May 2025: Chairperson's Report
- alexispoppelbaum
- May 28
- 9 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
May 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. Anzac Day commemorations across our local board were well attended by residents (there were six events throughout the local board area in total). The local board fund the civic Memorial Parade and Service in Browns Bay which Councillors Watson and Walker and members Parfitt, Walden, Short and I attended. It was an honour to lead the service this year on behalf of the local board. Our sincere thanks to the Auckland Council events management team and East Coast Bays RSA for their fantastic organisation and support.
Our Community
I have been supporting public engagement events as part of the Mairangi Bay Reserves Management Plan review consultation which concluded 18 May. I attended the drop-in session at East Coast Bays Library to talk with interested local people on 5 May and members Walden, Parfitt and I attended an event at Mairangi Bay beach where we took the time to engage with around 24 residents about their concerns and thoughts on the proposals. Members Walden, Parfitt and I then attended the Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club community drop-in session later that afternoon.
Councillor Watson and I were invited to the North Shore Riding for the Disabled Association's 50-year anniversary lunch on 2 May. They have completed their covered arena now, which is providing more wet weather options for their riders (the local board contributed some funding toward via a previous Facilities Grant). NSRDA continue to be well supported by a huge number of volunteers and organisations that help fund projects and their operations.
On 28 April, instigated by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, members Walden, Parfitt and I met with other North Shore local board members (Kaipatiki, Upper Harbour and Devonport-Takapuna local boards) and staff, to discuss opportunities to work together on Project 27. Project 27 relates to the review of the Full Facilities Contract which is of high interest as residents expect a high standard of maintenance and service in our open spaces and public facilities, as well as being cost effective. Currently, the Full Facilities Contract spend accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board's general rates funding for local community services.
Environment
On 10 May member Short, Councillor Lee and Councillor Turner and I were invited to Shakespear Regional Park to participate in the release of 40 Hihi (Stitchbird) which were translocated from Tiritiri Matangi Island. This work is a collaborative project including Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society (SOSSI), Auckland Regional Parks and Ngāti Manuhiri.
Our Places and Our Economy
Auckland Transport, alongside the working group I am part of, have been running a consultation on proposed improvements to the Browns Bay town centre. Members Walden, Parfitt and I attended consultation events at the East Coast Bays Library on 2 May and 10 May. There were a lot of people who had come specifically to talk about the consultation, and feedback was generally very positive. Auckland Transport did a fantastic job with their engagement material.
On 2 May I presented the local board’s feedback to a hearing panel on the joint Auckland Transport and Auckland Council Vehicle Use and Parking Bylaw 2025, which went well with no questions asked.
May board business meeting key reports to note
Our May Business meeting was held on 27 May 2025
NoM Gulf Harbour Golf Course encumbrance
Member Jake Law proposed a NoM. The notice was signed by Member Jake Law and Member Julia Parfitt as seconder, and was passed unanimously.
That the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board:
a) ohia / endorse the contents of the letter from Auckland Council Chief Executive Phil Wilson to Long River Investment Corporation Limited dated 12 July 2024 (Attachment B - page 13 of the agenda)
b) tautoko / support the existence and retention of the 999-year encumbrance that was put in place in 2006 in order to protect and safeguard the recreational use and open space of the Gulf Harbour Country Club.
c) tuhi tīpoka / note the substantial community interest in the protection of this open green space and the extensive work of Keep Whangaparāoa’s Green Spaces.
Grant allocations: Local board grants (round 2), Local Economic and Business Grants (round 2), and Facilities Grants (round 1) 2024/2025
It was a pleasure to award grants funding to a range of local grant applications (up to the value of $8,000), for two of our Business Improvement Districts who sought funding for Local Economic and Business development and to a range of organisations in our area for the development or upkeep of their communtiy facilities.
