Over the last month Auckland has been front and centre in the news for many reasons, good and not so good. Let’s start with the not so good news. There is no doubt that the shooting that happened on Quay Street in July was horrific. My deepest condolences remain with the families and friends of the men who died. Police and First Responders deserve every accolade as they were on site and contained the incident very quickly. A week after the event, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei held a karakia (attended by over 200 people) and blessed the site, enabling us to remember the men who lost their lives as well as clearing and resetting the space for normal use.
For more positive news, Auckland remains most definitely on the world stage co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. The sheer scale of this event is incredible for Auckland. It is estimated 2 billion people will watch the tournament from around the globe. Eden Park has had record breaking attendance at the six out of nine matches that have been played so far in Auckland. We have seen the biggest crowds in New Zealand’s football history (that’s men AND women’s football). Nearly 43,000 for the USA V Portugal match and 42,137 for the opening Football Ferns match. Already this tournament has been an immense boost for our economy, our tourism, our restaurants, and businesses. FIFA fever has rippled throughout Auckland, but it’s not just hype and visitors, we have seen tangible improvements to our facilities. For example, the practice grounds that eight teams based in Auckland have used have had fantastic upgrades. Our closest one is Michaels Avenue Reserve in Ellerslie which had training field investment from FIFA and some extra funding enabling us to bring forward work already planned to coincide with the tournament and host the Argentinean team.
We have also seen over 30,000 fans (local and international) visit the FIFA Fan Festival at The Cloud on Quay Street. It has been a popular place to watch the games, buy FIFA merchandise and just get into the exciting atmosphere of the tournament. Hosting FIFA representatives has been a big part of my deputy mayor role. It is pleasing to see that as visitors to Auckland, they have given positive feedback so far in regard to our city, hospitality and visitor attractions.
The Matariki Festival also broke attendance records. There were over 100 events in Auckland, held up by three signature events. Two of those based in the Ōrākei ward. Over 2000 people, the biggest crowd yet, attended the Umu Kohukohu Whetū (Dawn service) at Takaparawhau/ Bastion Point. Nearly 4000 attended the family favourite, Manu Aute Kite Day at Bastion Point to fly their kites, or watch the giant kites fill the skies. In the city, 8000 people visited the Town Hall to take part in the Matariki Festival activities. Thank you to the organisers, volunteers and everyone that made the celebrations so special. I have to say seeing the artwork by school children from Stonefields, Ōrākei and Kohimarama primary schools displayed at Orakei Bay Village was a highlight for me.
Just last week I was in my gumboots out with the Ōrākei Local Board members and volunteers planting 1500 new ‘trees’ at Waiatarua reserve in Remuera. For over 10 years I’ve been planting here, and it is great to see how big the plants have grown from past years contributing to a better environment and planet.
Talking about the planet, you would have seen green food waste bins being delivered to your homes. The council are collecting foods scraps as part of reaching its aim for zero waste by 2040. Keeping our food scraps out of the rubbish is a great way we all can help. The council expects to collect nearly 40,000 tonnes of food scraps in the first year – equal to taking 10,000 medium-sized cars off the road! Also, the food scraps collection service is turning waste into renewable energy and liquid fertiliser.
What do you need to know?
• Food scraps collection is weekly - remember to put your green food scraps bin out on the same day your red lid bin is collected.
• All food including meat, bones, eggshells, citrus, coffee grounds can be added.
• Inside the green food scraps bin is a smaller caddy that you can keep in your kitchen
• More information can be found on the council website here.
Many people have said, I have an insinkerator or a compost bin so don’t need this bin. I voted to try and make this system optional but lost that vote with the majority of councillors voting for it to be compulsory, so that’s why it is.
Storm recovery
It has now been more than 6 months since the January floods and there are still nearly 2000 placarded properties across Auckland as a result of the January floods and Cyclone Gabrielle:
• 324 properties with a red placard
• 1641 properties with a yellow placard
• 4 White properties with a white placard
Of the nearly 2000 properties, our two local Board areas still have a number unresolved. As of 20 July, in the Orakei Local Board area there were 7 red placarded properties, 33 yellow placarded properties and no white placarded properties. For the Waitemata Local Board area there were 9 red placards, just over 110 yellow and no remaining white placards.
