on Whangateau Harbour between Matakana and Leigh.

Whangataeau Holiday Park is an ideal paradise spot for families and friends to group holidays.

Accommodation options include regular/waterfront powered sites, family cabins, budget to self-contained units and waterfront caravans.

A few of the many activities you can enjoy include:

  • swimming, pontoon access, fishing or exploring the tidal harbour

  • pedal carts, kayaks and SUP’s available for hire

  • playground and next-door adjoining sports fields

  • barbecue area, picnic tables, recreation room

  • nearby Matakana, markets, Omaha, Tawharanui Regional Park, Goat Island Marine reserve, eateries, vineyards and breweries. For more information, visit Matakana Coast.

All Auckland Council holiday parks have a wide range of accommodation options and facilities to suit your needs. There’s also plenty of extra in and around each holiday park to keep everyone entertained for the duration of your stay.

So, if an overseas trip isn’t on the cards currently, it doesn’t mean you have to go without a holiday break, or that you must wait until Christmas for fun in the sun. Bookings are available now at any one of Auckland Council’s three holiday parks in the Ōrewa, Martins Bay and Whangateau areas – and for a lot less than a trip to Fiji!

Greening of Te Hā Noa begins as 11 native trees and 900 plants arrive in Victoria Street

Source: Auckland Council

Eleven trees – two close to five metres tall – have been crane-lifted into waiting tree pits in Victoria Street this week, marking another milestone in the emergence of Te Hā Noa.

The maturing trees selected for this project have been grown and nurtured in Auckland nurseries, some for more than a decade.

Te Hā Noa will be a high quality accessible public space, welcoming people who are arriving into Victoria Street from Te Waihorotiu Station from 2026.

The name Te Hā Noa was gifted by mana whenua, conveying thoughts about the freedom to breathe and enjoy the experience of the sights and sounds around you.

Mana whenua have also guided the terracing design of the tree pits, referencing the volcanic geology and forms of Tamaki Makaurau. Visitors will be able to sit on the natural stone terraces under the shade of native trees, with uplit foliage in the evenings. Widened footpaths will provide improved amenity for people enjoying the space.

The opening of this first stage of Te Hā Noa – from Elliott Street to Queen Street – is not far away. The project team anticipate this section to be publicly accessible from late October, with the second stage from Lorne Street to Albert Park opening around the end of summer.  

People will see pōhutukawa, pūriri, taraire and tītoki greening the fringes of the redesigned street, with 900 plants creating understories beneath the canopies by the end of September. The 11 native trees are the first of 20 of varying sizes being planted by Auckland Council in Victoria Street.

Councillor Richard Hills is looking forward to seeing the trees arrive in Victoria Street this week.

“We see the massive benefits the great new trees on Quay St, Te Wānanga and Wynyard Quarter are making. Te Hā Noa will add to Auckland’s healthy and diverse network of green infrastructure, which is critical across the region,” he says.

Trees provide shade and shelter, attract birdlife, cool the city centre and absorb carbon. With hard concrete surfaces and heat from reflective glass high rises, it can be a challenge in an urban setting to create an environment where trees and vegetation thrive.

The tree pits for Te Hā Noa are designed to keep the trees safe from heavy equipment and vehicles and allow them to flourish. Some are also a sustainable part of the city’s stormwater drainage system. Surface rainwater from the road and paved surfaces is dispersed into the tree pits.

In time, Te Hā Noa will form a green link across the city, linking two city parks – Rangipuke / Albert Park and Waikōkota / Victoria Park.

The trees are another visual symbol of the step-change locals are seeing in the station neighbourhood. The trees arrive as the Auckland Council group announces the next series of construction milestones.

Complementary streets

Victoria Street is one of three east-west streets in the Te Waihorotiu Station neighbourhood undergoing a major transformation to create a new gateway for the city centre.

Before the regeneration of midtown, Victoria Street, Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive were dense traffic routes carrying more than four lanes of cars, trucks and buses, with cyclists hugging the edges, pedestrians vying with scooters along narrow footpaths and a noisy environment for businesses.

The new station means thousands of people will arrive directly into midtown by train, boosting foot traffic for businesses in the area. The neighbourhood upgrade will see Wellesley Street become an important central city bus interchange, and the upgraded Victoria Street will make connecting between walking, cycling, high frequency bus routes, and the train station easier and safer.

