Budget speech for 2022/23

Our budgets this term have all been challenging, and sadly this one is no different. In our finance meetings and workshops over the past couple of years our Finance team have repeatedly talked to us about ‘financial head winds’ but we know what we’re facing now is a more like a financial cyclone. This budget is us putting our sandbags in place, moving to higher ground, and making sure we are as resilient as possible for there are still many unknowns. We know that some of the pressures we’re facing are temporary, but some may stick around for a while yet. The ongoing budget gap we face could be between $90 million and $150 million, depending on how the storm develops. That’s a big gap and a lot of unknown!

Following the draft mayoral proposal which went out for consultation in March, the mayor has now refined his original proposal based on feedback and updated financial projections. 

My thoughts on that are as follows:

First - the Climate Action Targeted rate. I don’t believe this should be based on the capital value of your home, nor do I personally believe the sequencing and prioritisation ofprojects associated with that spend are the best they could be. But we asked Aucklanders what they thought, noted the projects in that documentation, and the feedback was pretty clear. It had support. It had support across the region throughout  our consultation process, it had support from the majority oflocal boards including the two in my ward, and it had support from the independent Kantar poll. I absolutely support the careful monitoring of this rate spend, as we do with all our targeted rates, and I will be talking to every mayoral hopeful as to their thoughts on this going forward.

I am supportive of the grant to Coastguard. We are a region bordered by water and the work they do is critical for the safety of our communities. 

As for the government’s Better off Funding grant of $127 million - this grant does not in any way alter my view that the government’s direction on Three Waters is not good for Auckland. We know   Aucklanders do not agree with the Three Waters proposal, because they told us. Council’s recommendations on Three Waters are on record as being against, and the mayor has consistently and publicly been opposed to the reforms. But if the government is handing out a grant with no strings attached and we never have to pay it back, I’ll take it, especially in this challenging financial environment.

I think we should all be confident that the savings and efficiencies we have achieved this term have been the largest of any Auckland Council term to date. They currently total almost $230 million.  However, my personal belief is there are more to find. So to that end, I fully support looking at further savings opportunities across the group and further scoping of strategic opportunities for cost reductions as part of the Value for Money committee I chair, with Cr Mulholland as my deputy chair. The Value for Money work programme is critical

On debt… whilst eye wateringly large, it is only 18% of our assets… (I’m sure many wouldn’t mind their mortgage being 18%). This is supported in part by an average general rate of 3.5%. I note that this council term we have consistently ensured that our rates take from Aucklanders remains less than 40% of our income and this budget keeps to that figure coming in at 37%. Our debt to revenue will be well below our limit of 290% and the projections in our Recovery Budget, and our credit rating agencies Standard & Poors and Moodyshave supported us with AA and A2 ratings, respectively.

I’m challenged to support some of the deferral of capital expenditure over the next three years but know we have to make some decisions now to support ongoing prudence and also know that the final timing of projects will be reviewed by the next council. 

So, looking at the whole package, the new CATR, the other targeted rates, increases to rubbish – the whole lot - we remain focussed on what this means for Aucklanders, especially noting this budget includes the delayed revaluations. Across all of Auckland the total increases on average are at just under $200 for the residential ratepayer. We know that the impacts of rates increases are not uniform across the region. There are some areas that will feel this harder than others and I have looked to my colleagues, especially those in the south and west, for guidance as per their thoughts on affordability. I know that the average increase for the residential ratepayers in the Orakei Ward is $210. I also know that in every single local board area there will be a number of residential ratepayers whose rates go down next year by over $1,000 - OLB has about 540 of those . That said, we are all in very challenging financial times both as a region and as a country. The combined rates rises proposed by the mayor are in line with many other metropolitan councils across the country who are settling on rates increases of 5-6%. I note that Wellington is proposing 8.9% and Tauranga 13.7% But again, we know it’s tough out there for everyone. I’ll be watching carefully to see if there are any increases in ratepayers struggling to pay their rates on time as we start quarter one of the new year next month. Again, this will be something all prospective mayors need to keep an eye on too.  

So, is this budget prudent? Whilst this budget was proposed by the mayor and supported by our finance team, it also was independently assessed by our Audit and Risk committee which has three members who are professionals and independent of Council. The committee has advised the Governing Body that an appropriate approach is being taken to manage the key financial risks associated with the Annual Budget 2022/23, provided that the Governing Body is able to reach agreement on a budget that addresses the financial pressures in a sustainable and financially prudent manner – that is, the budget package before us here today. We know that this financial storm we find ourselves in is presenting significant risks to our financial position, but our Finance team, our rating agencies and our Audit and Risk Committee all agree that we are meeting those challenges with a strong commitment to sustainable and prudent financial management.

Finally, to our local boards, IMSB and CCO’s, once again, thank you for being part of the journey, and for your willingness to engage with us on the issues and to be part of the solution. We have a shared governance framework and ithas definitely played out in our budget planning. So, Team Auckland, again, thank you. To my deputy, Cr Henderson,thank you for your support, it’s been a rough year. In concluding my comments today, I wish to thank our Finance staff. Peter, you and your team have had a huge workload over the past few months, and I know I speak on behalf of all around this table when I say we are eternally grateful for your professionalism. Whilst we will land the 22/23 annual budget soon, your work continues, planning for the unknowns ahead, keeping us financially stable and maintaining our high credit ratings. It is a challenge I have every confidence you and your team will help us navigate.

