March 2026: Chairperson's Report
- Mar 30
- 7 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
March board business meeting: Chair's report
The following is a copy of my Chair's report I write for our monthly business meetings (this one being from 24 March 2026).
Purpose of the report
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
Items noted in this report are intended to be key highlights, not a full overview of all activity.
Our People
On 15 February 2026, the New Zealand Children’s Chinese Festival was held for the
second time in its new location in Browns Bay. The local board provides funding support
for this event. We took the opportunity to engage with local families to help inform our
upcoming local board plan, as well as our developing Ethnic People’s Plan. Thank you to
members who attended, and to our Engagement Advisor for facilitating engagement in
challenging windy conditions.
I was pleased to connect with Yes Disability, a locally based organisation with national
reach. Alongside our Play Portfolio Lead, we met with their manager to discuss
opportunities for engagement and the potential renewal of an all-abilities playground at
Long Bay Regional Park. Members of the Upper Harbour Local Board also joined the
discussion, where we explored how we can better hear from and learn from I.Lead youth
members about what is working well in our communities, and where improvements are
needed. This insight is critical to informing our local board plan and future work
programmes, ensuring our community is inclusive and accessible for all. Our
Engagement Advisor is arranging a follow-up session with neighbouring local boards,
and work is progressing to involve the Halberg Foundation alongside Yes Disability to
further explore opportunities at Long Bay.
On 21 February 2026, Music in the Parks was held at Ashley Reserve in Long Bay. This
was a highly successful event, with strong attendance and a vibrant atmosphere.
Members and I were delighted to see so many people enjoying the event, with many
already expressing interest in its return in 2027. We also used this opportunity to engage
with attendees to gather feedback on both the upcoming local board plan and the Ethnic
People’s Plan.
Our Community
On 18 February 2026, I attended the KidsLink Expo at Ahutoetoe School in Wainui. This
event provided an opportunity for local school staff to connect with organisations
delivering a wide range of educational, behavioural, and emotional wellbeing support
services. It was encouraging to see that many of these organisations are part of the
Hibiscus Coast Youth Hauora Network.
I was invited to be the guest speaker at the Coastguard North Shore ‘Barnies’ Awards on
28 February 2026. I provided an update on how the local board has allocated funding
from the Coastguard Sunday Market and spoke about key priorities and current advocacy, including intertidal shellfish overharvesting. It was a privilege to celebrate the dedication of local volunteers, many of whom contributed hundreds of hours of service to Coastguard in 2025.
Our Environment
On 18 March 2026, I had the opportunity to host a constructive meeting with Jenny
Marcroft MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, following a letter
our local board sent recently to her and Minister Shane Jones (Attachment A to the
agenda report). In the letter I expressed our community's appreciation for the
Section186a closure of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula for two years, and our
disappointment that it didn't include the East Coast Bays (as Ngāti Manuhiri applied for). I
highlighted the displacement of over-harvesting we are already starting to see and why
ultimately, a two year ban across the region will be necessary to allow shoreline species
time to regenerate.
Ms Marcroft visited with two Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) officials, at Sir Peter
Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC). MERC spoke about the
successful, long standing marine education they undertake and the role they can play
alongside any take bans - delivering marine education across the region to help people
better understand the 'why' and to enhance compliance.
I was joined by Deputy Chairperson Law, Hibiscus and Bays Local Board and Trish
Deans (Chairperson, Devonport-Takapuna Local Board). Together we outlined what we
are seeing along the east coast of the North Shore.
Barry Stevens from the Mairangi Bay Fishing Club shared the club’s strong
environmental focus and spoke about the changes he has observed over many years,
including the degradation of the intertidal zone.
Peter Townend, Managing Director of Canoe & Kayak and a member of Keep Okura
Green, discussed the economic value of the Hauraki Gulf, the impact of land-based
activities such as sedimentation, and how the loss of shoreline species is affecting food
sources and the wider marine ecosystem.
A key takeaway from the meeting is that Minister Jones and Ms Marcroft have sought
advice on this emerging issue, including the growing pressure for an Auckland-wide ban
to allow shoreline species to regenerate. We understand that consultation is expected
soon on the broader MPI settings around general management take rules. At present, an
individual can take around 325 living items from the rocky shore per day - which many of
us agree is simply too many.
People are harvesting more often, and taking different species than they once did.
Without action now, the pressure on our coastal ecosystems will only increase. We were
clear that we felt our communities would be very supportive of a two-year ban to allow
regeneration, alongside consultation on future rules to ensure the long-term health of our
coastline.
On 19 March 2026, I attended the completion ceremony for Ko Te Wai He Taonga at
Stanmore Bay School, which was another great celebration demonstrating the
knowledge that young preschoolers have gained through this programme.
