Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority will once again be closing the Maunga leading up to Guy Fawkes due to devastating fires in 2019 and 2020. This will be the fourth consecutive year the Tūpuna Maunga have been protected from fire damage during Guy Fawkes season.

All 14 ancestral Tūpuna Maunga will be closed for public access from Thursday 2 November to Sunday 5 November 2023.

The Maunga were closed to public after large scale fires broke out due to fireworks, causing extensive damage to several Maunga in Tāmaki Makaurau in 2019 and 2020. Maungarei / Mt Wellington being affected multiple times as well as Maungawhau / Mt Eden and Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain. It has taken the Authority years to repair the damage caused by the fire.

“The Maunga are a significant taonga to Mana Whenua and the people of Tāmaki Makaurau. These closures help protect the Maunga by eliminating fire damage. By reducing the risk of fires, we uphold the paramount historical, spiritual, ancestral, and cultural identity of the Tūpuna Maunga”, says Chairperson, Paul Majurey.

The Authority will have security staff patrol the Maunga throughout the closures and signage will be in place to remind the public of the upcoming event.

All the Tūpuna Maunga will be closed from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 November 2023, from 7.30 pm through to usual gate opening times the following day:

• Matukutūruru / Wiri Mountain

• Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill

• Maungarei / Mount Wellington

• Maungawhau / Mount Eden

• Maungauika / North Head

• Ōwairaka / Te Ahi-kā-a-Rakataura / Mount Albert

• Ōhinerau / Mount Hobson

• Ōhuiarangi / Pigeon Mountain

• Ōtāhuhu / Mount Richmond

• Pukewīwī / Puketāpapa / Mount Roskill

• Te Kōpuke / Tītīkōpuke / Mount St John

• Takarunga / Mount Victoria

• Te Pane o Mataaho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain

• Te Tātua a Riukiuta / Big King

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority continues its call for the government to end sales of fireworks to the public.

Paul Majurey says, “As long as fireworks are publicly available, we are left with no choice but to restrict access to avoid more massive fires and the enormous damage they cause. The Authority along with Auckland Council, the SPCA and many other groups around the country will continue to put pressure on the government to further restrict public sales of fireworks. It remains vital that the government puts measures in place that take fireworks out of the hands of those who aren’t capable of using them sensibly, while still allowing the public to enjoy controlled public fireworks displays.”

Source: Auckland Council

When dealing with excessive amounts of water due to flooding or other extreme weather events, water ingress can be a big problem. Moisture can seep into the many layers of a building and if the issue is not fixed promptly, it can often lead to irreparable damage. Basically, the longer water is left unchecked, the greater the level of damage and more health and safety issues can arise.  

The process of drying out a home can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. It is imperative that the home be thoroughly dried out before any repairs or remedial work begins. If walls, floors, or other spaces are closed in before being completely dried out, it can encourage mould and mildew growth, and can eventually lead to more serious forms of decay.  

Any remedial work that is classed as Restricted Building Work (RBW) must be carried out by a Licenced Building Practitioner (LBP). Restricted Building Work is any work needed to make a home structurally sound and weathertight. It is also known as ‘external moisture management systems’ and is work that requires a building consent or alters the primary structure of your home. This type of work generally involves larger, more complex jobs, such as alterations to foundations, floors, supporting walls and roofs, or remediation of wet area bathrooms.  

Has any remedial work been done on your property? 

It may be that repairs have already been done to your home and things are largely back to normal. That’s great! However, you might have noticed mould growing in areas that have been repaired, or perhaps these areas have started to become smelly. If this is the case, it is recommended that you seek expert advice. It could simply be a case of poor ventilation through the winter months, or it could potentially be a much bigger dampness problem that is hidden behind the walls.  

You may want to visit the following websites for more information and advice on what to do in this instance: 

The above links are good starting points to help answer your questions on what might be happening in your home and what could be done about it, however, to get an accurate diagnosis, you’ll need to get a professional to take a look. It’s always best to seek professional advice rather than try to diagnose it yourself.   

Are you planning to commence remedial work?  

Before any Restricted Building Work (or any remedial building work) is done on your property, it should be thoroughly dried out and adequately ventilated. This will mitigate the risk of any timber framing, lining, insulation, or other internal components to decay over time due to trapped moisture.

Watertightness can be compromised from many external areas. These include floors, roof/wall cladding, windows and doors, fixings and more. 