ANZAC Day Speech

E nga mana, e nga reo, e rau rangatira ma [All peoples, all speakers, all chiefly people]

Tenei te mihi nui ki a koutou [My sincere thanks to you all]

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa. [Greetings to you all]

Greetings to all of our veterans, our active duty military, their families and friends, and to all community members who have come to pay respects.

We gather here today at the Newmarket War Memorial, in front of some 200 names inscribed in stone, names of those from this wonderful community who paid the ultimate sacrifice. We gather to remember them and all those who have served in war.

While COVID-19 has again seen many Anzac Day services disrupted, I am grateful that our community in Newmarket can gather here in person today and honour tradition. Thank you to Mark Knoff-Thomas and his team at the NBA for making today possible.

This year, the distressing events in Ukraine are at the forefront of our attention, with daily reports of death and suffering reminding us of the horror and tragedy of war. It is now as important as ever to use Anzac day  not just to reflect on the sacrifices of all those who have served New Zealand but to all those suffering the impact of war throughout the world.

To help us acknowledge Anzac day we have a few traditions. The parade is celebrated, a moment of silence is observed, the last post is read, ANZAC biscuits are baked and eaten, and of course we have the red poppy. Worn on kiwi lapels, up and down the nation, the red poppy salutes the sacrifices made, so that we might live in a free country.

2022 marks 100 years of the RSA's Poppy Appeal. This centennial gives us an opportunity to reflect on the red poppy’s history as an international symbol of war remembrance. The red or ‘Flanders’ poppy was one of the first flowers to grow in the mud and soil of the Western Front. This same poppy still flowers in Turkey in early spring - as it did in April 1915 when the ANZACs fatefully landed at Gallipoli. In the awful landscape of blood and destruction, the red poppy became a symbol of regeneration and growth.

In 1921, New Zealand took what was originally a French idea to wear poppies for remembrance. The idea of selling artificial poppies to raise funds for veterans’ organisations was conceived by a French woman, Madame E. Guerin. Through her organisation, widows and orphans in France manufactured artificial poppies to be sold for the benefit of veterans and children in poverty.

In September that year, the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association placed an order for over 360,000 silk poppies with Madame Guerin’s French Children’s League. Due to shipping delays, (a concept familiar to us in 2022), the poppies arrived too late for Armistice Day 1921, so the NZRSA decided to hold their appeal on the day before Anzac Day in 1922.

1922 was also the first year Anzac Day was recognised as a public holiday. Today, 100 years later, I am moved when I think of the spirit of that year’s commemorations. So great had been the loss of life, so devastating had been the destruction, it is no wonder people hoped the Great War they had just endured would be the last - “The war to end all wars”. But it was not to be. Two decades after the First World War ended, the world was plunged into a second global conflict.  Anzac Day was transformed into a commemoration of all the overseas wars in which New Zealanders had taken part. The day became both inter-generational and inter-cultural, emulating the ideal of New Zealand as a united community.

Throughout Anzac Day’s history, the poppy - small, light and artificial - has remained constant as a symbol of the very heavy, very real toll of war. I have an abiding love for nature, and it is poignant to me how the meaning of this one little flower has taken root across the world.  We are compelled by the story of shells and shrapnel stirring up the earth, exposing poppy seeds to the light they need to bloom. It is a story that has survived for over a century because it was created to be worn by the living, close to our hearts.

We wear this emblem, this poppy,  to honour our commonality between nations and remind us of our collective heritage.

We wear this emblem, this poppy, to honour Service men and women who protect, preserve and carry our role as the guardian of the Pacific.

We wear this emblem, this poppy to honour the dead, and help the living come to terms with their loss.

While today we commemorate a day of sorrow, the poppy is our essential reminder that, in the face of destruction, there is always hope and beauty.

And with this symbol of hope on our chests, we proudly pay tribute to the values of the original Anzacs – loyalty, selflessness, courage – and the ways in which later generations have measured our own achievements against theirs.

We think today with the poppy on our chest of our fellow Nzrs  experiencing fear and heartache for their families and friends affected by current conflicts around the world 

Today, as every year, we particularly remember what happened at Gallipoli, but also pay tribute to  all those who have served, and pledge our commitment, no matter how hard to strive for a world in which we, our children and all people live free from the threat of violence, suffering and war.

Lest we forget.

Newsletter - 16th March

As you will hopefully be aware, Council’s Annual Plan 2022/23 is out for consultation and closes on 28 March.

This newsletter seeks to give you some further information as to what is in the draft budget for our local area and if everything in the draft budget went ahead, what it would cost the Orakei and Waitemata ratepayers (noting parts of these two local boards make up the Orakei Ward)

Background
The mayor has proposed what we now know will be his last budget as Mayor of Auckland. The proposal includes 3.5% average general rates increase, a $3 billion infrastructure investment package, cost savings of $90 million and a new Climate Action Targeted Rate for the 2022/23 financial year.
As far as investment back into our Orakei Ward goes, there are two workstreams
1. that which is regionally funded (decided by the mayor and councillors) and
2.that which is funded within the Orakei Local Board funding envelope and the Waitemata Local Board envelope.

