June 2025: Chairperson's Report
- alexispoppelbaum
- Jun 30
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 2
June board business meeting: Chair's report
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. We held another local board community drop-in session on Friday 13 June at East Coast Bays Library. We have a Whangaparāoa Library drop-in session scheduled for 25 June and these will be the last ones this term as the local election period draws near. My thanks to our Engagement Advisor for organising these events which I saw as a priority coming in as Chair, and which also aligned with our board’s engagement strategy that was approved in late 2024.
4. Another priority for our community and Local Board Plan 2023 which I have been actioning alongside our Engagement Advisor, is to build meaningful relationships with iwi that are held across multiple local board members to ensure continuity and growth of that relationship across electoral terms. The local board are meeting with Te Kawerau ā Maki on 26 June and we hope to arrange a meeting soon with Ngāti Manuhiri for the whole board. We also have another engagement with Te Herenga Waka o Ōrewa Marae scheduled on 29 July.
Our Community
On 7 June Member Short and I attended the Streamview Way Youth Park consultation event on the proposed site alongside the pump track. Council staff did a great job to attract the voices we wanted to hear from (local young people aged 12-18 years old) but it was also handy to catch local people out on their walks and bike rides who hadn’t heard about the plans yet. A second drop-in event in scheduled on 22 June, 9am – 2pm at the Long Bay Markets before consultation closes 27 June.
On 23 May I presented the local board’s feedback to the Dog Policy and Bylaw ReviewLocal Board Session, which went well with only one question asked.
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 change the operational management of the stadium and to develop the future pathway forward for North Harbour Stadium (as per the Budget Committee and Governing Body Long Term Plan resolutions). Updates since my April 2025 report include:
Stage One update: On 28 February 2025 the Expression of Interest process to identify a new operator of North Harbour Stadium closed and submissions from parties have been thoroughly reviewed by an evaluation panel made up of local board, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) and local and independent representatives. An update will be provided on this work to the North Harbour and Domain Precinct Working Group on 16 June 2025 and then a recommendation will be made to the TAU Board to approve entering into negotiations if a preferred operator is identified. I will provide a verbal update at the local board business meeting.
Stage Two update: This work will look into the long-term future governance, management, ownership, operations and funding for the stadium and precinct. This project has been scoped to clarify the outputs. Our local board and the Upper Harbour Local Board consulted on local contributions to this work in our Annual Plan 2025/2026 and a scoping paper is being worked on.
Our Places and Our Economy
Auckland Transport hosted two drop-in community events on 11 and 12 June relating to the ‘Vaughans Road, Okura – Safety Improvements and Proposed Reopening’ consultation. Thanks to Member Parfitt for being available for the 11 June meeting while I was leading a Citizenship Ceremony. The 12 June meeting was well attended again and Members Parfitt, Walden and I spent time engaging with a range of Long Bay and Okura locals who had a range of different views and concerns. Auckland Transport were making it clear at the meeting that the Local Board would be a decision maker as we have committed $590,000 of our Local Board Transport Capital Fund to help improve the extent of their safety proposals. They expect to bring a report to our August business meeting. Auckland Transport also shared at these meetings that an option was to ‘do-nothing’ which came as a surprise to the community.
June board business meeting key reports to note
Our June Business meeting was held on 24 June 2025
What are we delivering for the community in 2025/2026?
After months of work and consultation, we approved our community work programme for 2025/2026. The report presented the 2025/2026 Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Community work programme for approval from the following departments:
• Community Wellbeing (Community)
• Grants and Incentives (Group Finance)
• Parks and Community Facilities (Community)
• Pools and Leisure (Community)
• Service Investment and Programming (Policy, Planning and Governance)
• Service Strategy and Partnerships (Group Strategy & Chief Executive’s Office)
There are so many great programmes we are funding- please check them out in the agenda under item 11 (attachments).
What are the environmental deliveries and outcomes we're funding in 2025/2026?
The proposed Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Local Environmental Management work programme includes the following activities to be delivered in 2025/2026, with budgets as listed below (the proposed work programme has a total value of $621,500):
• Community Cycling Initiatives Cycle Skills - $60,000.
• Storm recovery and resilience – community planting - $75,000
• Construction Waste Enforcement and Leadership - $30,500
• EcoNeighbourhoods - $30,900
• Environmental restoration network coordinators - $149,100
• Īnanga Spawning Survey and Restoration - $32,900
• Ko Te Wai He Taonga - $35,100
• Pest Free Hibiscus Coast - $95,000
• Te Ao Māori and Community Led Conservation - $2,500
• Trash Free Taiaotea - $60,500
• Zero Waste Zero Carbon - $50,000
What are we doing for North Harbour Stadium in 2025/2026?
My local board feedback on the recommendations for the Tsunami Resilience Project
Auckland Emergency Management has developed a set of recommendations for the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee to increase tsunami resilience in Auckland. The recommendations are based on expert advice and computer modelling from leaders in the field of tsunami science, public communication, warnings, and alerts, as well as public input. Public feedback on the recommendations has indicated strong overall support with some area-specific concerns.