Our Places and Economy
I attended my regular Browns Bay Business Improvement District (BID) meeting as the
local board delegate on 17 March 2026. The BID provided a review of the Summer
Spectacular event, which receives local board funding support and was again a highly successful community event. They noted strong patronage and increased turnover for
local businesses, both adjacent to and further from the event. One café on Clyde Road
reported it was their busiest day since opening three years ago.
The BID also acknowledged Auckland Transport for its effective communication
throughout the town centre upgrade works. However, challenges remain regarding a
garden area outside 12 Inverness Road, where Auckland Transport has advised it will
not provide replacement planting. I am currently engaging with local stakeholders to
explore options for a planting plan, including the potential sourcing of plants from
Paremoremo Prison.
March board business meeting key reports to note
The March meeting included several important reports where the board made decisions on local funding and provided input into wider Auckland Council and Government processes.
Kōkiri Report: Local Board Transport Capital Fund Projects Ready for Construction
This report sought approval for two Local Board Transport Capital Fund projects to proceed to construction, following public engagement. Both had already been funded by the board in previous meetings.
Approved the Whangaparāoa Road / Walbrook Road pedestrian refuge crossings at Manly to proceed to construction.
Approved the Spur Road bus shelter at Stillwater to proceed to construction, addressing safety concerns for school children, with a relocated bus stop, new shelter, and P15 pick-up/drop-off parking spaces.
Both projects are to be completed by 30 June 2026.
11.2 — Auckland Transport Kōkiri December 2025 and March 2026 Quarterly Updates
This report provided a combined quarterly update (October 2025 – March 2026) on Auckland Transport's work programme under the Kōkiri Agreement 2025–2026, with the December update delayed due to post-election induction of the new board.
Received the December 2025 and March 2026 quarterly updates on the Kōkiri Agreement.
Requested a correction to the Vaughans Road entry to reflect that Auckland Transport is now initiating a business case for rehabilitation and widening of Vaughans and Okura River Road, with a view to incorporating these into the Long-term Plan / Regional Land Transport Plan.
Noted an error in the report where the Whangaparāoa Bus Station was incorrectly given a red status; it should be green.
11.3 — Approval for the Extension of One Existing Public Road at 569 Whangaparāoa Road, Stanmore Bay (O Mahurangi – Penlink)
This report sought local board approval for a road naming matter arising from the Penlink highway project, specifically the extension of Beverley Road as part of NZTA's realignment of Whangaparāoa Road.
Approved the extension of the existing road Beverley Road in accordance with section 319(1)(j) of the Local Government Act 1974.
Several nearby properties on Whangaparāoa Road will be readdressed to Beverley Road numbers, with written consent obtained from all affected owners.
11.4 — Hibiscus and Bays Te Kete Rukuruku: 1 Streamview Way
This report sought adoption of the Māori name Awaruaika for the new youth park at 1 Streamview Way, Long Bay — ahead of the broader Tranche Two Te Kete Rukuruku process — to allow the name to be incorporated into planned park signage.
Adopted Awaruaika as the sole name for the park at 1 Streamview Way, Long Bay, as provided by Te Kawarau ā Maki and supported by Ngāti Manuhiri. The name references the historical abundance of fish in the adjacent Vaughan Stream.
Acknowledged Auckland Council's intent to enter a mātauranga agreement committing to correct, non-commercial use of the name for community and educational purposes only.
Authorised gazettal of the name Awaruaika.
11.6 — Local Board Input on the Auckland Council Transport Policy Statement
This report sought the board's views on the proposed direction of a new Auckland Council Transport Policy Statement, which will inform the upcoming 30-Year Transport Plan and Regional Land Transport Plan to be developed by the new Auckland Regional Transport Committee. I wrote quite a lot of feedback that covered these general themes:
Supported the proposed investment principles, particularly value for money, deliverability, and integration with land use; recommended safety be added as a standalone investment principle (not just a priority) to align with the Safe System approach.
Supported the strategic investment priorities overall; requested clearer guidance on how trade-offs between priorities will be managed.
Supported the overall direction on investment focus areas, particularly enhancing bus and ferry coverage, frequency and reliability; recommended the walking and cycling objective specify priority areas (e.g. around schools and town centres) rather than generically referencing gap-filling; and emphasised the importance of strong early local board input into both the 30-Year Transport Plan and the Regional Land Transport Plan.
11.7 — Auckland Council Submission on Land Transport Rules Reform
This report sought local board input into Auckland Council's submission on NZTA's Land Transport Rules Reform covering lane use and heavy vehicle productivity, with submissions closing 25 March 2026.
Supported Auckland Council's submission on the Land Transport Rules Reform, which covers proposals including allowing children under 12 to ride on footpaths, mandatory passing gaps for cyclists, e-scooters in cycle lanes, bus give-way rules, and driver licensing updates for zero-emissions heavy vehicles.
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