I’m going to focus on the regional funding (because that’s what I’m mainly responsible for )
There are a number of regionally funded projects included in the proposed budget for the Orakei Ward, some of which have long been advocated for. The list includes, but is not limited to the following;

In the parks space, Colin Maiden Park is planned to receive a $2 million dollar upgrade, including lighting for five fields, upgrades to three fields and the development of two sand carpeted fields. There is also planned investment for Churchill Park and Crossfield Reserve. The Tupuna Maunga Authority Draft Plan for 2022/23 - 2024/25 is also open for consultation until 28 March. This budget includes some further investment on Ohinerau/Mt Hobson by the Tupuna Maunga Authority for next year. There is scoping for a new track around the peripheral of the maunga assisting with community recreational benefit. Following a $3million grant from the Department of Conservation there will be increased staff to assist with an increased weed and pest control programme. Interestingly there have been no rabbits sighted on Ohinerau/Mt Hobson since August last year. We are all hopeful we may be rabbit free. The ‘house’ at the top of Mt Hobson Lane will also be scoped up for an upgrade and the WW2 Daffodil memorial will be maintained as part of their regular work programme. It needs to be noted that the work programme has NO planned removal of exotic trees on Ohinerau/Mt Hobson. In fact, the only trees removed have been those which have succumbed to Dutch Elm disease, keeping other trees free from that disease is a key regional objective. In the past though, trees have also been removed due to health and safety issues including a large pine next to the track in 2019.

Included in next years proposed budget are seismic upgrades for our local heritage classified libraries. Work starts at St Heliers library in June continuing through to the next financial year and the Remuera library upgrades which will follow this, are currently in the design phase.

The Auckland Domain is also getting significant investment, including the final stage of the Wintergardens renewals, and an upgrade of the Mirror Pond. Design work will also commence for the renewal of the heritage grandstand building.

From an environmental perspective, funding has been allocated for investment in Tahuna Torea, as well as the Waiatarua Wetland. Included in the draft budget is also investment to further expand and deliver environmental programmes at our much-loved Pourewa Valley. The Natural Environment Targeted Rate funding will go towards pest control programmes in our area and Kauri dieback prevention work in the likes of Dingle Dell, as well as grants for local environmental groups to assist them with the wonderful work they do supporting our ward.

Improving our water quality remains a key focus area. The draft budget plans to continue delivering the Eastern Isthmus programme, a joint initiative between Auckland Council and Watercare that is dramatically reducing wastewater overflows to beaches and streams from Parnell to the Tamaki River. The Lower Khyber Separation Project will provide the key connection point for new separate stormwater networks to be built in this area that currently has only combined stormwater and wastewater networks. There are also plans to continue to invest in the Central Interceptor, which will take pressure off our Orakei wastewater line and significantly increase our local capacity and increase resilience of central Auckland’s storm and wastewater networks so that wastewater overflows are much less frequent.

On transport, detailed design work to raise Portland Road from Ingram Road to Shore Road and stop long term flooding there is currently underway. The draft plan looks to have capacity to move this into construction and delivery in the 22/23 year. Tamaki Drive’s footpath next to the recently sea-side completed separated cycle lane is planned to be resealed from Solent Street to Ngapipi, and the heritage railing along Tamaki Drive repaired (currently you can see the orange temporary barriers where connections have corroded away) . Significant safety improvements in the Mission Bay Town Centre, including new speed tables, intersection upgrades, and footpath and cycle lane upgrades are in the draft budget too. This work is supported by the Mission Bay/Kohimarama Residents Association, and the Orakei Local Board.

With the John Rymer link to the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path section two almost completed, the draft annual plan then looks to the other side and sees the Gowing Drive link to the shared path included, as part of the Meadowbank-Kohimarama connectivity project, and the widening of Ngapipi Bridge. The final Stage 4 section of the Shared path from Orakei bay Village to Tamaki Drive is currently awaiting resource consent and when that has been granted will commence construction.

Over and above this regional investment, there are also a number of projects directly funded by both local boards ( hopefully you get their newsletters too)

The way we collect our rubbish is a key question for this budget but one that doesn’t see much change for us, as our area will continue to receive rates funded rubbish collection once a week and recycling once a fortnight, albeit with a small cost increase. There will also be the option for ratepayers to opt for a larger or smaller bin if required.

So, what is Auckland Council doing about saving money? From amalgamation, Council has saved over $2 billion, with over $300 million annual savings locked in. Despite some serious Covid impacts on our income, we still saved in excess of $120 million last year and are over 70% on our way to saving $90 million this year. This budget proposes maintaining the $90 million savings target.

What are the rates increases planned? The draft plan has average general rates increase of 3.5% and maintaining the existing targeted rates for water quality and natural environment investment.

On top of that, the mayor has proposed a new Climate Action Targeted Rate. This is ring-fenced funding to address climate issues and reduce carbon emissions faster than the work we are doing in this space from the general rate. Our area is already reasonably well served by public transport, but other areas aren’t so lucky. This rate would go towards improving public transport, replacing ageing diesel ferries (which contribute to 21% of public transport emissions), ten new frequent bus routes (one of which is in our area) , 79 additional electric or hydrogen buses, new cycle lanes along with 15,000 native tree planting in streets, parks, playgrounds. I am also exploring the opportunity to see if this funding could contribute to Kohimarama Forrest purchase. The annual cost of this rate would be $58 for the year for the median urban residential property.

If you agreed to everything in the draft budget (including the new climate change targeted rate) what would it cost? If you live in the Orakei Local Board area, on average, in total, your residential rates would go up by $237 on this year. Interestingly, just under nine thousand residential ratepayers would have their rates go down, and a further seven thousand plus residential ratepayers would have an annual increase less than the regional average increase of $187. That said, over eight thousand households would have their rates go up between $187 and $500 and just over six thousand by more than $500.