Recovery from the floods is taking time. The council is aware of urgency and the certainty people want, but need to balance this with ensuring we get the next steps right for Aucklanders. There are larger scale plans which the Mayor has outlined in his Making Space for Water Proposal and it’s expensive. Current estimations of costs for this programme could be as high as $1.65 billion over 6 years, bringing the potential costs associated with the flooding and cyclone events (including recovery, potential buyouts and further resilience) to as high as $4 billion- yes that’s B for billion.
Risk categorisation.
The council and central government are still in discussions to iron out the details of the potential buy out process of Risk Category 3 homes. What we do know is that some current homes will need to be removed from specific areas of land in Auckland due to the high risk of flooding.
However, at this stage it is important that the council participates in a robust negotiation process with the government. An important consideration is how the buyout and risk assessment process will be funded. The government initially indicated that details for buyouts and valuations should be completed by June 2023, obviously that date is well passed but discussions continue.
What I would like to emphasise, is that if your property is confirmed to be in Risk Category 3 following a detailed risk assessment, you will be contacted about the property buyout programme. This means that you will get to decide whether to accept any buyout offer that may be made.
Recent Committee decision digest
All council reports and minutes can be viewed on the council website: infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
Governing Body also receives performance reports from the Chief Executive and Chief financial officer monthly. Here are the key decisions from our recent public meetings.
Open council consultations -Have your say
It is important that you contribute to consultations and have you say. It is a way that we can hear your views and use your feedback to make sure it reflects what you want. I have highlighted a few below; however, all consultations are listed on the council website.
Local Board Plans (Closes 14 Aug)
https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/hub-page/local-board-plans-2023
Storm Recovery and Resilience (Closes 31 Aug)
https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/storm-recovery
Auckland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan (Closes 31 Aug)
https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/cdem-group-plan
On top of my full Council meeting schedule, I have attended events, given speeches and been out and about checking in on the local community. Earlier this week I welcomed a new Japanese Consul General to Auckland (based in Glendowie).
Like the last newsletter, I thought it would be a great idea to end on acknowledging some wins.
· As you know one of my favourite places in Auckland is the Domain and I am so proud to be included in this part of its history. Check out the new Winter Garden plaque when you visit. It is the attention to detail that makes this renovation incredible, down to the original design and font of the plaque matching the one on the terrace from 1928.
· The Eastern line has temporarily reopened (only on the days of the nine FIFA Women’s World Cup games) helping transport fans to where they need to be.
· Judges bay works – Watercare redirected the interim sewage pipe under the road and removed the temporary speed bump on Gladstone Road.
Work still in progress:
· Tamaki Drive walkway- Auckland Transport are still on schedule for the pathway, seating, fencing to be completed by the end of August (may even be earlier)
· Intersection of Remuera Road and Upland Road traffic lights – After receiving several complaints that pedestrians hit their heads on the very low traffic lights there, I contacted Auckland Transport to find a solution. Have a look by Four Square and you will see what I mean. Auckland Transport will address this issue by relocating the pole to a new position, allowing them to install a standard height pole.
· Judges Bay road - there is a generator powering pumping around the damaged section of sewage pipe, however Watercare are planning to replace this with an electric pump. A Vector power supply has been installed and is now waiting on meter and power box installation. Once this has taken place the power supply can be connected, the generator removed and hopefully the noise disruption one and all.
Finally, I’m keen for your feedback on this newsletter. This time I’ve included a lot more information. Let me know if you feel it’s too much or not enough. There is so much to report on. Remember I update you almost daily on my Facebook page, so I am trying to get the balance right.
I saw a daffodil out on my local walk recently so hopefully this cold wet weather will pass soon. Thanks for keeping in touch and as you know I’m always available on desley.simpson@aucklandcouncil.govt
Desley