SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

For kicks, I often go to council meetings, so I was there when journalists rushed to surround new Mayor Wayne Brown at tea break during the special meeting on the annual budget just before Christmas.

Mr Fixit had looked over the council budget and suggested numerous cuts and savings to achieve the aim of recovering a $295 million dollar shortfall caused by rampant inflation and escalating interest rates.

‘If it bleeds, it leads’ is the media motto. So instead of the media explaining the next step in the consultation process, where the public are invited to comment on any aspect of the budget, they inferred that cuts were coming to the services we all love and value. They created an atmosphere of fear and misinformation portraying Mr Fixit as Mr Hatchet. But let me tell you from experience, nothing moves that fast at council.

From March until June there is time to read the budget, comprehend the numbers, make suggestions, speak at local board meetings, write a submission or fill in an online questionnaire. If you care, can find the time, if you realise that suggestions made by citizens can change how a city is funded and operates, please make it your goal this year to participate a little more in local politics.

The mayor’s proposal within the annual budget stands out like a lone beacon flashing a warning light on the windswept waves of our city finances. Like him or loathe him, Mayor Brown has cast his net across the council controlled organisations suggesting cuts and savings of $25 million from Auckland Transport, $27.5 million from Auckland Unlimited and $5 million from Eke Panuku Development.

Personally, I think we could cut $250 million from Auckland Transport’s $3 billion yearly budget to help plug the city’s $295 million shortfall.

Recently I discovered that the average cost to create, maintain and renew 1km of urban road in Auckland is approximately $60,000 per year.

This includes costs associated with: road, pavements, surfaces, kerb, channel and road sweeping. Given there is approximately 7,000 km of roads in the Auckland region I calculated that the cost to manage and maintain all our existing roads would be approximately $420,000,000 per annum. This is just one sixth of AT’s annual budget which leaves heaps to spend on mending the crumbling roads and broken footpaths in Rodney, Franklin and Waitakere.

(LISA PRAGER)  PN

Following on from the article in May 2022 Ponsonby News: ‘How does the Owairaka Appeal Court decision affect us elsewhere in Auckland?’

Following the Appeal Court decision, that Tūpuna Maunga Authority had acted unlawfully in failing to adequately consult as required by the Reserves Act, the TMA amended their “Integrated Management Plan’ and sent it out for consultation again. Instead of just talking about “slowing cloaking the maunga in natives”, it admitted the plan to remove all ‘exotic trees’ from all 14 maunga, and even some “natives from the slopes”. Considering volcanic slopes are mostly slopes, that declaration was even worse than uncovered before.

In response there were 1,582 submissions in October 2022, with an overwhelming proportion against tree felling, including Ngâti Whatua, with only 88 supporters to fell. Örakei, Howick, Albert-Eden, Papakura, Maungakiekie-Tamaki and Otara-Papatoetoe Local Boards made submissions, as did protection groups ‘Honour the Maunga’ for Ōwairaka and ‘Respect Mount Richmond Otahuhu’, who campaigned for public engagement. All persons who sought to present their submissions in-person were offered the opportunity to do so and 48 persons attended and spoke to their submissions.

Following this process, the TMA passed a resolution to remove many ‘exotic’ trees from the cull. Whilst that still needs to be quantified in real terms with lists and maps, it in part recognises the huge public opposition to this destruction of habitat. It is too late for Maungarei / Mt Wellington, Ōhuiarangi / Pigeon Mountain and Te Ara Pueru / Te Paneo-Mataaho / Mangere Mountain who have already been stripped of their non-native trees and bird song. And the tree felling on Mangere Mountain cost nearly $1million.

The question remains: despite assurance in the decision to save some of these trees, why is that not reflected in the TMA’s draft budget? The Tūpuna Maunga Authority, have only suggested a 2% saving in their operational budget and no change within their capital expenditure budget (the latter includes felling). The total budget for 2022-23 $12.475 million; 2023-24 $12.878 million; and 2024-25 $13.522 million, rising each year.