Overall Orakei local board residential ratepayers would get the 3rd lowest percentage rates rise in the region

If you live in the Waitemata Local Board area, on average, in total, your residential rates would go up by $47.

But 27,044 of residential ratepayers in the WLB would see their rates go down on this year. 6,873 would go up less than the regional increase of $187 and 10,047 above that.

Overall Waitemata local board residential ratepayers would get the 2nd lowest percentage residential rates rises in the region

So how do you have your say? . You can read through the consultation material and make a submission online on the AK Have Your Say website.

Once you submit what happens next? Once the budget submission process has closed and responses have been collated, the local boards will discuss and form a view which they will officially resolve upon and then feed back to the mayor and councillors who will then vote and the budget and rates will be set for the year beginning 1 July, 2022. Until that time, I keep an open mind, so please HAVE YOUR SAY.

Newsletter - 19th January

Happy new year! I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer break and that you’re feeling refreshed and ready to tackle 2022. I spent my break with my wonderful family, including my four gorgeous grandchildren, relaxing, laughing and creating some special holiday memories. 

The summer isn’t over just yet though, and I hope you’ll have a chance to make the most of some of the fantastic events taking place in our area over the next few weeks. 

The ever-popular Waterworld floating waterpark will be at Mission Bay from this Wednesday until Monday 24 January. If you saw it at St Heliers but didn’t get to try it, you might want to get in quick because they are operating at reduced capacity and sell out fast. 

Opera in the Park is taking place at Glover Park on Saturday 29 January, 6-8pm. This event moved from Dingle Dell due to capacity issues and now there is plenty of space to enjoy this musical showcase. NZ Opera has curated some of the best-loved pieces from opera and musicals for this very popular event, featuring Bryony Williams, Catrin Johansson, James Harrison, Tayla Alexander and Sid Chand. Admission is free! Pack a picnic and a blanket and find a great place to sit back and listen to some of our finest up and coming opera talent.

The Mission Bay Craft Market is on again at Selwyn Reserve this Auckland Anniversary Day, 31 January. It’s been running for 23 years, and never disappoints. There are around 200 stalls, selling a variety of art, crafts and gourmet food products. Definitely worth stopping by. 

On 27 January, The Creative Kids Collective (supported by our Orakei Local Board) are putting on a Giant Mud Pie Extravaganza at Crossfield Reserve. It’s a free event, perfect for kids between 3 and 12 years.

There’s plenty on for Anniversary weekend in the city centre, too. There’s the Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta and SeePort Festival at the waterfront, the Auckland International Buskers Festival, and Auckland Live’s Summer in the Square programme kicks off with Jazz Weekend at Aotea Square.

After a last-minute cancellation in 2021 due to Covid, Round the Bays is celebrating 50 years this year and is taking place on Sunday 6 March. It’s always a great event, and you can still get ‘early bird’ rates until 20 January. 

As wonderful as it has been to have some freedom this summer, the risk of Covid has not gone away. Omicron is at our doorstep, and it’s important that we are all as well-protected as possible when it inevitably makes its way into our communities. You are eligible for a booster 4 months after your second dose, and as of this week kids aged 5-11 can get their first dose of the paediatric formulation of the vaccine. Now is a great time to get it done before they head back to school. Many of our local medical centres and pharmacies are offering the vaccine, and there are plenty of slots available. You can book online at https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz and walk-ins are available at some locations. 

2022 is certainly going to be a busy year at Council. I’m really keen to hear your views on what is being proposed for our Annual Budget 2022/23 when we go out for consultation in mid-February. We also have some big decisions to make in response to several major central government reforms, but more on that later.

For now, keep making the most of what Auckland has to offer this summer, support local, and keep safe. 

Desley  

Newsletter - 21st December

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I hope you’ve been able to make the most of the freedoms at ‘red’ over the past few weeks, and that you’re looking forward to a bit of a break as much as I am.
There’s no denying that 2021 has been a really tough year. It wasn’t all bad though, so to wrap up for the year, I thought I’d give you a ’12 Days of Christmas’ summary of some of the things that made 2021 great.

TWELVE months of prudent financial management and delivering for Orakei
Our 10-year budget, signed off in June, saw some great wins for the Orakei ward. Some of the highlights include nearly $3 million for upgrades at Colin Maiden Park, funding for the north-south links of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path (finally!), and a $3 million budget for the Orakei Local Board to fund local transport improvements.

Our 2020/21 financial year saw Watercare deliver $1 billion of new water infrastructure, and AT delivered $1.1 billion in new roads and public transport infrastructure. We had a record level of savings ($126 million in just one year), and we continue to seek efficiencies. We have locked in a further $90 million of ongoing savings each year for the next ten years. Raising in excess of $1 billion in green bonds was also a major milestone.

Then came our longest ever Alert Level 4 lockdown, followed by an even longer stretch at Level 3, and the financial impacts have certainly been deep, wide, and ongoing. This may well be our most difficult phase yet, with some tough decisions to be made in the new year, but I know that the prudent decisions we made for our Emergency Budget in 2020 meant that we’ve been able to weather the storm so far and will continue to do so. I hope you’ll make a submission and have your say when our 2022/23 budget goes out for consultation in the new year.

ELEVEN percent reduction in AT’s greenhouse gas emissions
Last month, we bought 152 electric buses to replace some of the older buses in our fleet. This is expected to reduce Auckland Transport’s greenhouse gas emissions by 11% each year. Transport emissions are a big part of our reduction targets, so this is a big win. 