To sum up 

Following the catastrophic weather events experienced in Tāmaki Makaurau in 2023, hundreds of properties will be in various stages of repair. Many properties will have already been successfully repaired and require no further inspection. For those that have yet to have remedial work done, we stress the importance of thoroughly drying out the affected areas to ensure the best possible result and watertightness is maintained.  

As always, if you are in doubt about any issue or potential issue, check the resources provided here, seek help from a qualified professional, or contact our building helpdesk via acebuildhelpdesk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or phone 09 353 9358. 

Source: Auckland Council

Dedicated Māori seats on Auckland Council have been unanimously backed by Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.

Acting Board chair Harry Fatu Toleafoa says the board’s feedback on the proposal to have the seats was based on past engagement with the community and mana whenua on issues relating to delivering on Māori outcomes, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.

“We did not have the benefit of the results of the public consultation before we formalised our response, but we believe Auckland should take a strong stand on this issue as the city with the largest Māori population in Aotearoa.

“Our request has been that mana whenua views be given significant weighting as treaty partners.

“That reflects very strong mana whenua view support that they be accorded special status on governance entities as they have a special and enduring relationship to the rohe but are numerically smaller within the wider Māori and non-Māori populations.”

However, the board noted that neither the Parliamentary nor Royal Commission model would guarantee mana whenua as the main Māori voice on the Governing Body.

“The Parliamentary model doesn’t guarantee any mana whenua representation, and the Royal Commission model sets only one seat for all Tamaki Makaurau mana whenua,” Toleafoa says.

The board supported the Commission’s three seat model but called for it to be made up of two mana whenua appointed seats and one for mataawaka – those without iwi ties but still resident in the city – elected at large by Māori roll voters.

Toleafoa says that would require a law change that might delay seats until 2025, but members agreed with local mana whenua that the issue was too important to get wrong. “The right approach shouldn’t be sacrificed for expedience.”

Members reiterated previous advocacy for Māori – especially mana whenua – representation on boards and asked the Governing Body to urgently seek the necessary law change to enable that.

“We’re concerned future governments might not prioritise legislation to provide better Māori local government representation and we’ve asked the Governing Body to advocate for the protection of such measures.”

Source: Auckland Council

Papakura residents are invited to give their ideas on the future management of local parks. 

Consultation to help shape a draft Papakura Local Parks Management Plan is open now and runs until 11 November.  

Papakura Local Board has approved public notification of the intent to prepare a plan for all local parks and reserves, including inviting written suggestions.  

The plan will set a framework for the use, protection, and development of local parks.  

Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole says it’s important people get involved because local parks are critical to neighbourhoods. 

“This consultation is all about what people want from their parks. Various age groups might have different needs, we expect accessibility issues to be raised, and it might be that our ethnic communities would like things that reflect their needs or are drawn from their cultures in a way we have seen with Māori play elements.” 

The plan is still some way from being finalised, with consultation critical to the process. After feedback is analysed, a draft plan can be prepared. 

The board is responsible for parks within Papakura it has decision-making authority over, while in others it has only an advocacy role – where it can put forward suggestions, notably legal roads and drainage reserves with open space function. 

Land in scope includes park land for which the board has decision-making under both the Reserves Act and Local Government Act, but excludes open space not owned or managed by Auckland Council, and regional parks. 

The board has decision-making over about 140 parks and reserves, 11 with existing management plans, all of them 10 years old or more, and to be superseded by the new plan. 

It is anticipated a draft plan will be available for public consultation in early or mid-2025. 

Have Your Say here.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council has released its Te Pūrongo a Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau Ngā Huanga Māori / Auckland Council Group Māori Outcomes Report for 2022-2023, now in its fifth edition.

The purpose of the report is to measure how successfully we are contributing to the 10 mana outcomes of Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau and the priorities laid out in the 10-year Budget.

“In recent years, Tāmaki Makaurau has faced many challenges as well as heartening successes. This report provides valuable insights into Auckland Council’s delivery of Māori outcomes, for and with Māori. As we move forward, know that we are committed to keeping Māori wellbeing at the heart of all we do,” says Councillor Angela Dalton, Deputy Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee.

“I am proud of the successes highlighted in the report including the provision of this year’s Manaaki Fund to support flood and cyclone relief services, the Māori Outcomes Fund, Te Matatini Herenga Waka Herenga Tangata festival and some incredible success stories in our efforts to enhance te taiao (the environment) to restore the mana of the area.”

Councillor Kerrin Leoni, as the Portfolio Lead for Māori Outcomes and Auckland Council’s first wahine Māori councillor, endorsed the report.

