PIPPA COOM: AUCKLAND COUNCILLOR

I have previously written in Ponsonby News about the dire state of the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-ā-Toi.

The Gulf is suffering from impacts from activities on land and at sea. Six 'State of the Gulf' reports over the last twenty years have documented the ongoing decline of the health of the Gulf, with species like crayfish now considered functionally extinct.

The Hauraki Gulf Forum is the lead advocate for restoring the life-sustaining capacity of the Gulf, with members representing ministers, councils and tangata whenua. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000, which the Forum operates under, is a key component of the legislative framework advancing integrated management of the Gulf.

Over the past nine months the Hauraki Gulf Forum has undertaken an internal review on whether the 22-year-old Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act, and the Marine Park and Forum it created, remain fit for purpose. The Forum looked at how it could be a better advocate for the Gulf and help turn around its decline. The need to update the Act is not new - it has been discussed for the best part of a decade, including through three independent reviews and reports over the past seven years.

At the Forum meeting on 28 February 2022, members voted to adopt an advocacy position for updating and strengthening the Marine Park Act. The key updates we will be seeking are the introduction of a legislated statutory vision and strategy for the Hauraki Gulf, which would become a key consideration in relevant decision-making processes and planning by the Crown and councils, and a refresh of the Forum to reflect our commitment to a Treaty partnership and enable us to be a more effective advocacy body.

As co-chair alongside Nicola MacDonald we will now discuss the new advocacy position with ministers. Whether any changes go ahead sits first with the government, and ultimately with parliament. Any legislative change would require a consultation process.

We know that Aucklanders overwhelmingly support this. A recent public poll showed huge support for doing more to protect and restore the Gulf, with massive numbers also in favour of the use of indigenous practices like rāhui.

If our advocacy proposal is adopted by the government, the Forum would continue to be the lead advocate for the Hauraki Gulf. There would be no impact on the ownership of private or public land such as Auckland’s Regional Parks, nor will it restrict access to the Hauraki Gulf in any way.

I look forward to taking our proposal to ministers as I am convinced that we will see far greater action and transformational change by raising the status of the Hauraki Gulf for decision-makers and through revitalisation of the Forum under a Treaty partnership model. (PIPPA COOM)  PN

The Noises

www.pippacoom.co.nz

TROWBRIDGE in association with LJ Hooker Ponsonby

An immaculately renovated haven that certainly goes above and beyond. The wide central hallway will tease the senses and draw your gaze longingly to the impressive open plan living and dining areas beyond. Connection between the kitchen and family areas is perfect, with large sliding doors creating seamless indoor-outdoor flow. The kitchen is straight from Vogue, with its soft caramel tones enhancing rich textures and finishes. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a walk-in wardrobe provide plenty of options. This property offers all ages and stages of life plenty of opportunity with its central lift from internal double garaging to the upper level. A wine cellar and space for more off-street parking along with an internal workshop - this has it all.

The problem is still about housing supply. There have not been enough houses built in New Zealand to cope with the growth in population in recent years. But there is more to it than that.

The biggest problem occurred when neo-liberal politicians of both major parties forced the sell-off of state houses. Now those in need are being housed in motels, at great state expense. And Auckland Council got the free market wobbles and sold off pensioner housing.

Now throughout New Zealand the old and the young particularly, are shut out of home ownership. Even rents are a killer. The only viable answer is for government to buy land and build really affordable housing which can be sold at prices below what private enterprise is being forced to charge, some of them in shared equity arrangements. Give a young couple who are together and bringing into their home $100,000 an opportunity to buy say, a one third share in a government owned house, with opportunities to take further equity as they improve their financial situation.

Too many first home buyers are forcing themselves into homes paying nearly half their take home pay. That is a recipe for mortgagee sales if the slightest thing goes wrong in that family, and in these uncertain times who would bet that would never happen.

The FOMO (fear of missing out) of late last year seems to have dissipated and prices where my own son is looking have softened, perhaps by as much as 10%. But at $1,000,000 dollars, how can a young couple service a $900,000 mortgage even if they have a $100,000 deposit?

Labour has done a great job managing the pandemic and has had international plaudits as a result. But I’m old enough to remember the aftermath of WW2 in Britain when Churchill’s party was dumped in the first post war election. He was offered a knighthood and said, “Why should I accept the garter when the people have just given me the boot.” He did become Sir Winston Churchill a little later.

Ardern’s government has time to deal with post Covid issues, and must do so boldly. One of her strengths will be a partner in the Greens led by James Shaw dealing authoritatively with climate change. But she has education, health and infrastructure to deal with too. One thing is very unlikely, that she will copy Luxon and offer tax cuts too.

A week is a long time in politics, as maybe Chris Luxon is feeling after being comprehensively panned for his tax cut plan for the wealthy. It didn’t fly with even moderate media commentators. And so , it’s a long time until November 2023 when the next election takes place.

Labour has two budgets to sprinkle fairy dust where it is most needed. I rate Grant Robertson to succeed as fairy godfather. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN

CONTINUED FROM P18

GREY LYNN / WESTMERE CYCLEWAY ‘CONSULTATION’ UPDATE The cycleway, rejected three years ago by the community, has been regurgitated with its consultation by means of a ‘survey monkey’ and an interactive map called a ‘social pinpoint’. The map allowed comments to be placed by the public in locations on an aerial view of the roads with the design of the proposed cycleway imposed. This required participants to have a reasonably high level of computer skills. Each participant’s comment was verified by a code once posted.

