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January/February 2025: Chairperson's Report

  • Writer: alexispoppelbaum
    alexispoppelbaum
  • Feb 27
  • 11 min read

Updated: Mar 6




February board business meeting: Chair's report

A copy of my report in our local board's monthly meeting agenda:


Purpose of the report

  1. To receive the chairperson’s update on recent activities of the chairperson, itemised by outcomes in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Plan 2023.


Executive summary 

2.          Items noted in this report are intended to be key highlights, not a full overview of all activity.


Our People

 3.     Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Marae hosted their community celebration for Waitangi Day again this year, which members J Parfitt, J Law and I attended.


4.     We trialed a ‘drop-in’ community session where members of the public could come and chat with us informally. We held this in the lobby of East Coast Bays Library between 10:30am and 12pm on Friday 14 February which was highly successful and a very positive way to connect in with our community. Member G Walden and I were busy talking to people the whole time. We had about four individuals and one group of 8-10 people who had come specifically because they saw it advertised, and the rest were people coming and going from the library. Our thanks and gratitude to our Engagement Advisor for supporting us to do this. We have Annual Budget drop-in sessions planned for Whangaparāoa Library Friday 14 March 10:30am – 12pm and East Coast Bays Library on Saturday 22 March 10:30am – 12pm. Following these, we will review the success of location/times/days and look to book further drop-in events.

Meet your local board members: drop-in session at East Coast Bays Library
Meet your local board members: drop-in session at East Coast Bays Library

Our Community

 5.     North Harbour Stadium and Domain Precinct Working Group: The Chairs and Deputies of the Hibiscus & Bays and Upper Harbour Local Boards (‘Steering Group’) have been tasked with co-leading a locally led working group to develop the way forward for North Harbour Stadium (as per the Budget Committee and Governing Body Long Term Plan resolutions). Updates since my December 2024 report include:


  • On 6 December we had an ‘advance notice to market’ go out that announced an upcoming Expression of Interest (EOI) process, which later launched on 20 January 2025. The EOI was published via the Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS) and invited submissions from parties interested in taking over the operational functions at NHS. Submissions close 28 February 2025 and those that meet the pre-conditions of the EOI will be reviewed by an evaluation panel made up of local board, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) and local and independent representatives. If a preferred proposal is found, a recommendation will be made to the TAU Board to approve entering into negotiations with the preferred operator, with a view to contracts being in place for mid-2025.

  • This work to identify a new operator is Stage One of the Steering Group’s planned work. Stage Two. This will be a study into the long-term future governance, management, ownership, operations and funding for the stadium and precinct. This project is still in the formative stage and discussion on how this will be resourced and funded are underway.

    Catching up with the team behind Moana Pasifika at their new fale North Harbour Stadium, including head coach Tana Umaga
    Catching up with the team behind Moana Pasifika at their new fale North Harbour Stadium, including head coach Tana Umaga

6.     Following some mixed messages circulating in the community, a number of our Auckland Council staff took the time to meet some of the Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club (MBSLSC) board members and Georgian Apartment residents on site on 29 January to discuss the view issue created by the surf club’s storage containers as a collective group to ensure accuracy of information.


7.     On 10 February, following a workshop item regarding the Mairangi Bay Reserve Management Review and location option analysis for the MBSLSC, members J Parfitt, G Walden and I met some MBSLSC board members on site. Since the workshop, they had undertaken some thinking regarding the pros and cons of options 1, 1a and 3, which I reported back to the local board at our 11 February 2025 members meeting.


8.     I attended the Watercare Army Bay Community Liaison Group (CLG) meeting on 9 December 2024. Aside from Watercare staff, in attendance were myself, Councillor Wayne Walker and one member of the community. This is the first CLG meeting Watercare has held since 2019 (which is a requirement of their discharge consent). I have provided feedback to Watercare that they needed to reflect on the time that they have not hosted these required meetings and asked them to go back to the drawing board in setting these up in a genuine manner, noting that their old CLG list had no become out of date.


9.     On 14 January I met with Rotary Browns Bay member John Cliffe who was following up on previous discussions held with the club on potential ideas to progress for the benefit of our community. They are interested in progressing a piece of work to ‘reinvigorate’ the Browns Bay Village Green with the view to seeking the Local Board’s support, creating a plan and ideas alongside wider stakeholders (including Council staff) and to eventually seek funding support via the Coastguard Sunday Markets fund. I will be suggesting to the club to come in for a deputation.

 

Our Environment

 10.  Members J Parfitt, G Walden and I attended the Trash Free Taiaotea Christmas BBQ on 10 December 2024 alongside a range of our stakeholders like the Browns Bay Business Improvement District.

Trash Free Taiaotea end-of-year BBQ
Trash Free Taiaotea end-of-year BBQ

Our Places and Our Economy

 11.  On 12 December I presented to the Watercare Board meeting regarding the Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. No new consents to build will be able to connect to the wastewater network until the plant has been upgraded, which is expected in about 2031. I voiced our frustration and disappointment that communications about this matter had been too slow to reach the local board, and communications to the wider sector had either not happened or been insufficient. I left them with three questions to respond to our local board about:

  • Watercare were too slow to communicate the reality of this situation to the industry, to elected members and to the community.  Going forward, how clear and transparent is Watercare going to be regarding constraints and critical situations?