So after ratepayer paid $1.4 million in legal costs to defend this Judicial Review, the bigger question remains: with a fiscal hole of nearly $300 million, why are any trees being felled at all?

Consultation occurs on the TMA Annual Budget within the Auckland Council draft budget and separately by the TMA. Say “NO TREE FELLING” when that consultation process begins in March.

Gael Baldock, Community Advocate

Auckland weather diary, February 2023

February may see only half the average rain, with average sunshine.

A heat wave may describe the first half. The first week may be driest with highest pressures, the second week may contain the hottest days of summer, the third week brings some relief with cloudy skies and lowest pressures, and the last week may be the wettest and coolest. The best weekend for outdoor activities may be 4th/5th. During February, the barometer may average around 1016mbs.

For fishers, the highest tides (and for 2023) are around 22nd. Best fishing bite-times in the east are around dusk on 5th - 7th and 19th - 22nd. Bite-chances are also good for noon of 13th - 15th and 26th -28th.

For gardeners, planting is best (waxing moon ascending) on 3rd and 4th; and pruning on 17th and 18th (waning moon descending). For preserving and longer shelf-life, pick crops or flowers around the neap tide of 15th.

Allow 24-hour error for all forecasting. (KEN RING)  PN

For future weather for any date, and the 2023 NZ Weather Almanac, see www.predictweather.com

Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.

Kia ora Ponsonby. Ngā mihi o te tau hou, Happy New Year and Welcome to 2023.

Now that we have enjoyed the long weekends the summer offers it is time to return to our regular programming, which means Wriggle and Rhyme returns after Waitangi weekend. Wriggle and Rhyme is on every Wednesday during term time 10am and 11am at the Ponsonby Baptist Church Hall on the corner of Jervois Road and Seymour Street. Join us for a half hour session of music and movement and fun for you and your baby, toddler, or pre-schooler.

The month of February brings with it the Auckland Pride Festival, which Waitematā libraries are proud to be taking part in. As well as the fun events listed below, did you know that you can update your details at the library to match you? All it takes is a quick chat with one of our staff and you can change your preferred name, gender, as well as your email, phone number or address. Just pop to the library and talk to one of us; we can even sort you out with a new library card if you’d like.

Rainbow library book swap:

Saturday, 4 February, 2pm at Parnell Library. This Pride Month join Parnell Library for an afternoon of rainbow book chats! Bring a list of your favourite queer books to recommend. A curated list of books will be available for check out.

Rainbow Rhymetime: Wednesday, 8 February, 11am at Parnell Library & Friday, 17 February, 10:30am at All Saints Church lawn, Ponsonby Road.

Join us for a special Rainbow Rhymetime celebrating acceptance, diversity, and uniqueness. All Rhymetime session are fabulous but this one will be like no other with stories, music and fun games.

Sisters Gay Investigate... Private Eyes:

Thursday, 16 February, 6:30pm at Grey Lynn Library. Which would you choose, villainy or justice? Pursue either or both in this 2023 literary salon (aka Storytime) for grownups and other family. Rendezvous with our intrepid heroines to detect dangerous liaisons, reveal the romance of mystery, and make the catch/match of the day. Held in association with the samesame but different.

Poetry Speakeasy:

Wednesday, 22 February, 5pm at Grey Lynn Library. Samesame but different and Auckland Libraries Leys Institute present the eighth PRIDE Poetry Speakeasy and Open Mic, with guest poet Tate Fountain, author of the recently released Short Films (We Are Babies Press), and host Michael Giacon. Come along to read, listen, and enjoy in a welcoming queer word nest.

Movie Night:

Friday, 24 February, 5:30pm at Grey Lynn Library. Waitematā libraries are closing out our Pride events with a movie night in the Grey Lynn Library Hall. We promise popcorn and fabulousness. For further details drop in to one of our libraries or check our FB Pages.

We are also planning to put up a new display on the fence outside the Leys Institute which shall also have a pride theme. So keep an eye out next time you stroll past the old gal.