My resolutions regarding proposed waste legislation changes – local board feedback
The Ministry for the Environment released its consultation document 'Have your say on proposed amendments to waste legislation' on 22 April 2025, outlining proposed amendments to the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (WMA) and Litter Act 1979. Submissions on the proposed amendments close on 1 June 2025.
The proposed amendments for consultation relate to the following aspects:
• creating a framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
• improving the allocation, distribution and use of waste disposal levy (WDL) funding
• clarifying roles and responsibilities for central government, local government and the waste sector • creating a modern, effective compliance regime
• enabling controls to address impacts of ‘mismanaged waste’ (e.g. illegal dumping, litter and or ‘escaped’ waste carried by wind or water from one site to another).
Here are the resolutions passed unanimously:
That the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board:
a) tuku / provide feedback on the government’s proposed amendments to the Waste
Minimisation Act 2008 and Litter Act 1979 to inform the council’s draft submission:
i) express disappointment that there was limited time to provide feedback to the
proposed amendments, which has resulted in many Auckland Council local
boards not having the time to prepare and resolve on feedback to be included in
the Auckland Council submission.
Extended producer responsibility framework
ii) support the introduction of extended producer responsibility schemes.
iii) Support establishing an appropriate compliance monitoring and enforcement
framework.
iii) Request product return schemes are standardised to enable consumers to
easily return a wide range of goods to accessible collection points.
iv) Request further amendments and controls be investigated to prohibit
commercial waste providers from disposing of recyclable and reusable
materials, and products identified as extended producer responsibility ‘products
of interest’.
v) Request the fast-tracking of container return schemes to be rolled out
throughout New Zealand.
Improving the waste disposal levy system through changes to allocation,
distribution, and use.
vi) Support the distribution of the 50 per cent levy allocation to councils to be
calculated as 20 per cent to all councils, and the remaining 80 per cent based
on district population, as not all waste collected in a district is managed at waste
or recycling facilities within that area.
vii) Express concern that broadening the use of waste levy funding for activities that
‘reduce environmental harms or increase environmental benefits’ may decrease
funding available for waste minimisation efforts.
viii) Request that reducing environmental harm and increasing environmental
benefits are achieved through other mechanisms such as stricter legislation
around waste disposal or through financial mechanisms of product stewardship
schemes.
ix) Support broadening the use of the waste levy funding for costs associated with
managing emergency waste, and activities that provide for the remediation of
legacy contaminated sites and vulnerable landfills, but not where they are in
operation or with post closure conditions as the costs should be borne by the
operators of those sites.
x) Request that compliance costs should be charged to commercial and waste
industry operators via scalable rates based on the risk of activity, and attached
to the applicable conditions of their consent, rather than being funded through
the waste levy.
xi) Support stronger controls to monitor and enforce ‘mismanaged waste’ to enable
council to better address the issues of litter and illegal dumping.
xii) Express concern that levy charges for Waste to Energy facilities might
disadvantage higher cost methods of waste minimisation alternatives which are
diverting waste from landfill.
xiii) Request that the removal of the blanket levy exclusion for Waste to Energy does
not extend to anaerobic digestors used in the council collected food scrap
service.
Clarifying roles and responsibilities in the waste legislation
xiv) Support improving the role of New Zealand Customs Service to support existing
regulated product stewardship and an extended producer responsibility
framework.
xv) Support clarifying territorial authorities’ minimum obligations for waste
minimisation and improving the regulatory tools to ensure these are delivered.
xvi) Request investigation to identify merits of de-privatising landfill operations in
favour of being delivered by council-controlled organisations to deliver stronger
environmental outcomes.
Creating a modern, effective compliance regime
xvii) Support the introduction of a compliance regime for the waste regulatory system
to define the regulators and other organisations’ legislative obligations for
monitoring and compliance activities.
xviii) Support implementing an amended compliance monitoring and enforcement
framework to improve on the littering and other mismanaged waste compliance
Enabling efficient and effective controls for littering and other types of
‘mismanaged waste’
xix) Support the proposed compliance framework, regulatory framework and
sufficient cost-recovery provisions for compliance monitoring, enforcement and
clean-up.