I participated by inputting the many fabulous design solutions offered by community during participation in a ‘community liaison group’ with Auckland Transport and designers Boffa Miskell. Trouble was that my comments did not appear on the map when I posted them. I do have a screen shot of those comments with verification number for each and every comment I made. When I went back to check if they had loaded the next day they had not. The comment option had closed. I was highly amused by this comment, "My goodness it’s ugly - don’t any of your designers have eyes," that had been placed 15 days earlier.

The flawed programme that had not recorded my comments has been bought to the attention of the Waitematā Local Board and Auckland Transport. If this is not rectified it will be brought to the attention of the Ombudsman as flawed consultation.

The plans also showed the works within West Lynn Village as being 'complete'. The current works prove that wrong. These have only had consultation with the Grey Lynn Business Association, even though three locals took the mobility inaccessible ramp from the zebra crossing, to the Human Rights Commission.

The simple solution public want involves scarifying a local area of the road and removing the ‘raised table’, not a convoluted ‘switchback ramp’ and stairs that was first suggested by Boffa Miskell four years ago and rejected by community. It also involves returning the car parks outside Harvest to enable the return of 45% of their customers loss along with the parking. As a destination shop, all of the village suffered from the loss of those customers.

Gael Baldock Community Advocate and Architectural Designer

CONTINUED ON P31

TROWBRIDGE in association with LJ Hooker Ponsonby

Let’s look at the facts... 323m2 . The northwest facing near-level site is one of Ponsonby’s most sought-after streets in this prime location. Yes, there are numerous options here. Not to mention the original two bedroom cottage, it’s a bonus.

Beautifully enhanced, extremely loved, and very liveable. Previously owned by the same family for 90 years… Future conceptualisation is required…

And we all went to the beach!

Ponsonby U3A’s March meeting featured Dr Terry Hume who focused members on what many of them have enjoyed a lot during this beautiful summer - beaches and sand. A marine geologist/coastal oceanographer in interdisciplinary environmental research, Terry has consulted for government departments, local authorities, and private companies as well as working as a scientist in the DSIR and NIWA. He has been involved in investigations of coastal hazards, water safety on beaches, effects of climate change on coastal processes, offshore and mining, port development and harbour dredging and the effects of catchment sediment on estuaries. Terry has had a love affair with beaches from his childhood days spent for weeks on end at Waihi Beach.

Terry’s enthusiasm was evident as he took members via Zoom through the uses and value of sand and how and why the world is running out of it. He outlined where sand comes from and how beaches are formed and explained why west coast beaches have black sand, and east coast beaches have white sand.

His accompanying graphics beautifully illustrated his themes. In relation to climate change and sea level rise, and how they will affect our beaches, Terry raised the tempo showing horrifying pictures, past and present, of some of our local beaches. He cited a quote by Rachel Carson, the quintessential environmentalist of the 60s who attested, “The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we have for destruction.” And as Terry concluded, the challenge for us all is to apply our knowledge of coastal processes and live by the rules of the sea.

Following Terry as general speaker was the ten-minute speaker, Ponsonby U3A member, Carolyn Reid. In this the seventieth year of the reign Queen Elizabeth ll, Carolyn gave an evocative vignette of an event she recollected as an eleven-year-old child.

In December 1953, the Queen and Prince Philip were travelling in New Zealand to mark her succession to the throne.

Carolyn’s parents, Tim and Phyllis Cauldrey, who had owned Wenderholm since 1940 were asked to host the royal couple at a casual and informal lunch to enable time-out from royal duties. Carolyn went with her parents to meet them. She described the Queen as a warm person with the bluest of beautiful, blue eyes. She also recalled the banter of Prince Philip, who was slightly miffed that his equerry had sailed in the Z boat moored nearby and he had not. The Z boat was hastily trailered down to Moose Lodge for the next royal sojourn. A year later, Carolyn’s parents received a letter enquiring after the family’s health and saying that the Queen and Prince Philip were remembering the beautiful beach and wishing that they were still there.

Unfortunately, in the current 'Red' climate Ponsonby U3A is unable to hold meetings in person and Zoom remains the modis operandi. However, the club continues to welcome new members. It is invaluable for individuals to get together, to meet new people and for new interests and knowledge to be shared. Apart from monthly general meetings there are over 26 special interest groups covering a diverse range of options many of which are operating by Zoom. If you are interested in attending as a visitor, call President Philippa Tait on M: 027 452 3108.

The next meeting of 2022 will be in April and for every month thereafter on the second Friday of the month either by Zoom or at the Herne Bay Petanque Club. The April speaker will be international, foreign affairs print journalist and broadcaster, Wayne Brittenden, speaking on the Ukraine. (CHRISTINE HART)  PN

NEXT MEETING: By Zoom. 10am, Friday 8 April, 2022

ENQUIRIES: Philippa Tait, President, Ponsonby U3A. M: 027 452 3108, www.u3a.nz

Dr Terry Hume

Every Monday and Friday, 9:30am - 10:30am Freemans Bay Community Hall, 52 Hepburn St REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL. EMAIL INFO@PONSONBYCOMMUNITY.ORG.NZ

Our tutors are fully vaccinated and will be masked.

All adults in attendance must provide a vax pass to be scanned and be masked at all times.