Councillor Richard Hills says Aucklanders have a lot to look forward to once the delivery of these complex integrated works is complete. He says the area will flourish as a commercial, hospitality and residential community with Te Waihorotiu Station at its heart.

“I’m looking forward to our new streets and spaces, an underground rail network, better bus routes, billions of dollars of private sector investment in the area, and a thriving arts quarter, bordered by three beautiful city parks – Myers, Albert and Victoria.

“It’s great to see that residents and visitors can now walk on brand new pavement all the way along Albert Street to the waterfront. We are still working on big infrastructure upgrades in the city centre, but large areas of our new public realm are now complete,” Councillor Hills says.

Vision and delivery

Visionary urbanist Jane Jacob comments on the vital role public spaces play in the life of a city. “A city’s streets and their sidewalks – the main public places of a city – are its most vital organs,” she says.

Jenny Larking, Auckland Council Head of City Centre Programmes, echoes this sentiment when speaking about the station neighbourhood her team and the wider Auckland Council group are delivering in midtown.

“We recognise that beautiful public spaces encourage social interaction, creating a strong sense of community and belonging. These spaces become the stages where city life unfolds, memories are made, and a city’s identity is forged.

“We are creating streets and spaces that are authentic, safe, sustainable and reflective of our place in the world, with mana whenua-led expression woven throughout, while continuing to support the operations of a busy city centre.

“By 2026, this regeneration programme we’re leading will transform midtown. I am pleased we can encourage Aucklanders to come and see the first batch of trees we’ve planted for Te Hā Noa. There is a lot for everyone to look forward to,” she says.

Read about the multiple projects being co-ordinated in midtown here and the wide-ranging benefits of trees here.

Read more about the city centre’s transformation here.

Searching for a home? Here’s what you need to look out for

Source: Auckland Council

Anyone wanting to buy or rent a home is encouraged to look at all available natural hazards information in this time of increasing climate uncertainty.

Auckland Council says there are a number of resources to help ensure buyers and renters are aware of potential flooding and landslide risks at a property.

Research from insurer IAG earlier this year found more buyers are considering climate risks when looking at a potential new home. Its research found house hunters rank weather and natural disaster risk as the second most important factor after price when looking to rent or buy.

But Mace Ward, who is leading Auckland’s recovery from 2023 storms, says most people don’t know where to find this information.

“For many, their home is their most significant asset. Making a rushed decision could get people stuck with a home that has major safety, insurance and resale challenges,” says Ward who is the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office Group Recovery Manager.

“There are some fantastic resources available to understand flooding, landslide and other natural hazard risks at a property and in the neighbourhood. These are all publicly accessible, and in this time of climate uncertainty are essential tools for anyone looking to buy or rent.”

Available resources include flood risk maps, information on past claims, council documents and talking to expert advisors.

Essential hazard risk tools:

  • Your property lawyer who will help guide you through the buying process with advice on understanding any risks.
  • Auckland Council Flood Viewer – enter the home address into this free map to understand any flooding risks at and around a property. The map identifies flood plains (areas predicted to be covered by flood water during heavy rain), flood-prone areas (low-lying areas where water can become trapped and collect during heavy rain), overland flow paths (natural water routes during heavy rain), and coastal inundation (coastal areas predicted to be covered by sea during large storms).
  • LIM report – a summary of information about the property, including identified flood and landslide hazards, along with emergency placard and risk categorisation information. It is standard practice for buyers and their property lawyers to request a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) from council ahead of proceeding with a purchase.
  • Auckland Council property file – a record of activities and communications undertaken by the council regarding the property. This will include information on any damage and work involving council where consents were needed. If a property was given a Category 1, it will be recorded here.
  • Property landslide and flood risk category – if the property was signed up to council’s property categorisation programme following 2023 major storms, and received a final risk category, information about any unresolved ‘intolerable risk to life’ will appear on its LIM report and property file.
  • Natural Hazards Commission claims map – a free to access map of settled NHCover (previously known as EQCover) claims in the area from past natural hazard events. These claims mostly relate to landslides.
  • Hazard Viewer map – a free-to-access collection of flooding, severe wind, coastal inundation, tsunami, volcanic and earthquake risk maps.
  • Insurance companies – talk to insurers and ask them to confirm if the property can be insured, the annual premium, the excess and any conditions. They will also have information about previous claims made. Banks typically require a home to be insured before they approve a mortgage.

We would also recommend checking out Auckland Council’s GeoMaps tool – maps to find out different aspects of Auckland’s geography and planning zones.