Lastly a little update about the Leys Institute restoration. Thank you for coming to the library and having your say on the proposed concept designs for the restoration of Leys Institute. We received an incredible 350 responses to the feedback! You told us you preferred design 1 (83% of people) and that a narrow majority of you agreed with a targeted rate (52% of people). You also told us lots of valuable information about why you love the Leys Institute building and how you’d like to use it. We really appreciate this!

The project team have shared the results with the Waitematā Local Board to help them decide on the design and funding for the restoration of the Leys Institute and keep working hard to restore this taonga to the community. (Chloë - Manager Community Library - Pouārahi, Pātaka Kōrero ā-Hapori)

Monday- Friday 9am- 6pm, Saturday 9am – 4pm, Sunday closed.  PN

LEYS INSTITUTE LITTLE LIBRARY, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

Have you ever wondered what happens to those who have left Tamaki Makaurau’s soothing bosom - those friends who have fled to parts unknown somewhere south of the Bombay’s citing our fair city’s crime, high prices and the ramifications of living in a Christmas-centric and light-laden street - refugees from our comfy insularity who seemingly disappear from our lives only to reappear periodically to reacquaint themselves (and us) with the pleasures of SPQR and our Ponsonby Road coffee culture?

What happens when the excitement and thrill of buying a large mansion with the proceeds of a Freemans Bay villa has faded, curious city visitors have started to dissipate, and all of the packing boxes have been retired to the recycle bin?

A few years ago some dear friends left the asylum of our fair city and moved down-country to a small, one horse, beachside community - population 768. Nestled in the shadow of Cape Kidnappers, it consists of a pub, a dairy and more importantly for them, a vineyard. Here the resident population of Australian gannets outweighs that of humans and the sound of the one horse’s hooves on the town’s tar seal resonates mellifluously against the walls of the fallow holiday baches, vacant for the majority of the year. Car-lotta and I, finally relieved of the torture of the ‘Gentle Annie’, could almost glimpse the settlement from the heights of the range as we twisted and turned; they were so close we could almost reach out to them.

“Don't expect much," says my friend Janet, in that spontaneous phone-call, "it’s just a beachside bach, but we love it. Do come for lunch," – Janet - the queen of understatement.

The thought of a free lunch and an afternoon mired in debate about the intricacies of the New Zealand political system with those much more knowledgeable than myself and with much better political gossip than I could ever hope to garner on my own was too good an offer to turn down. Besides, it would be rude not to sample the results of the fermented grapes from across the road.

Situated out of the way of civilisation, isolated from motorways and congestion, crowds, graffiti and traffic lights, Car-lotta and I drove past farms of maturing produce along a gentile landscape towards the towering reaches of “The Cape”. Peaceful undulating roads, edged by a multitude of trees of numerous species whose multicolored leaves had dropped onto the dark seal and swirled up in a cyclonic kaleidoscope of colours lined my way.

Set on the beach, the Ralston’s version of a bach sat hidden amongst a forest of flax and cabbage trees. At the bottom of their garden, visible from their floor to ceiling windows, rolled the tumbling surf of the Pacific; the waves crashing onto the pebbles almost drowning out the cacophony of gulls circling over the foaming spray. The beach, contained on one side by the towering reaches of Cape Kidnappers and on the other, an exhaustive distant horizon lay before us.

Their luxurious renovated ‘bach’ sports all of the mod cons you would expect in a city pad and yet deliberately contains only one bedroom - “you can’t be too careful,” Janet explained over the murmurings of an agreeing and sleepy Bill - happy in his hammock with a book and Panama hat lying across his stomach.

Reveling in secluded retirement away from the theatre of national politics, these two are enjoying the new tranquility of their lives, enjoying their paradise in peaceful anonymity. And why shouldn’t they? Far from the madding crowds, they seemingly have everything they need in this idyllic settingsolitude, fresh air and the symphony of nature resonating all around them.

