My Councillor report covers the period from 11 July 2021 until 7 August 2021. It has been prepared for the August business meetings of the Waitematā, Waiheke and Aotea Great Barrier Local Boards.
The purpose of my report is to detail my main activities and to share information with the public and local boards in my ward regarding governing body decisions, my attendance at events, regional consultations, media updates and key issues.
Positions
- Deputy Chair, Environment and Climate Change Committee
- Co-Chair, Hauraki Gulf Forum
- Member, Auckland City Centre Advisory Board (ACCAB)
- Board Member, LGNZ National Council and Auckland Zone co-chair
- Member, Auckland Domain Committee
- Member, Appointments and Performance Review Committee
- Member, Joint Governance Working Party
- Member, Waste Political Advisory Group
Summary
- The governing body took a two-week recess 11 July – 26 July (when there are no official meetings and it is an opportunity to have a break). During this time I attended the LGNZ Conference in Blenheim 14-17 July (photo above for the mihi whakatau I attended as a National Council board member), held a Councillor clinic on Waiheke, presented my monthly report to the Waitematā and Waiheke Local Board meetings and attended the reopening of the upgraded Puhinui train station.
Governing Body meetings – Key decisions
The minutes for all meetings are available on the Auckland Council website. The following is intended as a summary only.
On 29 July the Governing Body
- received report from Ports of Auckland Limited on progress with implementation of the recommendations from the independent review of health and safety at Ports of Auckland.
- noted the third quarter 2020/21 report of Auckland War Memorial Museum
- received confidential Auckland Council Shaping our Future Programme update on Optimise our Service Outcomes work
On 29 July the Finance and Performance Committee
- confirmed that the resolutions and report Optimise our Service Outcomes remain confidential until the reasons for confidentiality no longer exist, including communication with potentially affected staff.
On 3 August the Appointments and Performance Committee
- approved the brief for Watercare Services board appointments
- approved appointments to the Contemporary Arts Foundation and reinstatement of the CCO Board intern programme (decisions to be made public at the conclusion of the appointment process)
- received and approved the reviewed 2021 Appointments and Performance Review Committee forward work programme
- noted the confidential decisions and related information that is now publicly available:
- i) Appointments to Auckland Council’s Council-Controlled Organisations
- ii) Board Appointments to Tamaki Redevelopment Company Limited
iii) Board Appointments to Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board
- iv) Appointments to the board of Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust
- v) Board Appointments: Panuku Development Auckland
- vi) Appointments to the board of Auckland Unlimited
vii) Appointments to the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board.
On 5 August the Planning Committee
- received the Quiet Sky petition from Kim Whitaker in relation to the control of helicopter traffic on Waiheke Island and referred it to staff for consideration and response
- received the Waiheke Local Board input from Chair Cath alongside Nalayini Brito from Dark Sky Waiheke regarding a Dark Sky Park application for the east end of Waiheke Island
- revoked the previous resolution from Planning Committee to develop a Marina Strategy
- endorsed the preliminary approaches in response to the intensification provisions relating to “all other locations” in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development.
Attendance at events 11 July -7 August 2021
-
with Cr Hills and the PM who was just about to give the government’s address to the LGNZ conference 2021 in Blenheim During 14-17 July I attended the LGNZ National Council board meeting, the Te Maruata Hui the annual conference deferred from 2019 and the LGNZ AGM (a report back on the conference will be available on my next report).
On 19 July I MC’d Zonta’s International Women’s Day event celebrating achievements of notable women in our communities. The event had been previously postponed due to the pandemic.- On 20 July I attended the Waitematā Local Board Business meeting to present my July report
- On 21 July I visited Waiheke island, hosted a Councillor’s Clinic at the Local Board offices to meet with locals. In the evening I also attended the Waiheke Local Board Business meeting.
-
Downtown’s Te Kōrimurimu with artist Tessa Harris and the Mayor On 22 July I attended with the Mayor the opening of Kōrimurimu, interactive art work laid down at Te Wānanga on Quay St is a modern take on traditional raranga (weaving).
- Also on 22 July I attended in an LGNZ update about Three Waters
- On 24 July I attended the re-opening of Puhinui station, unlocking fast, frequent and easy connections to Auckland Airport
On 26 July I attended the ACCAB meeting and joined the ACCAB and Waitematā Local Board members for an Auckland City Mission evening at their new HomeGround Pop-Up on Wellesley Street. I also attended the GLBA meeting with AT to discuss connected community plans for Great North Road through the Surrey Cres shops (AT confirmed these plans are 3-5 years away)-
Receiving a copy of the Quiet Sky Waiheke petition On 28 July I was presented with a copy of a petition from Quiet Sky Waiheke to reduce helicopter traffic over Waiheke. The petition was officially presented to Auckland Council Planning Committee meeting on 5 August.
-
The Auckland Council team at the Zero Waste Awards 2021 On 29 July I attended the Zero Waste Awards 2021 at AUT where 114 individuals, groups, schools, marae, local businesses and social enterprises were nominated for this year’s awards, recognising those doing great things to help Auckland achieve its vision of zero waste by 2040. EcoMatters Environment Trust organised this year’s awards, in partnership with Auckland Council
On 30 July I attended a workshop with the Future for Local Government Panel for all Auckland Council elected representatives (photo right) and attended Auckland Transport’s isthmus elected representative Discussion Series – Innovating Streets- On 5 August I attended the leaving function for Damon Birchfield, Eco Matters CEO
- On 6 August attended the opening of the new Ponsonby Road office for Labour List MPs Helen White and Camilla Belich
On 7 August I spoke after the pōwhiri led by Ngāti Whātua Orākei for the new re-imagined birthday event HAUMI, celebrating the people, places and spaces of Wynyard Quarter on the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Waterfront. It was an opportunity to acknowledge the amazing Eke Panuku placemaking that makes Wynyard such a great environment and to remember the opening 10 years ago.