  • Are you working on alternative solutions to expedite an upgrade to reduce the community and economic impact?

  • How are you going to be more nimble in your infrastructure planning in the future, particularly given the uncertain environment looming with the Fast Track Approvals Bill?


Watercare responded to our local board and I have sought an update from them about how investigations are proceeding in acquiring alternative technology for the plant to be upgraded sooner than anticipated.

 



A cheeky attempt by another local board to steal suburbs from our local board!


Auckland Council has been undertaking a representation review. The review considers how many elected members we have and looking at ward and local board boundaries. They're also reviewing how local boards can be funded better to get more done for their communities.


After much engagement, debate and consultation, the council working group undertaking this review had their final report supported by the Governing Body (councillors and Mayor). The last step was for the plan to go to the Local Government Commission (LGC). LGC's role is to review, hear appeals and ultimately approve it (final decision coming). An appeal was lodged by the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board (DTLB, which is part of the North Shore Ward). The North Shore Ward currently doesn't meet the 'fairness of representation rule' with a smaller population (this principle ensures that each elected representative represents roughly the same number of people. It's designed to achieve approximate equality of population representation by each member of a council or board).


DTLB argued this wasn't the case and made an attempt to gain Murrays Bay, Mairangi Bay and Campbells Bay from the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board to fix their problem (which, is also linked to funding.. ).


This was a terrible appeal for various reasons outlined below to the LGC, but worst of all this proposal was NEVER publicly consulted on. No one has any indication from residents about where they feel their 'community of interest' really lies and to have the chance to have their say. So I let them have it in my 10min speaking slot...



Whangaparāoa Library celebrates 20 years


It was such a pleasure to help celebrate 20 years of the beautiful Whangaparāoa Library building!

It was special to speak alongside former Rodney Mayor John Law (who officially opened the building 20 years ago and Jake's grandfather), Councillors John Watson and Wayne Walker. It was a nice opportunity to relay the importance of our community buildings which are places for everyone to feel safe, particularly after the events the week before where protestors were aggressive and violent with librarians, scaring families and library visitors.





Orewa Library progress



Bushglen Reserve track upgrade


North Shore police station has reopened its custody unit saving officer time

I meet with the Local Area Commanders regularly and was so pleased to hear last year that North Shore Policing Centre would soon be re-opening its custody unit. It's all up and running again now which is saving Police Officers time that they can now process people at North Shore rather than spending time transporting them to the Henderson station.


Waitemata is a vast district geographically to cover, so reducing staff time by processing detainees at North Shore will reduce travel time for staff working as far north as Wellsford, down to Devonport. Frontline staff can be back out there faster working to keep our community safe.



Sherwood School celebrate the addition of new rain barrels thanks to the local board

It was so much fun visiting Sherwood School to celebrate the end of their Ko Te Wai He Taonga (water is a treasure) programme and their new rainwater barrels. They have extended their gardens to assist with their Garden to Table programme, so the new rain barrels are being put to good use.


This is a Local Board funded initiative that is run by Whitebait Connection- Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust. The teachers, children and their families really value the learning outcomes.

Thanks to the awesome children who shared their artwork and experience doing the programme with us!



Find out where the new speed limit reversals are in our community


There are planned speed reversals in the Auckland area, required by the Ministry of Transport’s new speed regulations. The new rule can be found here - Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limit 2024.

 

The new government rules mean that around Auckland, some recently set speed limits are being reversed, and full details can be found here - Speed Limit Reversals webpage The changes affect approximately 1,550 roads across Auckland, so it is important to be informed, and the website provides full information.

 

What has changed?

The Ministry of Transport updated the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limit 2024 (the Rule) which came into effect on 30 October 2024. Any speed limits set from this date must align with the Rule. By 1 July 2025 AT must:

 

  • Reverse permanent 30km/h speed limits introduced on local streets on or after 1 January 2020, if a school in the area was a reason for the change

  • Reverse lower speed limits introduced on urban connector (arterial) roads on or after 1 January 2020, except if they related to significant land use changes.

 

AT’s plan – When will this happen?

AT’s outline plan for delivering these changes has two phases:

 

  • Phase 1 - 17-30 March – Some larger urban roads, for instance key arterial routes.

  • Phase 2 - 1 May – 30 June – Some urban local streets around schools and includes introducing variable speed limits outside some school gates.