TEN Auckland dams, full!
As of this week, our dams are sitting at 99%. It wasn’t all that long ago that we were at 43% after a long drought, so this is really wonderful news. Watercare has done lot of work to ensure Auckland’s water supply is resilient going forward, and all restrictions were lifted back in October. Water use has increased, but by less than expected for this time of year, which suggests that Aucklanders are maintaining some of the water saving habits we picked up during the drought.

The lifting of restrictions of course also meant our iconic Mission Bay Fountain could be switched back on, and it’s been great seeing it ‘playing’ again.

NINE speeches
The last few months in lockdown made for a quieter year on the events front, but I still managed to fit in nine speeches at various events ranging from a CAANZ (chartered accountants) event in Parnell, to various local AGMs and meetings of our local service clubs. Seeing what our wonderful local community groups have been up to is one of my favourite parts of my role as ward councillor. We have so many amazing people in Orakei who are committed to serving our community and making a difference, and despite all the challenges, this year has been no exception.

EIGHT months not in lockdown
There’s no denying that the past four months have been overshadowed by lockdown, but it’s also important to reflect on that blissful time we had at Alert Level 1! Who could forget the America’s Cup? Not to mention the historic Six60 concert at Eden Park back in April, Jersey Boys at the Civic and Lion King at Spark Arena.

It has been fantastic seeing our hospitality sector open back up these last few weeks, and here’s hoping that our arts and culture sector can thrive again in 2022. Be sure to register for Auckland Unlimited’s Explore Tamaki Makaurau voucher programme (central government funded) for the chance to receive a $50 (individual) or $100 (family) voucher to experience the best of what Auckland has to offer this summer.

SEVEN kilometers of shared path
The much-anticipated Glenn Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path has been progressing well, and we’re very much looking forward to opening Section 2 in the new year. This path is such an important link in our growing network of active transport connections throughout the city.

The rail bridge, gully bridge and boardwalks through Pourewa Valley and Tahapa Reserve are now largely completed, and when work starts up again in the new year, the team will be installing handrails, lighting on the bridge structures and boardwalks, and completing the concrete path from the gully bridge to Kohimarama Road. It will also be full steam ahead on the John Rymer Place connection. Waka Kotahi have put together a great progress video here. It’s definitely worth having a look – it’s been quite the transformation!  

SIX mussel beds in Okahu Bay
Last month, 60 tonnes of mussels were deposited into Okahu Bay, across 6 different beds (3 shell and 3 sediment) as part of the Okahu Bay Restoration Project, led in partnership with Ngati Whatua Orakei. They are working to build back biodiversity and improve the water quality in the bay. 

This follows the completion of the Okahu Bay stormwater network separation project back in September, which has significantly reduced wet weather wastewater overflows into the bay. It was a $16 million investment in partnership with Ngati Whatua Orakei, resulting in 200 private properties having their drainage systems separated to connect 3.4km of newly installed public stormwater pipeline. We have a long way to go with water quality in the Eastern Bays, but this was certainly a success worth celebrating.

FIFTH best Christmas display in the world 
Auckland’s very own Smith & Caughey’s Christmas window display in Queen Street was rated fifth best in the world this year, right up there with Macy’s in New York City and Selfridges in London. I’ve always loved the Smith & Caughey’s displays, but this year’s display is truly something special. Based on The Fairies Night Before Christmas, a Kiwi take on The Night Before Christmas, the displays depict a forest fairy community working together under the shade of Pohutukawa trees. Definitely worth stopping by if you haven’t had a chance yet.

FOUR City Rail Link stations
The City Rail Link is Auckland’s first underground rail line and the largest transport infrastructure project ever to be undertaken in New Zealand. The CRL team celebrated the connection of the new Aotea Station to tunnels running from Britomart just earlier this month, and at the southern end of the station, final preparations are underway to welcome the project’s Tunnel Boring Machine which started its journey at the Mt Eden site back in May.

As with everything else, Covid has had a significant impact on the project, but it is forecasted to be completed in late 2024.

The Western line will be closed from Boxing Day through to 23 January, allowing for accelerated work at the Mt Eden site with additional work hours including weekends, public holidays and nights.

THREE DHBs at 90%
We know that vaccinations play a very important role in our road out of lockdowns, and in our recovery from this pandemic. On 3 December, Auckland hit a very significant milestone when all three of our Auckland DBHs were at least 90% vaccinated. Ngati Whatua Orakei put in a huge effort with their vaccination buses, alongside many of our local pharmacies and GP clinics. High vaccination rates mean a bit more freedom this summer, and some much-needed support for our hospitality sector!

Many of us will be eligible for a booster dose soon (6 months after your second dose), so make sure to schedule that into your summer plans.

TWO top cops
I wanted to acknowledge two of our special community policemen, Tony and Alfred, who have worked tirelessly alongside our Maori and Pacific wardens for our community, in some particularly challenging times which have included dairy ramraids.  They are always willing to talk through community concerns and work with me and the Local Board to improve community safety. We are hugely grateful for the wonderful work all our police force does.

And a bellbird in a Waiatarua Reserve tree!
Finally, perhaps the highlight of a very challenging year, was the sighting of a bellbird in Remuera’s Waiatarua Reserve for the first time in over 100 years. Our community groups have been working so hard to restore our native bush and bring birdsong back to the Eastern Bays. An extra special yippee for no sale of the Melanesian Trust’s landownership of part of Kohimarama Forrest but more on that next year.