Western Springs consultation: Have your say
Aucklanders are invited to provide feedback to help shape the future use of Western Springs Stadium. It follows the direction from the council’s Governing Body on 1 May 2025 to seek public feedback before deciding on the stadium’s long-term use.
Both option 1 and option 2 involve building a new stadium, which will likely take content away from Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium - creating competition in the network of the stadia we already have and impacting the ratepayer. I've written lengthy feedback on this from the North Harbour Stadium Steering Group and will do so again in July.
There are three options outlined in the consultation document. These are either Auckland Arena, Western Springs Bowl, or an option that ranges from keeping things as they are to suggesting something different.
The three options identified for public consideration are:
Option 1: Auckland Arena
A bespoke 12,500–15,000 capacity stadium with high-performance facilities and outer fields (this is the Auckland FC proposal). Community use would include indoor basketball and padel courts. Proposed commercial activity includes hospitality options and a health centre.
Option 2: Western Springs Bowl
A permanent music and festival venue with a capacity of 50,000, using the natural amphitheatre and installing new permanent staging infrastructure. A 5,000 - 8,000 seated boutique stadium and community sport facility with clubrooms, a corporate hospitality venue and gym. This option would remain a community sports facility and the home of Ponsonby Rugby Club.
Option 3: neither option 1 or 2; instead, keep things as they are or explore other ideas
Existing arrangements could be kept. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited would manage and operate the venue for concerts and festivals and the Ponsonby Rugby Club lease could be extended. Alternative options for the venue could be explored (option 3b)
Feedback on the Western Springs Stadium consultation closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 15 June 2025.
For more information, go to AK Have Your Say
Long Bay youth park development underway
We're so excited to be establishing a youth park for 11-18 year olds, which will fill a major gap in the play and recreation in the Bays and activate the land we have at Streamview Way, Long Bay.
Thanks to all your awesome ideas and feedback, we have put together a concept plan to look at:
- pump track
- an active sport like a 3-on-3 basketball or futsal etc
- open field
- hang out social area
- adventure play
- mana whenua artwork/design input
- plantings
- toilets
Now we want to know
what you think about the proposed concept design
which sports you would like in the multi-use games area
the kind of pump track you want
the play equipment or experiences you want in the adventure play area
your preferred colour scheme.
Feedback online is open until 27 June. You can also catch up with us in person at one of the two drop-in sessions:
Sat 7 June 1:30-3:30pm, 1 Streamview Way, Long Bay (next to the pump track)
Sun 22 June 9am-2pm, Long Bay Market
Feedback to the Governing Body on the Annual Plan
In May I presented the local board's feedback to the Governing Body on the Annual Plan where I talked through our local views (informed by your feedback) as well as a couple of advocacy matters (North Harbour Stadium and transport issues- noting Glenvar Rd, ferries and the Mairangi Bay Reserves Management Plan).
Hibiscus Coast residents- choose the right bin size today before the service and rating year starts!
Coasties will get a new rates-funded rubbish service from Monday, 1 September 2025. You will have a standard 120L rubbish bin delivered to your property from Monday, 30 June 2025. If you want a smaller or larger bin you must make your request before 18 May 2025 to get your preferred bin size before the rubbish service starts. The new rating year is coming up shortly, which will include your new rates funded refuse collection.
If you want a smaller (80L) or bigger (240L) than the standard 120L one you'll get delivered automatically, then fill out the form now. If you haven't taken up using your foodscraps bin yet, get into that and you might be able to get by with an 80L bin and therefore pay less on your rates bill.
Just a note that the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board were one of only a few local boards that did not support a rates-funded collection service, but it was adopted regardless by the Governing Body.
Request a different bin size in the online form.
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