“This report reaffirms Auckland Council’s commitment to fulfilling our legal and core policy objectives, while also identifying areas where we can improve, to ensure that Auckland Council’s commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi are truly realised,” says Cr Kerrin Leoni.

“While we celebrate the achievements in the report, it is essential to acknowledge that there is still work to be done. We must look beyond the confines of colonisation and engage with the diversity of Māori communities, acknowledging the unique needs of aspirations each iwi, hapū and mataawaka group. By doing so, we can forge a true partnership that fosters an environment where all can succeed. 

“This future is one where Māori are active participants in decision-making, where cultural heritage is celebrated and protected, and where the well-being of Māori communities and the environment are prioritised.”

Highlights for the 2022-2023 year include:

The commissioned review of Auckland Council’s engagement with Māori and the resulting ‘Beyond Obligations’ report

As a direct result of this report, Auckland Council has increased the capacity funding for mana whenua, and up to six mataawaka, commencing in the upcoming financial year 2023/2024, to resource their engagement in core Auckland Council processes, including the 10-year and annual budget, and bi-lateral engagements with Auckland Council.

Use of the Manaaki Fund to support the Flood and Cyclone Response

“The provision of this year’s Manaaki Fund, which enabled support for flood and cyclone relief services, exemplified our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of whānau Māori during challenging times,” says Cr Leoni.

Fifteen Māori-led active responders representing mana whenua entities, marae and Māori community providers in Tāmaki Makaurau received grants to support whānau Māori with flood and cyclone relief services during both the Auckland Anniversary Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle to a total of $266,444.

Working in partnership for te taiao / the environment

Māori and the Auckland Council group have worked together on many large-scale projects that aim to enhance the mauri (life force) of te taiao (the environment).

Auckland Council and mana whenua can be proud of the partnerships that have been formed during these projects. Some, such as Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek) and Awakeri wetlands have developed over many years, and they proved invaluable during the January floods, in addition to their many other benefits.

Te Matatini Herenga Waka Herenga Tangata

Auckland Council invested $1.3m of the Māori Outcomes Fund in the festival, with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited taking the lead to coordinate council support and involvement.

The festival is estimated to have made a direct economic contribution of almost $22 million to Tāmaki Makaurau and provided an incredible boost in cultural pride and wellbeing for Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau and across Aotearoa.

“Te Matatini, a beautiful showcase of Māori performing arts, has helped to weave Māori performing arts into the fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Lou-Ann Ballantyne, Auckland Council Tumuaki Huanga Māori, Acting Director of Ngā Mātārāe Māori Outcomes.

“Organisations across the council group engaged with the festival, from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s ‘Haka is Here’ promotional campaign to Auckland Transport providing integrated ticketing services and its own bus campaign featuring haka stars.  The festival not only welcomed over 70,000 spectators at Ngā Ana Wai Eden Park, but also reached its biggest ever broadcast audience of 2.5 million, taking Māori language and talent to a national and global audience.”

Māori Outcomes Fund

Projects and longer-term programmes funded using the Māori Outcomes Fund progressed, although significant underspend was incurred in the Marae Infrastructure Programme due to staffing and supply issues. Delays to the development and roll out of the Capacity Uplift project was also a contributor. Of the 24 initiatives funded during the year, nine are complete; one, the Western Kiosk – will be completed early in 2023, one is on hold and 13 are scheduled to continue. 

Read the full Te Pūrongo a Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau Ngā Huanga Māori 2022-2023 / Auckland Council Group Māori Outcomes Report 2022-2023.

Source: Auckland Council

If you or your whānau need assistance and would like to find out about support services available for storm affected Aucklanders, come along to one of our upcoming drop-in sessions.

At these free drop-ins, you can speak to one of our Storm Recovery Navigators one-on-one about your situation. Our team can help connect you with support agencies, provide you with information about recovery, and help you access wellbeing, social and health services.

At these free drop-ins, you can speak to one of our Storm Recovery Navigators one-on-one about your situation. Our team can help connect you with support agencies, provide you with information about recovery, and help you access wellbeing, social and health services.

We know that recovery is challenging and we are here to help you get back on your feet.

Upcoming drop-ins

Storm Recovery Navigators will be available on Tuesdays at the following locations:

Location	Time
Wesley Markets	17 October 9am-12pm 7 November 9am-12pm
Muriwai (Portacom next to the Ranger Station)	17 October 3pm-7pm 31 October 3pm-7pm
Central Library (CBD)	24 October 2pm-6pm
Epsom Library	31 October 2pm-6pm 21 November 2pm-6pm
Wesley Community Centre	7 November 2pm-6pm

Stay up to date

We will continue to update this page with new drop-in sessions, so please continue to check in.