On the other side of Remuera, our contractors have been hard at work completing the environmental enhancements at Portland Road. The project is on track for completion by July 2022, and 15,000 native plants will be planted throughout April and May. I hope there are many more bellbirds on the way.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2022.

Have a wonderful summer break.

Desley 
_________________________

The Council offices are closed for the holidays from 24 December and will reopen on 10 January. Here’s a quick guide for who to call if anything comes up during that time:

• For any problems at our parks, community facilities, beaches, maunga, roadsides or public spaces, call the Auckland Council call centre on 09 301 0101 or log the issue online here

• For transport related issues where there is a safety risk, you can contact Auckland Transport on 09 355 3553. Maintenance issues can be logged here

• For urgent water and wastewater faults, call 09 442 2222 or log it on the Watercare website

The most common question over the holidays is always about rubbish collection days. You can check your dates on the Auckland Council website, here. 
 

Newsletter - 2nd December

It’s been a very, very long 107 days, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. Many of you have written to me saying the traffic light system is confusing, so I thought I’d give a quick summary of what ‘Red’ means. For Council, it means that this Friday our Council gyms, group fitness classes and recreation centres will be back up and running, open to those with COVID Vaccination Passes. Our pools need a few more days to be recommissioned and for the summer lifeguards to be inducted, so they won’t open until 6 December. Beyond Council services, hospitality will open up on Friday, with vaccine passes, 1m distancing and capacity limits in place. I’ve booked in for dinner at a local restaurant on Friday night and can’t wait! Faith-based gatherings, club functions and sports can also go ahead at Red, also. For many of these activities however, vaccinations play an essential role in keeping everyone safe. Without a vaccine pass, you are much more limited. Please check the Covid website if you are unsure about any specific ‘rule’. If it’s been 6 months or more since you’ve had your second jab, you can have a booster shot. These will be available at many locations, but I know there will be a vaccination bus operating up at the Ngāti Whātua Marae on Kupe St 8.30am and 3pm this Saturday, 4 December.  

In other major news, Auckland Council will be consulting with Aucklanders on Three Waters Reform from 3 to 19 December and asking for feedback on the governance, representative and accountability arrangements of the new entities. You’ll recall from previous newsletters that I made a commitment to ensure consultation was included in our approach when we finalized our feedback to central government back in September, and I am delivering on that. Not only do I want to hear your views on Three Waters, but understanding the views of Aucklanders will be critical in informing the Mayor’s input, on behalf of Auckland Council, into the working group that will be addressing some of the issues that have been raised by councils around the country. You can register for one of the webinars and read all the detail on the Have Your Say website.

In local news, the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path has been progressing well over the past couple of months and I’m looking forward to celebrating the opening of Section 2 in the new year. The largest boardwalk through the Pourewa Valley is 90% complete, and as are the two smaller ones at Tahapa Reserve East and West. The concrete path near the Meadowbank Train Station is also nearing completion. Coming up, the team will be doing the finishing touches on the rail and gully bridge and the boardwalks, and the section from the gully bridge to Kohimarama Road will be the main focus in the coming months. Waka Kotahi have made a great flyover video of the progress available to view here.

Meanwhile, AT are consulting on the links to the Glen Innes cycleways. They are seeking your feedback on proposed layout changes at Line Road, Stonefields Ave, Morrin Rd, Taniwha Street and Merton Road. It’s really important that they get this right, so be sure to have a look at what they are proposing and have your say before 30 January. All the details are available here.

Finally, there’s a free e-waste drop off in Penrose this Saturday, from 9am to 3pm. If you’ve been doing a bit of a clear out at home over lockdown, this is a great opportunity to get rid of your unwanted electronic products. To keep the team safe, they’ll be running it as a drive-through event. Remember to wear a mask and be sure to sign in with your COVID scanner app when you arrive.

I hope you’ll support our local Orakei businesses as much as possible when you’re out doing your Christmas shopping over the next few weeks, they’ve been doing it tough.

As always, stay cautious and keep safe.

Desley

Newsletter - 18th November

We are now rapidly approaching 100 days in lockdown. I know it has seemed endless, and the days are well and truly blurring into one now, but it appears there is finally light at the end of the tunnel! Most schools are back in some form from this week, so hopefully that will give some respite to the parents who have been doing their best to work from home while also keeping up the homeschooling.

The Orakei Ward suburbs of Newmarket, Grafton, Remuera and Meadowbank are all over 90% fully vaccinated. St Johns is just about there, and our other suburbs are not far behind. It was great to have confirmation yesterday that we can head out of Auckland for the holidays, but you will need your vaccination certificate to cross the border and for a lot of other activities you might be planning for your summer. The vaccination certificates are available for download at https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/ but the website has been completely overloaded since it went live, so you might have to wait a day or two to be able to get access. Please keep talking to your friends and family and making sure they’ve had both doses of the vaccine. It’s not just about the 90% target, but about keeping everyone in our community safe as things start to open back up.  If you are still awaiting your second ‘jab’ there will be a vaccination bus in Mission Bay on Saturday 9am-3pm, oppositie Movenpick.