Inaugural board appointed to the Auckland Future Fund

Source: Auckland Council

The Auckland Future Fund’s inaugural board is in place, with three experienced directors confirmed to lead the new regional wealth fund.

The future fund trustee’s board of directors includes Chair Christopher Swasbrook and Directors David Callanan and Craig Stobo. They will be formally inducted as a board this month for a three-year term.

Auckland Future Fund lead councillor and Performance and Appointments Committee representative, Councillor Christine Fletcher, chaired the selection panel and is pleased with the board’s calibre.

“The Auckland Future Fund is an investment for current and future Aucklanders. Once formally established, the fund will be an enduring asset for Auckland – enhancing our region’s resilience and helping fund services and infrastructure, while reducing our reliance on rates,” said Mrs Fletcher.

“On that basis, we have selected Christopher, David and Craig based on their extensive experience in business, finance and investments. They were chosen from an impressive pool of over 80 candidates, which also reflects the high interest and support for the fund.

“We know how important the inaugural board is in setting the Auckland Future Fund on the right path and realising Auckland Council’s vision for a fund that will provide for Aucklanders now and into the future.”

The future fund was confirmed in June through the council’s Long-term Plan 2024-2034. It is estimated to provide the council with around an additional $40 million of cash returns per year from 2025/26.

The fund will initially be capitalised with the council’s remaining Auckland International Airport Limited shares.

As a Council-controlled Organisation (CCO), the Auckland Future Fund will operate under the high-level direction of the council, but through an independent structure.

This means the board will make all key decisions on how the fund will operate, once in place. Detailed governance arrangements for the Auckland Future Fund will be confirmed once the board have formally met.

Mayor Wayne Brown welcomed the new board and the value their expertise in business and investing will bring to the new Auckland Future Fund.

“The fund is a way for us to deliver greater physical and financial resilience for Auckland, protect the value of council’s intergenerational assets and enhance cash returns. I am really pleased to see this board in place and progressing the fund, which is a new strategy that will help us better deliver for Aucklanders.”

The Auckland Future Fund board’s appointment was confirmed at the council’s Performance and Appointments Committee on 27 August 2024.

The Performance and Appointments Committee is responsible for appointments to the boards of Council-controlled Organisations, in accordance with the council’s Appointment and Remuneration Policy for Board Members and the Local Government Act.

About the board

Chair – Christopher Swasbrook

Christopher Swasbrook is the Founder and Managing Director of Elevation Capital and Co-Founder and Director of NZX-listed New Zealand Rural Land Company. He is also a Director of Bethunes Investments and McCashins Brewery.

Previously, he was Chair of NZX-listed Allied Farmers, Director of NZX-listed Mowbray Collectables, Director of NZX-listed Satara Co-Operative Group, and Director of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.

Early in Mr Swasbrook’s financial markets career he became a Foundation Broker of the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) after having been a Full Member of the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZSE). He became Partner and Co-Head of Institutional Equities at Goldman Sachs JBWere (NZ) in 2003.

Mr Swasbrook is currently a Board Member of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), having previously served as a Member of the NZX Listing Subcommittee (2008-2023) and a Member of the New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Tribunal (2013-2023).

Since graduating from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) in 1996, he has undertaken Executive Education courses at Columbia University (New York), New York University (NYU), London School of Economics (LSE) and the Harvard Kennedy School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Born in Auckland, he has been a long-time supporter of business and arts communities and is an Inaugural Member and current Chair of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Advisory Board.

Director – David Callanan

David has over 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector, including more than a decade in senior executive roles specialising in risk, compliance, legal and governance.

Before coming to New Zealand, he spent four years at PwC in Australia and the UK, and six years at the Citibank-State Street fund administration joint venture, CitiStreet Australia.

David joined Public Trust in 2019 and is currently the General Manager, Corporate Trustee Services. In this role David and his team oversee many of New Zealand’s leading managed investment scheme fund managers and KiwiSaver providers as supervisor and/or custodian, as well as fulfilling the responsibilities of trustee, security trustee, or statutory supervisor for various financial products and services.

David holds a Bachelor of Laws and holds post-graduate qualifications in risk management, assurance and governance. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, the global professional body for governance professionals.

David has lived in Auckland for almost 10 years and is raising three primary and intermediate school-aged boys on the North Shore.