MOVED by Chairperson A Poppelbaum, seconded by Member G Walden:
That the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board:
a) tuku / provide the following feedback on the recommendations for the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area on enhancing tsunami resilience:
i) support all the proposed recommendations specific to the local board area
ii) recommend that support and engagement is undertaken with aged care facilities and hospitals iii) recommend media campaigns to raise awareness of tsunami inundation zones and evacuation maps are done on an ongoing, regular basis.
iv) commend the projects that have already been delivered from the Tsunami Work Programme, including the pilot for two new-generation siren technologies and associated ICT infrastructure upgrades in Ōrewa
b) tono / request further clarity regarding the financial implications for the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board of point 39 in the report (financial implications) including any maintenance costs
c) tuhi tīpoka / note that while the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board has a 155 kilometre stretch of coastline that is vulnerable to tsunami threats, this project has identified the following seven highly vulnerable communities in our area:
i) Ōrewa Central, Ōrewa South and Manly to be three of the five census area units that have ‘Very High’ direct vulnerability to tsunami
ii) Browns Bay Central, Gulf Harbour South, Red Beach East, Stanmore Bay East and Wainui-Waiwera as five of the twelve identified census area units as having a ‘High’ direct vulnerability to tsunami
d) tūtohu / recommend that the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (from October 2025) consider whether it may be able to further support this project and empower our identified vulnerable communities further, via the next developed Local Board Plan (2026).
Endorsement of the Weiti Estuary to Devonport Peninsula Shoreline Adaptation Plan for the Hibiscus Coast from Silverdale to Campbells Bay
Shoreline adaptation plans are being developed across the Auckland region to provide a long-term adaptation strategy for council-owned land and assets to manage coastal hazards and climate change (including sea-level rise). The shoreline adaptation plan for Weiti Estuary to Devonport Peninsula (Attachment B and C) has been informed by:
• engagement with the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board for the Weiti Estuary to Devonport Shoreline Adaptation Plan was initiated prior to the community engagement in June 2024. Follow-up workshops were held in late 2024 and March 2025 to seek feedback on the draft report and adaptation strategies
• mana whenua engagement: hui with Te Kawerau ā Maki, Ngāti Whātua Orākei, Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngaati Whanaunga, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Pāoa and Te Patukirikiri
• community engagement ran in parallel to the Waitematā Harbour West Shoreline Adaptation Plan between June–September 2024. This included digital and in-person events to identify community use and values and seek feedback on draft strategy consultation documents.
That the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board:
a) ohia / endorse the Weiti Estuary to Devonport Peninsula Shoreline Adaptation Plan (Attachments A, B and C)
b) tuhi tīpoka/ note the advice provided by staff that this is a living document and the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board can trigger a review at any point before a formal review process takes place in five years
c) tuhi tīpoka / note the coastal value of the clifftop walkways and encased trunk sewer line (between Murrays Bay, Mairangi Bay and Campbells Bay) which are highly valued community assets for recreation, leisure and access.
Ōrewa Library family fun day and renewal
It was such a pleasure to open the refurbished Ōrewa Library on 28 June 2025. The new space is so inviting, light, and more functional to meet the needs of our growing community. The children's space, especially, is so magical. Our project team have done an incredible job! Many thanks to all the staff led by Carolyn who had a massive upheaval in operating from the Ōrewa Community Centre for some time while the upgrades took place. We are so proud of our beautiful community hubs (Ōrewa, Whangaparāoa and East Coast Bays libraries).
Special thanks to Ngāti Manuhiri for their involvement in the project design elements and partnering with us for the official re-opening. Another thank you to Ōrewa Beach Primary School junior kapa haka group.
Streamview Way, Long Bay - new youth park coming!
Consultation has now closed, but we are very excited to get the feedback on our proposed layout and options for a new youth park in Long Bay. Watch this space!
Wastewater sensor project underway
Watercare is underway with a major wastewater monitoring project.
What Watercare are doing
Watercare is installing 4,500 new level sensors across the wastewater network to monitor all Engineered Overflow Points (EOPs). These sensors will:
Record wastewater levels every 15 minutes
Send daily data reports, with real-time alerts during overflow events
Automatically increase sampling frequency when a spill is detected
Alongside the physical installation, they are also launching a digital project to introduce AI and machine learning.
This system will analyse data from sensors alongside rainfall, tide, and groundwater levels to:
Detect blockages
Automatically trigger sewer flushing where needed
Identify tidal ingress, groundwater infiltration, and high inflow areas
Support targeted work on our inflow and infiltration programme
This digital integration is planned over three years and will also link into Safeswim, helping to improve how they communicate with the public during wet weather overflows.
Why they’re doing it
This project is a critical step in improving the visibility and management of wastewater overflows. It will help them respond faster to issues, better understand pressures on the network, and reduce environmental and public health impacts.
When
This rollout will happen at a rate of around 100 sensors per week.
This is a three-year project with digital integration following the sensors being installed.
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