Yesterday was a big milestone for our libraries. After 3 months of lockdown, our libraries are finally opening their doors again and resuming normal services. While our libraries staff have been preparing to re-open, the click and collect service has been hugely popular, with over 94,000 items borrowed throughout the region. St Heliers was amongst the most popular, with over 5000 items issued and 380 “Ready-to-Go Reads” packs requested. The click and collect service will continue to be available, but if you prefer to browse the shelves, please try to keep your visit to under 30 minutes to help our staff maintain safe limits on the number of people inside our facilities. Public computers, printing and wi-fi will also now be available for use.

We are also getting pretty close to changing to “red” in the new traffic light system, which will allow bars and restaurants to open with restrictions and safety measures in place. You’ll remember from previous newsletters that I have been working with businesses to make this reopening phase as easy as possible and have been pushing for Council to remove some of the red tape and regulatory barriers wherever possible, as well as advocating to central government. As it turns out, there’s quite a lot of red tape to be removed, but we’re making good progress. You can read more about it here.   

In local news, you would have seen in the media last month that the Environment Court ruled against the controversial development planned for the Mission Bay waterfront. This decision has been appealed to the High Court which has disappointed many locals. I will keep you updated when I know more.  

You may also have heard about a privately owned block of bush on Pamela Place in Kohimarama being up for sale. The site is precious to many in the community, and I’ve heard from many advocating for its protection. I was hugely annoyed to hear council had turned down purchasing this land without any input from councillors or our local board. However, I have pushed for an urgent assessment of this property and we are looking into any alternative options that may be available to maintain such a valuable asset for our bird corridor.

Lastly, some positive news. The new pathway at Vellenoweth Green is now open to the public. The finishing touches were completed by our contractors last weekend and it’s looking great. I hope you get a chance to go have a look.

Hang in there Auckland, it looks like we’re almost there….

Desley

Newsletter - 10th November

It has been a very long 85 days, but we’re now one step closer to freedom and that proper Kiwi summer we’re all dreaming of. Last night, Auckland moved to Alert Level 3, Step 2. That means retail is now able to open (with distancing and masks), and outdoor gatherings and exercise classes can now include up to 25 people. I hope you get a chance to go shopping this week and support local who have been really challenged over lockdown. Christmas is fast approaching and I’m sure our local retail businesses will be very happy to see you.  

The easing of restrictions also allows for the reopening of some of our council facilities and services, while taking care to keep both the public and our staff safe. As a quick summary:

·         All 56 libraries across the region will be offering a click and collect service, 10am – 4pm from Monday to Saturday. This means that in addition to St Heliers library, Parnell and Remuera Libraries will now have this service too.

·         MOTAT is reopening on Wednesday 10 November, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum will be open from Monday 15 November

·         The Auckland Art Gallery, the Zoo and the Maritime Museum are working through a phased reopening – check their websites for details

·         All community recycling centres and recovery shops will open

·         Our Council service centres will open, with the exception of those integrated centres at libraries, which will remain closed

·         All public toilets will be open

At this stage, our pools, gyms, leisure centres, venues for hire, holiday parks and campgrounds remain closed. Further detail is available here.

In the meantime, we are doing all we can to support our hospitality industry when we move to Alert Level 3, Step 3. The government has indicated that this next level will allow dining for up to 50 people, and the subsequent ‘red’ phase of the soon to be introduced Traffic Light System, for up to 100 people. You might recall from a previous newsletter that  I have pushed for Council to make a number of regulatory changes to allow for outdoor dining and have waived application fees and street trading rents for new applications or extensions while in Alert Level 2 or above. The other part of the solution sits with central government. The Mayor and I have written to Ministers Robertson and Hipkins requesting changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to allow bars and restaurants to expand their licensed footprint for outdoor dining, and they have signaled that this is something they are investigating. Our Mission Bay Business Association also highlighted a couple of other ‘red tape concerns’ which once explained, I was keen to try and advocate for some changes. Another letter went to the ministers requesting changes around license requirements for toilet facilities, which in their current form require separate facilities for those dining inside to those dining outside. This will be extremely impractical and will be ‘the straw that breaks the camel’s back’ for many small cafes and restaurants. This rule seems particularly contrary to all Council toilets being allowed to be open with no restrictions as to their use. I’m sure all our restaurants and cafes eagerly await a response from central government to these concerns.

On the vaccine front, all three Auckland DHBs have now reached the 90% milestone for first vaccine dose and at least 80% for second dose. In Orakei Ward, we are doing really well with Meadowbank, Remuera (Waiata), Remuera East, Glendowie North and Newmarket now over 90% fully vaccinated. If you or anyone you know is yet to get vaccinated, there is still plenty of opportunity in our local area. The Shot Bro bus will be in Mission Bay next weekend, 19-20 November, many of our local pharmacies are also offering the vaccine, and our local vaccination centres are open every day, no appointment needed. Check the Healthpoint website to see which one is nearest to you. A reminder that those who got their first dose on Super Saturday can now get their second.

Lastly, some wonderful non-COVID news. A bellbird was spotted in Remuera, near Waiatarua Reserve, for the first time in over 100 years. Our community groups have been working so hard to restore our native bush and bring birdsong back to Orakei. What a wonderful testament to their commitment to this great cause! You can read the full story here.

Stay safe,

Desley

Newsletter - 29th October

We end this week (day 73 of lockdown) with some good news on vaccination rates for the Orakei Ward area. As of Tuesday 26 October, 93% have had their first dose, 85% are fully vaccinated and only 7% have not yet been vaccinated. If we break that down further, only two suburbs have not yet reached 90% for first dose: Mission Bay (89.7%) and the eastern part of Orakei (87.9%). If you know anyone in those areas, please give them a call and encourage them to get vaccinated. If they have any questions or concerns, I suggest they talk to a medical professional. Having said that, as a ward area we are doing very well. So to those that have, thank you for getting your vaccination (s) and in doing so helping to keep yourself, your friends, family, and our community safe.