Director – Craig Stobo

Craig Stobo is currently an independent Chair of the Financial Markets Authority, the Local Government Funding Agency and NZX-listed NZ Windfarms Ltd. His previous independent directorships included NZX-listed Precinct Properties and Fliway Group, and AIG Insurance NZ. 

Craig has executive and governance experience in foreign policy, economics, investment banking, central and local government advisory, aquaculture, viticulture, wealth management, funds administration and funds management, including as co-founder and CEO of BT Funds Management.

Craig graduated BA Hons (First Class) from Otago and completed the Advanced Management Programme at The Wharton School, Philadelphia. He is an Associate Member of CFA Society NZ, a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, and a member of the NZ Initiative.

His pro bono work includes Chair of the Finance and Risk Committee of Cancer Society Auckland and Northern, Chair of the Waitaki Boys High School Foundation and is a Taumata of the University of Otago Business School.

Note: The selection panel was comprised of Councillor Christine Fletcher (panel chair); Mayor Wayne Brown; David Taipari – Houkura Independent Māori Statutory Board chair; Phil Wilson – Chief Executive and Jazz Singh – Chief of Staff, Mayoral Office.

Marae initiatives supported at Auckland Council

Source: Auckland Council

Marae are a critical cultural connection hub not only for mana whenua and mataawaka, but also increasingly for wider communities throughout our region – which is why Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau has approved more than half a million dollars toward marae development projects.

The support and guidance provided by marae and their tight-knit networks throughout the Covid pandemic and in the 2023 weather events often made the difference for communities’ resilience and their ability to find ways to thrive in the face of adversity.

With this in mind, Auckland Council has an increasing focus to ensure that marae infrastructure, capability and support systems across the isthmus are robust, efficient and resilient. The council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee has recently allocated funding from its 2024/2025 Cultural Initiatives Fund to seven specific marae development projects (see below), of which three marae are first-time recipients.

Councillor Richard Hills, chair of the committee, says that the funds approved on 25 July for grants in this financial year reflect a continued commitment in the Auckland Plan and Long-term Plan to ensure marae are self-sustaining and prosperous.

“Safe, healthy and warm marae, and papakāinga housing are two of the 10 mana outcomes identified by Māori as key priorities in Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau, our Māori Outcomes Performance Framework.”

“The grants approved will support mana whenua and mataawaka marae to manage the costs associated with their growth and connections into their communities. These projects range from technical feasibility and design planning for Otakanini Haranui Marae in the Kaipara, to supporting Ngāti Ōtara Marae in South Auckland with remedial repairs and project management costs.”

The Cultural Initiatives Fund allocates limited pūtea/funding each year in the form of contestable grants for capital costs that support marae and papakāinga / Māori housing in Tāmaki Makaurau. This sits alongside and complements our Marae Infrastructure Programme, which allocates non-contestable grants to more significant infrastructure projects, drawing from the Māori Outcomes Fund specified in the council’s Long-Term Plan 2024-2034.

A total of 20 marae across the region have been allocated Cultural Initiatives Funding over the past 10 years, including Ngāti Wai o Aotea Kawa Marae Trust on Aotea / Great Barrier Island who were supported last year to become more self-sufficient by installing solar panels and a new hot water system. Thanks to the fund, Rereteewhioi Marae in Waiuku was also supported in 2023, and a new wharenui building is now under construction.

Houkura / Independent Māori Statutory Board member Glenn Wilcox emphasises the value of the Cultural Initiatives Fund for our communities.

“It’s great to see Auckland Council addressing a previously forgotten group of buildings and institutions that are particularly Aotearoa New Zealand and unique to our landscapes and communities. Marae are not just buildings – they’re about people and our relationships with those people.”

As part of the council’s ongoing focus on improvement, a review of the Cultural Initiatives Fund, the Marae Infrastructure Programme and the overall Māori Outcomes Fund is planned for later this year to ensure that all mahi in this area is aligned and delivering for mana whenua, mataawaka and all of Tāmaki Makaurau.

2024/2025 Cultural Initiatives Fund grants approved:

CIF Marae Development

 

Te Herenga Waka o Orewa

$33,000

Kaipātiki Community Facilities Trust – He Oranga Wairua Marae

$170,000

Ruapōtaka Marae

$170,000

Otakanini Haranui Marae

$70,000

Omaha Marae

$20,000

Ngāti Ōtara Marae

$45,000

Te Hana Community Development Charitable Trust

$80,000

Total amount:

$588,000