Of course semi-retirement doesn’t totally preclude the temptation of local politics. Janet can’t help herself - the pull of the political maelstrom, too strong to let go just yet. Local politics is just as wayward here as it is in the big smoke. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Besides you need to keep your finger in the pie - you never know when the next wayward politico needs the expertise and steerage of an experienced media trainer. Something tells me with an election looming, those days are not too far away; but will it tempt them back to the hurly burly of the big smoke? I doubt it and I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t forsake this paradise either. (ROSS THORBY)  PN

This February, Auckland Live Summer in the Square is the place to be! FREE for the whole family to enjoy, Aotea Square will become a hive of summer activities celebrating the performing arts.

There will be four exciting, themed weekends.

At FIESTA IN THE SQUARE (Friday 3 – Sunday 5 February), you’re invited to join an explosion of Latin American culture and performances. Aotea Square will be filled with colourful costumes, sizzling sounds, delicious food, Latin dance classes, Zumba, DJs, live bands, and so much more.

Next up is BEATS IN THE SQUARE (Friday 10 – Saturday 11 February), which is guaranteed to satisfy all your cravings for smooth tunes and slick moves. Kicking off the weekend, join Rina Chae for an epic dance battle where teams will represent different parts of the world. On Saturday, catch local rising stars from Stand Up Stand Out (SUSO) alumni, plus headline act Che Fu will take to the stage alongside local DJs including Manuel Bundy. Plus, on the Auckland Live Digital Stage, the hit musical film ‘In The Heights’ will delight audiences of all ages.

Keen to experience tricks, flips, surprises, and fun? CIRCUS IN THE SQUARE (Friday 17 – Saturday 18 Februrary) is the one for you! Featuring the likes of The Dust Palace, Manubrium Circus and Flip n Fly, there is something for everyone, whether you want to catch a performance, have a go at some moves or catch the much-loved film ‘The Greatest Showman’ on a big outdoor screen. This weekend will have you on the edge of your seat and challenge your perception of everything a circus can be.

Rounding out a terrific month, PRIDE IN THE SQUARE (Friday 24 – Saturday 25 February) invites you to embrace all the queer joy at this bold and bright collision of Pride, summer, and performing arts. You can expect drag artists such as Miss Geena and Hugo Grrrl, music performers including Jason Parker and Valkyrie, as well as DJs and more at this celebration of all celebrations. Plus, there will be plenty of opportunities for rainbow families and rangatahi to get involved, from community conversations to live spoken word poetry and queer documentaries.

Midweek, HAKA ON THE SCREEN (Wednesday 8 – Thursday 23 February), will showcase a digital celebration of Kapa Haka on the Auckland Live Digital Stage during the lead-up to Te Matatini, the pinnacle event for Māori performing arts.

So, whether you want to Cha-Cha, cartwheel, celebrate, groove, or kick back and soak up the last of the sunshine, Auckland Live Summer in the Square has got you covered!

www.aucklandlive.co.nz

Happy New Year everyone, despite it already being February! We hope the holiday season even though wet, nonetheless enabled you all to be rested and restored for the busy year ahead.

The Community-Led Design (CLD) group is excited as we commence 2023 as this is the year that physical work will, at last, begins on-site at 254 Ponsonby Road. As per the council timeline below, Phase 1 physical works are scheduled to commence in July 2023. BRILLIANT!

Council timeline for the two phase development of the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road.

It was (way) back in March 2016 that the Waitematā Local Board first embarked on the CLD process to establish Ponsonby Park, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road. They did so to ensure the creation of an urban space that matched the needs of the local residents, the local businesses, and visitors to the area. Next month our volunteer CLD group will have been working for 7 years to successfully bring about the new civic space, so we are thrilled the start of the physical realisation of the project is imminent.

We congratulate both the Waitematā Local Board and Auckland Council for their vision and foresight in returning to the two-phased approach for the development of Ponsonby Park. Doing so has resulted in a great outcome for everyone with the first phase of the development funded and now well underway.

By all metrics, the CLD process has been hugely successful and has resulted in the (international award-winning) LandLAB, Park+ design*. Our thanks to LandLAB and everyone who has participated in the process to date.