Now the not so good news… This week the government announced that the proposed Three Waters reform will be mandated. This came as a surprise to many councils and elected members throughout the country. You will recall from my newsletter to you on 24 September that I did fear this would happen. Some of you may have seen my thoughts on the Minister’s decision in the media. I’m pretty annoyed (to put it mildly) and could rant and rave for hours about how the government has failed to recognise Auckland’s differences, both in terms of governance arrangements and the fact that we are already the most efficient and effective water supplier in New Zealand. There are in my opinion massive issues around the proposed governance and accountability. The ownership model proposed does not reflect the investment in water assets that have been made by Aucklanders and should. As for our investment , we have already resolved to invest $11 billion into our water infrastructure over the next ten years. Much of it in our Ward, and the sad point around that, is I cannot now guarantee the delivery of that investment( especially in latter years) with the new mandated model.

The big question on my mind, is what can we do about it? This morning I discussed with the mayor our options to deliver on our commitment to consult with Aucklanders, noting the government have no longer given us the option to opt out. I will update as soon as this has been confirmed. I am absolutely committed to making sure we hear from our communities, so that when Council presents to select committee, we can do so with evidence of the views of Aucklanders. The Minister has also indicated that a working group will be established to work through some of the common themes that have come up in the feedback from councils. We are yet to see any detail about this group or how it will operate, but I would absolutely be keen for Auckland Council to go into those discussions well-informed about the views of Aucklanders on this issue.

However, to end the week on a positive, Auckland Council has now raised in excess of $1 BILLION in green bonds. Green bonds can only be used to fund projects that will benefit the environment. We were the first organization in New Zealand to raise money this way and have proven ourselves to be not just an Auckland leader but a national leader in this space. In essence, it’s $1 billion that doesn’t come from ratepayers that has funded projects such as upgraded electric trains, LED street lighting, sustainable water management projects and public cycleways.

Stay safe and enjoy your weekend.

NEWSLETTER - 27th OCTOBER

Recent announcements have further emphasized the huge importance of vaccinations as part of our road out of lockdowns, and our recovery from this pandemic. The target is 90% and in the Orakei Ward, we’re doing pretty well. As of last week, parts of Stonefields, Mission Bay and Orakei were the only suburbs in our ward area slightly under 90% for first dose. It’s so important to me that our communities are well protected, so I will be monitoring our vaccination numbers closely and keeping you updated on Facebook and via newsletter as we approach that 90% fully vaccinated target. I know there is a lot of uncertainty about what the traffic light system will mean for us all, but we do know for sure that getting 90% of Aucklanders fully vaccinated is one of the fastest ways out of lockdown.

I know, like me, many of you are doing all you can to shop local and support businesses during this tough time. Assisting business recovery is important to me as currently, based on figures from last year we are looking at between 4-5Billion in lost GDP as a result of this lockdown. At Finance and Peformance Committee last week, I moved a number of recommendations to help businesses from across the council family including a commitment to do a number of regulatory changes needed to allow outdoor dining. We have had many requests for outdoor dining in our town centre streets over summer, to allow businesses a chance to start recovering from lockdown loss of trade, and to help ease the affects of any ongoing restrictions.-you may have spotted this Newshub story about St Heliers last week.In addition to regulatory measures, we have also waived application fees and street trading rents for new applications or extensions while in Alert Level 2 or higher, and all applications and extensions will be fast tracked. If you are worried about paying rates on your business property, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Council on 09 301 0101. Ask to speak to our credit control team about the options available to you to make life a bit easier during this very stressful time. It is of course important to note that central government’s toolkit is significantly larger than ours. The $60 million business support package announced last week is a start, but my plea is for the government to keep looking at ways to enhance ongoing support for Auckland businesses, with urgency. If Auckland succeeds, New Zealand succeeds.

Our Finance and Performance Committee also looked at a draft submission on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021-22, GST, and Remedial Matters) Bill 2021. It’s not exactly an attention-grabbing piece of legislation, but their proposed changes would mean at least an additional $33 million in taxes for Auckland Council, a significant and unfair burden on Auckland ratepayers. This is yet another example of central government not understanding the Auckland context or at the very least talking to us first to understand the financial impacts for the biggest Council in NZ.

Lastly, on a more positive note, I wanted to highlight our decision to lift the last of the remaining water restrictions for the region, effective from 23 October 2021. It has been a long journey to get to this point, and Watercare has done significant work to reduce water consumption and increase supply since May 2020. Among many other steps taken to ensure Auckland’s water supply is resilient going forward, supply will have increased by 104 million litres per day by the first quarter of 2022, we have maximized use of river and aquifer sources during the winter, we continue to work to find and fix leaks in the metropolitan system and a smart meter programme has been introduced for commercial customers. Of course, Aucklanders and their willingness to save water over the past 18 months have played a really important role. Together, we saved over 20 billion litres of water. Thank you. Locally I know you will join with me to soon celebrate the removal of the fence around the Mission Bay Fountain and to see our iconic waterfront fountain ‘play’ again.

Stay safe,
Desley
PS JUST HEARD ABOUT THE MANDATE DECISION BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ON 3WATERS. I’ll update on that separately