HIBISCUS AND BAYS LOCAL BOARD: These are currently 50km and will be changing back to 60km:

  • Hibiscus Coast Highway, between 624m north of Otanerua Road and 450m north of Puriri Ave, Orewa

  • Whangaparaoa Road, Red Beach Road to 172m southeast of Dobell Road, Stanmore Bay

 

HIBISCUS AND BAYS LOCAL BOARD: These will all change from 30km back to 50km:

  • Adelie Place, Murrays Bay

  • Agathis Avenue, Mairangi Bay

  • Aotearoa Terrace, Murrays Bay

  • Ashley Avenue, Long Bay

  • Barque Rise, Long Bay

  • Bellbird Rise, Murrays Bay

  • Bight Road, Long Bay

  • Cavalli Road, Long Bay

  • Charlotte Street, Stanmore Bay

  • Clematis Avenue, Murrays Bay

  • Coventry Way, Long Bay

  • Elliston Crescent, Stanmore Bay

  • Galaxy Drive, Mairangi Bay

  • Gledstane Road, between Elliston Crescent and Doyly Drive, Stanmore Bay

  • Greta Place, Stanmore Bay

  • Ian Sage Avenue, Long Bay

  • Jellicoe Road, Murrays Bay

  • Karengo Street, Long Bay

  • Killick Place, Long Bay

  • Kura Place, Long Bay

  • Lyons Avenue, Murrays Bay

  • Macnay Way, Murrays Bay

  • Matipo Road, Mairangi Bay

  • Moki Place, Long Bay

  • Montana Avenue, Murrays Bay

  • Penguin Drive, Murrays Bay

  • Pennant Street, Long Bay

  • Ralph Eagles Place, Long Bay

  • Rossmore Terrace, Murrays Bay

  • Saddleback Rise, Murrays Bay

  • Seaford Place, Murrays Bay

  • Seaton Road, Murrays Bay

  • Stitchbird Close, Murrays Bay

  • Timu Road, Long Bay

  • Turutu Place, Long Bay

  • Westbourne Road, Murrays Bay

  • Windlass Street, Long Bay

  • Wyoming Avenue, Murrays Bay



Bin tag use to end


What's changing?

Use of the prepaid tags you attach to rubbish bins is ending across Auckland. They will be replaced by an annual charge in your rates.


Visit How changes to our rubbish service will affect your area and search your address for more detailed information.


The standard targeted rate for rubbish collections for each household is $174.77. This is for a standard council rubbish bin size (120L capacity). Ratepayers have the option to request either:

  • a smaller bin (80L capacity) with a lower rate of $145.24

  • a larger bin (240L capacity) with a higher rate of $290.09.


If you previously used a private waste collection company, but still have an old council blue and yellow bin, you can use that. If you need a new council bin, use our online form to request a new bin.


Why do we have to change?

This is an effort to standardise rubbish collection across Auckland. Old legacy Council areas were a mixture of pay-as-you-through (PAYT) (which is what we have on the North Shore) and rates-funded services. The Hibiscus and Bays Local Board did not support this change to a regional standard of rates-funded service (it was consulted on regionally back in 2022/2023). For some, the hassle of buying bin tags is over and will be a relief to have one less thing to worry about. For others, they will be financially worse off. Many one or two-person households who previously only put their refuse bin out once every few weeks or so, will now be paying more for a weekly service they don't use. Those who worked hard to recycle and produce less waste have lost their financial incentive.


When Council consulted on this change back in 2021/2022 it was on the basis that PAYT hadn't led to the behaviour change that they thought it would (production of less waste from households with PAYT service). While PAYT hasn’t led to the success we had hoped for, it’s not to say it can with greater education, the rol out of the food scraps collection, and generational change.


I wrote the local board's feedback, back in September 2021 on the issue where we agreed:

  • Endorsing the concept that the generator of waste should be responsible for paying the true cost of managing that waste

  • Endorsing PAYT across Auckland

  • Recommending that cost recovery or free waste options that serve to divert waste from landfill are investigated/implemented with urgency, especially in communities where there’s evidence of difficulties of paying waste removal charges.

  • Endorsing the eventual use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags on bins so people pay the weight of the waste they are throwing (this has been trialled already and I’m told was very successful – a small chip is placed on your bin and charges you directly for the weight).

  • Request that Council works with other councils across NZ to develop consistency in waste and recycling practices.


Bin tag refunds


You can get a refund at selected libraries. Refunds will be credited to your debit or credit card. No cash refunds available.


You can get a refund for unused bin tags during the following times:

  • North Shore refunds from Saturday 1 March 2025 to Wednesday 30 April 2025 - at any North Shore library (e.g. East Coast Bays Library, Albany Library, Takapuna Library)


Q&As


  • Can Hibiscus and Bays Local Board residents use their econowaste bin/ old NSCC bin, or do they need to order a new bin?

    • Those in the legacy North Shore City Council portion of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area can continue to use the old blue and yellow repurposed bins. They can also request to change the size of their bin at any time per the standard bin exchange process – more information is here: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rubbish-recycling/bin-requests/rubbish-recycling-bin-information/Pages/rubbish-recycling-bin-options-charges-north-shore.aspx

    • Those in the legacy Rodney District Council portion of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area will have new council bins delivered to them. The default size for the rollout will be the standard 120L size rubbish bin, but if customers request within a certain window before the bins are delivered they can have a different sized bin delivered in the rollout. We will let customers know about this in the rollout communications and marketing. If they miss the window, they will receive the standard size bin, but can then request to change the size of their bin per the standard bin exchange process.

 

 


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