If you are unable to attend the drop-in sessions, you can contact Navigators directly by emailing navigators@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Source: Auckland Council

From mid-October, Manukau residents can start using Auckland Council’s rukenga kai (food scraps) collections service.

Over the past month, nearly 100,000 food scraps bins have been delivered to residents in South Auckland.

Many Papakura residents are familiar with separating their food scraps for kerbside collection having a service since 2018. Now the rest of South Auckland will have their chance to divert food scraps from landfill.

Manukau Ward Councillor Alf Filipaina says the food scraps collection service is an important step in providing a sustainable future for our communities.

“From an environmental perspective, I’m proud of the contribution our communities will be making by diverting food scraps from landfill and putting them into the food scraps bin. The food scraps will be used for renewable energy and liquid fertiliser ensuring a better and healthier future for our children.”

Food waste in landfill is recognised as a global contributor to climate change. In landfill, it produces methane which is a greenhouse gas much more potent than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that diverting food scraps from landfill will save more than 21,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent every year.

Each household will receive a kerbside bin, a kitchen caddy that stays indoors, compostable bin liners and an information booklet. Translations of the booklet into other languages are available on the Auckland Council website. Language translations include te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Chinese, Hindi and Korean.

The food scraps bins will be collected kerbside weekly along with residents’ weekly council rubbish collection.

Once collected, food scraps from all over Auckland are taken to a central facility in Papakura for initial inspection and consolidation. The food scraps are transported by truck to the Reporoa Organics Processing Facility in the central North Island where they are converted into renewable energy and liquid fertiliser.

For the journey to Reporoa, the food scraps are loaded into trucks that have hauled construction material from the Waikato to Auckland. These trucks would otherwise be going back to the Waikato empty, so the collection does not result in additional trips.

Using anaerobic digestion technology, the food scraps are broken down into renewable energy and liquid fertiliser. Renewable energy in Auckland’s case is used to grow tomatoes in glasshouses next to the Reporoa facility, while the fertiliser is spread on neighbouring dairy farms.

Kī ana te rukenga kai i ngā taiora, mā tātou e huri hei rauemi.

Food scraps are full of nutrients, let’s turn them into a resource.

For more information about the food scraps collection visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/foodscraps

Source: Auckland Council

A new accessible facilities changing room at Albany Stadium Pool has opened, providing the first public bathroom for Auckland pool users with any type of mobility requirement.

Specialised equipment and the bathroom’s spacious layout will allow children and adults with reduced mobility – due to disability or reliance on a wheelchair – to be safely showered, changed, and use the toilet [independently or with support, if needed] in a comfortable and private space – possibly for the first time.

Adam Wakeford, a wheelchair user of high-needs facilities, says Albany’s changing room will open the door to inclusion for many people in his community.

Prior to suffering a neck fracture in 2001, Adam frequently swam and surfed in his spare time – but hasn’t been in a pool now for 20 years.

“This facility will definitely increase my chances of getting in the water again and doing something I loved,” Mr Wakeford says.

“Other Auckland swimming pools do have accessible toilet facilities but they’re generally not suitable for visitors who need extra support. Albany’s new bathroom will demonstrate how organisations can start to provide equitable access.”

Adam Wakeford says the new changing room will open the door to inclusion for many people.

Adam has been involved in Albany Stadium Pool project from the beginning and is pleased to confirm the finished design meets Lifemark® standards, endorsed by CCS Disability Action.

The bathroom’s enclosed area can accommodate a carer and wheelchair comfortably, with an adjustable toilet seat, shower seat, flat change bed, a hoist and basin – all controlled using remotes. It also features an automatic door, slip-resistant floor, and a mirror positioned for those who are seated.

Paralympic gold medallist swimmer and Wheel Black Cameron Leslie says the bathroom also offers new opportunities for athletes recovering from serious injury and focused on recuperation.

“Hats off the to Auckland Council for taking the initiative here. Fully accessible facilities are a constant challenge to find. Albany pool will support a key group of people to get into a pool more readily and achieve their fitness goals,” Mr Leslie says.

Upper Harbour Local Board Chair Anna Atkinson says the accessible facilities bathroom has been a significant investment with $205,000 contributed by the board, but it’s one that will really benefit users.

“It’s the right thing to do to ensure that everyone can enjoy a public swimming pool. Often adults and children with high needs don’t get to participate with family members and friends. While accessible facilities were not provided when the pool was built, I’m pleased they are now. I’m sure the new facility will enhance the mental and physical wellbeing of those facing everyday mobility obstacles,” says Chair Atkinson.

Albany Stadium Pool first opened in 2017, with the accessible facilities project initiated not long afterwards. The bathroom’s actual build has faced numerous challenges over the years including legal copyright issues, design changes and supply delays for specialised imported equipment.

Auckland Council’s Active Communities General Manager Dave Stewart has commended the council’s Aquatics Facilities team for ensuring the project stayed on track so Albany Stadium Pool could officially open the door this month to visitors of all abilities, no matter what age or stage of life they’re in.

“Our staff have worked tirelessly to overcome many obstacles, with a focus on ensuring equitable access for everyone – no matter what their requirements may be. I am proud of this commitment, and we can now celebrate having a public swimming pool that caters for everyone.”

How will the facility be managed?

• Albany Stadium Pool’s accessible facilities changing room requires a swipe card to open the sliding doors, which will be available at the front desk.
• Bookings are not needed. The changing room can be used anytime during pool opening hours however there may a slight wait during busy times and group visits.
• Two wheelchairs are available for use in the pool.
• A ramp and hoist are available to assist wheelchair users into the pool.

Source: Auckland Council

With the days getting longer and warmer, now is a great time to download Watercare’s customer app and keep a closer eye on your water usage.

The app, which was first launched for smart meter customers, is now available to all Watercare customers. People can compare their water use, billing history, pay a bill for one or multiple properties, receive notifications or talk to Watercare’s customer services team over live chat. 

Watercare head of customer experience Jason Pascoe says customers appreciate the convenience and flexibility of accessing their account information from their mobile devices – anytime and anywhere.

“What I like most about the app is that it enables us to notify people of leaks straight away.

“I also like the app’s intuitive design which allows customers to navigate between the different screens seamlessly.

“What appeals to customers most about the app is that they can interact with us and set their own water consumption target, which they can work towards to become more water efficient and keep their bills as low as possible.

“Most residential customers will find huge benefits from installing the app, especially those who live in a home with a smart meter”.

“Those who have a smart meter will be able to get more specific information from the app like incremental half-hour water consumption updates, which makes it easier to identify a water leak or avoid a high bill.”

Pascoe says what’s next on the agenda for the Watercare app is to introduce a Faults and Outages push notification.

“Beyond that we’re exploring how we can best provide customers with flexible billing options to give them the power to stay on top of their bills more easily.”

Download the Watercare app for free from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you would like to go in the draw to win a $500 gift card, please see the link for more details. The prize draw closes at 5pm Thursday, November 30. 

Source: Auckland Council

What lies beneath?

It is surprising what underground infrastructure can reveal as Auckland Council contractors discovered when excavating the partially collapsed stormwater pipe on College Hill for upgrade work. The works were being undertaken following the January flooding.

As Auckland Council’s General Manager Healthy Waters, Craig Mcilroy explains, a piece of the city’s construction history was uncovered.

“When trenching in August close to the junction of College Hill and Beaumont Street we uncovered a 19^th century double brick lined drainage tunnel, constructed before the city’s foreshore began at what is now Victoria Park.

“After discussions with Heritage NZ it was agreed we could carefully remove the damaged section of the drain to enable the installation of line.”

The tunnel’s bluestone base with double-lined brick above has been largely preserved except for where it clashes with the new pipe being installed.

Pipes being installed are a significant advance in sustainable concrete production. The 2.5 metre pipes with a 600mm internal diameter are made of low carbon concrete that achieves a 22 per cent reduction in emissions compared with a traditional concrete pipe.

Hynd’s Group Sustainability Manager Dr Jackson MacFarlane says the development of these pipes is an important milestone in their sustainability journey.

“By using these pipes for the project, we were able to avoid over 4.4 tons of CO2eq emissions.

“Auckland Council have set an ambitious embodied carbon reduction target and we’re proud to support them.”

The is the first time Healthy Waters have used low carbon pipes, which are manufactured by using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash and blast-furnace slag as a substitute for traditional cement, the most carbon intensive element of concrete.  

Auckland Council has identified concrete used in its construction projects, along with diesel from machinery and vehicles, as one of the greatest contributors to its carbon footprint. 

Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan commits Auckland Council to reducing carbon emissions in line with national and international commitments and has set itself a target of a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2023 with a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

The installation of pipe running from the intersection of Beaumont Street and Victoria Street West to England Street started Monday October 9. The $2.86 million project is expected to be completed in late December.