Report covering the period 10 July until 6 August 2017.
Highlights
Fukuoka Garden opens: It has now been over three and half years since the loss of the original garden in the zoo so it was a great pleasure to attend the opening on 17 July and to celebrate the hard work of the many people involved with re-establishing the Fukuoka Friendship Garden including the original garden designer Professor Kubota. A large delegation led by Mayor Takashima attended from Fukuoka to strengthen the sister city ties. (Attachment A Beautifully crafted Japanese garden blooms again Ponsonby News column)
Gave the Opening Address at the Economic Development Masterclass Local Economic Development Masterclass; Supporting economic resilience and was part of a panel discussion with Neil McInroy – Centre for Local Economic Strategies, Gael Surgenor – GM The Southern Initiative, Riria Te Kanawa – KPMG – Author of Māui Rau: from signal to action. A report on the Māori economy. (Attachment B)- Two solar-powered device-charging tables installed at Aotea Square and Victoria Park. An idea that came from the Board’s
Low Carbon Action Plan (Photo right with Board Member Thomas at the charging table in Aotea Square) - Attended the LGNZ Annual conference as the Board’s delegate 23- 25 July and Local Board representative with the Auckland Council delegation to the LGNZ AGM on 25 July (Conference report back Attachment C).
- Presented the prizes for an Auckland Transport road safety poster competition at Richmond Road School. Congratulations to runners up Jenna Ivanov-Fesien, Mahina Mareroa Morgan Laird
and winner Lily Smith. The winning poster is going to be super sized and used for traffic management for the Ponsonby Road Pedestrian improvement project works.- The renewal and upgrade of the upper Pt Resolution/Taurarua stairs and the concrete path from the top of the stairs to the park entrance are complete as well as the section of path between the stairs. This completes three stages of the renewals/upgrades that form the Pt Resolution/Taurarua Development Plan. The next stage will be the renewal/upgrade of the fencing around the top of the park. This is being scoped and a proposal will be presented to the local board in November 2017 for consideration and feedback.
After a lengthy delay weed control has taken place in the Rose Road Gully (Grey Lynn Park) with funding provided by the Board. Further weed control works are to be completed with an ongoing maintenance and restoration programme involving community volunteers.
Meetings and workshops: 10 July until 4 August
- Weekly Chair’s meeting every Monday morning
- Monthly Local Board Chairs’ Forum on 10 July
- Business meeting run through
- Waitematā Local Board workshops on 11, 18 July and 1 August
- Local Economic Development Masterclass; Supporting economic resilience on 12 July (Attachment B)
- Parks Portfolio discussion – including parks related Community Facilities matters on 12 July
- PBA Board meeting on 13 July
- Meeting with Jenny Hutchings, Mapura Studios on 13 July
- Meeting on 14 July with John Elliott, Ponsonby News to discuss glysophate spraying issues in Waitematā.
- Briefing on the Dilworth Terrace Housings viewshaft 14 July
- Attended the Grafton Residential Parking Zone Public open day held by Auckland Transport on 15 July
- Local Boards sub-regional workshop on 17 July
- Engagement Walk-Through on Homelessness (Attachment D)
- Attended the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel meeting on 17 July and gave a short presentation to introduce the Board.
- Meeting with Mayor Goff on 18 July to consider council’s position on remits submitted to the LGNZ AGM
- Parnell Station visit with Simon Wilson for an article in the Spinoff (Attachment E)
- Waitematā Local Board business meeting on 18 July
- Meet the Epsom candidates meeting hosting by Parnell Business Association on 18 July at Jubilee Buildings
- Meeting to discuss Waitemata Good Citizens Awards 2017 on 19 July
- Monthly comms meeting on 19 July
- Meeting with Kathryn King, Walking and Cycling Manager to discuss the prioritisation process for cycling projects including the old Parnell Tunnel Greenway
- Catch up with General Manager, K’rd Business Association
- Meeting with the CEO of Sport Auckland
- Annual BID presentation by Ponsonby Business Association on 20 July
- Interview with BID programme team member on 21 July for an article to be published on Auckland Council’s BID website (Attachment F)
Attended the LGNZ Annual conference as the Board’s delegate 23- 25 July (Conference report back Attachment C)- Auckland Council delegate to the LGNZ AGM on 25 July
- Planning Committee briefing on Commercial Bay
- Attended the Heritage Advisory Panel meeting on 25 July to hear a presentation on the restoration of Parnell Station
- Friends of Symonds St AGM on 25 July
- Handover meeting with Kathryn Martin, Acting Relationship Manager before her return to Rodney Local Board and farewell on 26 July
- Meeting on with Business Lab to finalise the City Fringe Economic Development Action plan refresh
- Meeting on 26 July with Victoria Carter and Ben Carter, City Hop car share
- Meeting on 27 July with officers to discuss meeting planned with Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club
- Inner City Network Meeting on 27 July held at Studio One with a presentation on Civil Defence & Emergency Management
- Site visit to Didas Café to discuss flooding issues
- Catch up with James Wilson, Q Theatre CEO and Catherine George, at Q Theatre on 28 July
- Interview with Julie Fairey for Red Alert radio on Planet FM
- Auckland Paths Leadership Group meeting on 31 July
- Meeting to discuss Achievements Report on 1 August
- Transport portfolio catch up on 2 August
- Joint Local Board Chairs and Governing body members meeting with Mayor Goff
- Meeting with 254 Ponsonby Road community- led engagement group on 4 August
Events and functions: 10 July until 6 August
- The Road That Wasn’t There at Herald Theatre on 11 July
- My Best Dead Friend at Q Theatre on 12 July
- Viewing of a new work in development called ‘The Secret Thief’ from the Lights Out Project funded by CNZ at the invitation of TAPAC on 15 July
- Opening of Fukuoka Gardens at Western Springs on 17 July (Attachment A)
- Opening of the New Zealand International Film Festival at Civic Theatre on 20 July
- Event with the PM Rt Hon Bill English to hear the PM’s views on Auckland’s future hosted by Heart of the City at Warren & Mahoney on 27 July
- Fundraising Art Exhibition hosted by the Ponsonby Cruising Club on 28 July
- Commentator with Alan Johnson at the NZ Fabian Society’s Election series: For the Love of Auckland; Housing, Transport, Doing better for the City discussion with Phil Tyford and Julie Anne Genter. Held at the University of Auckland, Business School on 31 July
- Greens Auckland Launch on 1 August
- Film Festival Screening of Citizen Jane: Battle for the City at ASB Waterfront Theatre
- Smarts Seeds showcase on 2 August at Aotea Centre at the invitation of Amy Malcolm, University of Auckland
- Presentation of prizes for Auckland Transport’s road safety poster competition at Richmond Road Primary School assembly on 4 August
- Interview with David Batten to discuss Reimagining Great North Road community –led plan
- Launch by Cr Penny Hulse of the Rubbish and Recycling Guide “Feeling Rubbish” for the blind at the Blind Foundation on 5 August
- Sweet Harmony concert on 5 August starring the Auckland Street Choir in support of Lifewise and the Auckland City Mission
- Labour’s Transport policy announcement at Wynyard Quarter on 6 August
Gift Declarations
- Tickets x 2 The Road That Wasn’t There at Herald Theatre and My Dead Best Friend at Q Theatre at the invitation of Zanetti Productions
- Opening of the New Zealand International Film Festival