· 1243 people signed the petition for a ‘whole-of-site’ open space

698 people responded to the WLB’s 254 Ponsonby Road consultation

190 people responded to the 1st CLD consultation

115 people responded to the 2nd CLD consultation

1208 people responded to the 3rd CLD consultation

With social connectedness increasingly important and relevant to us all, Ponsonby Park will be the common ground that enables everyone to come together to rest, relax and recreate. A place to meet new people or catch up with old friends, to enjoy some of the many activities, exhibitions and markets that the civic space will be able to host. These are the very things that build and nurture a community and is why Ponsonby Park is precisely the infrastructure and amenity the community has shown that they want and need. Along with the essential climate mitigation that it will also provide, the development of Ponsonby Park will create a new focus for the neighbourhood and it will be an attractor to the Ponsonby area that will also support and help revitalise our local businesses.

The Ponsonby Park development will commence in July 2023 - EXCITING! (JENNIFER WARD)  PN www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz

Bring it on!

*In November 2018 LandLAB’s Park+ design won the international ‘World Architecture News – Future Civic category’ award.

It was also shortlisted at the prestigious ‘World Architecture Festival’ in the “Future Civic” category. We look forward to the project winning the completed awards in due course too!

** The design concept images are those featured on this page.

Over summer, while many of us got to have a break on holiday around New Zealand or in some of our amazing recreational spaces across the Auckland Region, I was talking to shop owners and communities about the issues facing them and their families.

People have been struggling this summer as mortgage rates and the cost of living hit their incomes during a time when prices are soaring, and times are getting tough. For the first time in three years many Kiwis have hoped to host friends and family for summer BBQs or afternoon picnics but with the cost of meat increasing by 11 percent in the past 12 months, and fruit and vegetable prices increasing 23 percent, some of the highest annual increases since 1990 in food prices, people are struggling to even celebrate the summer with their loved ones.

This is unacceptable as the government continues to waste public money on unneeded programmes such as the RNZ/ TVNZ merger, Three Waters and fail to deliver tax relief to struggling New Zealand households.

I also want to acknowledge the recent decision by Jacinda Ardern to resign as Prime Minister and stepping down as MP for Mt Albert later this year in April. While we have significant differences in views on the future of New Zealand and this special Auckland community, I know she has given service to the people of our country and deserves our respect. I wish her the very best for the future.

While Mt Albert won’t have an electorate MP in parliament for the remainder of this parliament as a list MP based in Auckland, my parliamentary office in Epsom at 107 Great South Road will be available for constituency support for those that need help. I am also incredibly pleased to confirm I will be contesting the Mt Albert electorate again at the 14 October election as the National Party candidate.

New Zealanders are doing it tough and a change in prime minister to Chris Hipkins won’t fix it under Labour. It is time for National to lead government again and for New Zealand to get back on track. It’s clear that nearly six years of Labour have seen our health system overwhelmed, our educational achievements dropping and with rising crime and a cost-of-living crisis they have failed to deliver what New Zealanders need. National will get things done for the future of New Zealand.

In my maiden speech back in 2008 I told our parliament We are far too small a nation to be divisive. We must work together to decide who we are as a nation, and work together to achieve where we want to be in the future.

As we look ahead in 2023 to where we wish to be as a country, we must be mindful to end divisions and make New Zealand a welcoming country for all. 2023 must be the year crime stops on the streets and in the storefronts of Auckland. It needs to be a year racism ends and friendship begins anew. As a member of parliament and fellow New Zealand citizen, I look forward in embracing this endeavour over the months to come.

As we look ahead to the dissolution of parliament in early September and the election on 14 October, it is clear the next government will have an important job to do turning the economic slump around and getting New Zealand back to being a rockstar economy. We are a nation of dreamers, doers and innovators and we can restore business confidence, stop the brain drain, make New Zealand an attractive country for people to work and grow their lives in without fear of harm and crime. Above all we can restore New Zealand as an amazing country to build our futures in.

It’s time to believe in New Zealand again. (MELISSA LEE MP)

National Member of Parliament. National Spokesperson for Broadcasting & Media| Digital Economy and Communications | Ethnic Communities

E: mplee@parliament.govt.nz

Authorised by Melissa Lee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington