The Local Board term in review

It has been an intense three years and I will attempt to summarise what has happened and include the good the bad and the not very pretty.

Firstly four acknowledgements.

Sandra Coney

After 24 years of continuous service Sandra has decided to not seek re-election.

I believe this is the dream for all politicians, for us to go out at our own time and on our own terms.

I was elected as part of the same ticket as Sandra in 2001. We stood on a platform of saving the Waitakere Ranges from death by a thousand cuts.

Sandra was a champion of the idea that the Ranges should have proper protection. Along with Paul Walbran she guided the Auckland Regional Council into an early decision to advance the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act. She has consistently been a supporter of the Act and of the Heritage Area and reminded us regularly of the importance of the Act and the importance of protecting the Ranges.

She has consistently questioned and interrogated advice and Council proposals. The level of her interrogation has been impressive. Often I have wanted to make a decision and move on but then she would ask a further question and open up a clear weakness to what has been proposed.

And her keen journalist's brain would spot any text that was not quite correct. Without Sandra the quality of our interrogation will inevitably decrease.

Her commitment to the Arts and Heritage are legendary. The Shadbolt House Writer's residence is but one institution whose existence depended on her.

She was also a faithful advocate for Piha. No area in the region has received such advocacy and passion and care and attention.

I have joked with her that she will now become a ratepayer from hell, one who reads every agenda item and spots any obvious or not so obvious holes and who insists that our future stewardship of the Ranges is top notch.

Go well Sandra.

Liz Manley

I first met Liz when she was the Principal at Woodlands Park Primary. She really impressed me. She was from overseas but had worked really hard on her Te Reo and wanted to emphasise to her pupils the importance of respect for and learning of Te Reo Māori and Te Ao Māori.

She was enormously proud of the school's Enviroschool status, a programme the importance of which I cannot emphasise enough. There are hundreds of future ecoactivists because of her passion.

I was very pleased when she was elected to the Local Board.

And I was very disappointed when Liz told me that she was going to forgo her local political career, at least for now.

Not only was she a very good local board member but I thought her calibre, intellectual ability, commitment and humanity would mean she would be an excellent Councillor.

I wish her well and express the hope that in the future she will again seek office at Local Government. Super City needs representatives like her.

Go well Liz.

Our staff

I wish to take the opportunity to publicly thank our Local Board staff for the sterling work they have performed for us during this term.

Local area manager Adam Milina, our advisors Brett Lane and Natasha Yapp, our community broker Lisa Howard-Smith, our engagement advisor Louisa Vaeluaga, our communications guru Angela Lai, our office manager Rebecca Winham, our former democracy advisor Salif Sidibe and the more recent helpers Liam, Sophie and Carol and the multitude of other staff who worked with us and who we interacted with can I thank you for your professionalism and your sterling work.

Politics can be pressurised but I have always thought that you performed your roles admirably, calmly and competently and you made us look way better than we deserved. Can I thank you for the work you have performed and hope that for the good of the City you continue your careers with Auckland Council.

Board members

Can I thank deputy chair Michelle Clayton for her calm, thoughtful and constructive approach to her role. I have depended on her greatly and she has always performed beyond what can be reasonably expected.

Can I thank Mark Allen for his passion and his deep experience and insight into the way Council works. His experience is very valuable.

And can I thank Linda Potuaine for her contributions to the local board. Debates and discussions improve where there are a diversity of views and a clash of ideas and Linda has made many valuable contributions to our discussions.

And now with the review of the past three years.

It has been an extraordinary time. Not quite as extraordinary as the previous term where we had to survive a global pandemic, but it had a taste of everything including a budget crisis, and two one in one hundred year storms a week apart.

The Budget crisis

Early in our term we were met with the news of a significant proposed cut to our budget.

This proposal was generally for a cut of five per cent to local board budgets. But the funding formula used would mean that the reduction for the Waitākere Ranges Local Board would be $765,786, nearly 10 per cent of our budget for community delivery.

Our largest budget lines, the Full Facilities Maintenance and Arboriculture Maintenance contracts were off limits because these cuts were to be credited regionally.

Cuts to libraries were neither anticipated nor feasible nor desirable.

But this meant that local environmental projects, the arts and community support would bear the brunt of these proposed cuts.

I must confess that I talked to a lot of people, individuals, local groups, and fellow Local Board chairs about the implications. There was a huge number of submissions from out west and a lot of pressure was exerted on Council to change the proposal.

Thankfully the pressure worked. Overall cuts were reduced significantly. And the funding formula was changed so that the effect of the cuts on us were further lessened. But the local board was faced with a $130,000 cut at a time when inflation was high.

So we battened down. We did our best to minimise the hurt to local organisations who we depend on and cut lower priority measures out of the budget.

But it was not a great way to start the term.

Recently the fairer funding scheme has allowed us some headroom to review budgets and improve support for community groups.

To be frank we have sweated our community organisations on which we rely on so much and this headroom has allowed us to reduce the pressure we have put on them.

The new board will need to continue with this. Our associated Community Organisations are absolutely vital to the work that we do.

Two one in one hundred year storms a year apart

To add to the early sense of crisis the Auckland region suffered an unexpected dramatic pair of weather events in January and February 2023. The consequences have dominated the term and the effects are still visible.

The essential cause of the storms is clear. Increased temperatures caused by human induced climate change have resulted in increased water evaporation and warmer air holds more moisture. Storms are becoming larger and more violent. There is nothing more certain than this trend will continue.

These consequences have been predicted by science for some time now. Climate change is no longer a possible future crisis, it is happening now.

The damage caused by the two storms was clear. In my home suburb of Titirangi multiple slips affected people's lives, their homes, the supply of water and power and the ability to move around.

Immediately after the Anniversary Weekend storm I spent some time walking around the area and talking to people and looking at the damage.

The people I met with were obviously stressed by their situation but were supportive of each other. There were many local heroes, like one Paturoa local who had obtained power and water through improvised means and was happy to share it around with his neighbours.

Then Cyclone Gabrielle happened. It had a particularly dramatic effect on Piha, Karekare and Te Henga where washed out roads, slips and flooded streams were the norm. The landscape of areas that I am very familiar with changed.

The community response was outstanding. In affected areas individuals and groups stood up and organised and checked on and looked after each other. In each affected area, whether it was Wood Bay or Paturoa or Laingholm or Karekare or Piha or Te Henga there were local champions who kept me up to date with what was happening.

And I should acknowledge Council, Watercare and AT staff who worked under intense pressure to ensure that essential services were restored or maintained.

Then there was the long arduous process of the rebuild.

The buy back scheme of houses that were no longer safe to live in was crafted by the Council and agreed to by the Government. The local board fully supported this. We thought that in this time of need it was important that we help our neighbour. We also advocated for changes to Council policy to help those affected. As an example we successfully advocated for full rates remission for red stickered properties. The recommendation of Council staff was for a remission of 50 per cent.

The magnitude and number of slips severely impaired the roading network and it is only recently that Scenic Drive has been fully reopened. I must commend Auckland Transport for the huge repair job they are approaching the completion of.

And it was pleasing to see the resilience of local communities and that local board resources have been used well in developing localised resilience plans.

But for now we need to get ready for the next big storm or series of storms. Given current climate trends nothing is more certain.

Climate Action Plan

Given our experience with the storms it was appropriate that this term the local board completed its Climate Action Plan.

International and Central Government actions and policies are hugely important in the battle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions levels. But local actions are also important and have a significant role to play.

The Climate Action Plan is designed to help locals work on living more sustainably.

Key initiatives proposed by the plan include supporting the Urban Ngahere Programme to improve tree cover and emphasising the importance of solar panels on local facilities. Already plans are advanced to install solar panels on the Titirangi War Memorial Hall as part of its refurbishment and my belief is that all Council facilities should be analysed to see if they are suitable for panels. Given the current economics of solar panels there is a fiscal as well as an environmental incentive to roll them out as widely as possible.

Can I recommend that locals read the plan and reflect on the lifestyle changes that can be made to reduce our emissions footprint and to improve our sustainability.

Our grandchildren will thank us if we do.

The Deed with Te Kawerau ā Maki under the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act

In my inaugural speech I said this:

"We wish to continue to build on our relationships with Te Kawarau ā Maki and with Mātāwaka. We will be cheerleading and supporting Te Kawarau ā Maki as they progress their project of establishing a Marae at Te Henga. And we will support them in their quest to have the deed anticipated by the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act advanced."

I am pleased to say that the planning for the marae is advanced and the day that the Marae opens is closer.

I look forward to that day.

I am also pleased to report that the deed is in its final stages and has been approved in principle by the Local Board and by Auckland Council and a signing ceremony is to occur shortly. This will rightfully give Te Kawerau ā Maki some involvement in decisions that affect the Regional Park.

The draft deed has been carefully crafted.

It includes a recital of the history of Te Kawerau ā Maki's relationship with the Waitakere Ranges. It is impossible to read this without realising the enormity of the loss that this iwi has suffered.

Much of the Ranges was acquired by the Crown without Te Kawerau ā Maki's involvement or consent.

And over the decades, Te Kawerau's land ownership was lost, and its way of life was compromised by various measures and developments.

Despite this history, Te Kawerau ā Maki has maintained a living connection to the Waitakere Ranges.

Ko Te Wao Nui ā Tiriwa te ngahere au Te Kawerau ā Maki.

The proposed joint committee with Te Kawerau ā Maki

During the process to draft and finalise the Deed Council supported the formation of a joint committee to give Te Kawerau ā Maki proper involvement in decisions that may affect the Parkland.

My view is that the joint committee offers significant benefits. It will elevate the importance of the Heritage Area. Public input and accountability will be improved through open meetings, published agendas, and potentially outreach sessions.

The committee can act as a champion for the Heritage Area, highlighting issues it faces and what is needed to protect and enhance its environment.

Three things the committee is not:

1. It is not co-governance. It is a subcommittee. The Council remains in control.

2. It is not an extra cost. Staff advice is that existing budgets can be utilised during the initial period of operation.

3. It does not and will not affect private land or planning rules.

Currently, there is no single, comprehensive, and long-term plan that is specific to the entire Heritage Area. The Deed and the proposed committee provide a solution to this problem. My view is that Te Kawerau ā Maki, with their deep history and strong sense of kaitiakitanga over the area, are worthy parties to the deed and members of the committee.

The City Rail Link and the effect on Glen Eden

The City Rail Link is due to be formally opened some time next year.

When this happens the effect on Glen Eden will be transformative.

Passengers will be able to reach the centre of town in about half an hour. They will not need to park and will have the pleasure of a chauffeur driven quiet vehicle to transport them. I am very confident that train usage will boom.

This will create problems however. The level crossing at Glenview Road will over time be closed more and more often as train frequency increases.

Interim measures to adjust frequencies to match morning and afternoon peaks will minimise initial disruption at least for now. But as time goes by the pressure on the crossing will increase.

Even at this early stage it appears that options are limited.

It seems to me they are:

1. We could trench the line in the same way that happened in New Lynn. But this would be very expensive, require extended work on the rail to maintain slope requirements, and may be ruled out by the Apartment Blocks adjacent to the line.

2. We could raise the rail line. Again this would be a major structure and would affect an extended length of rail to maintain slope requirements.

3. We could tunnel the road underneath the rail. The geometry of the area would make this difficult although not as difficult in having a bridge over the rail line which I suspect is not viable.

4. We could theoretically close the road. But this would have an adverse effect on Glen Eden Primary School pupils and hamper the operation of the Glen Eden Fire Brigade.

The problem is that if patronage surges, and I am pretty confident that it will, we may find that in the near future the current measures are inadequate. And that we are not getting the full benefit of the City Rail Link.

The issue will clearly need to be kept under active consideration. But at this stage at least there does not appear to be a simple solution.

Council's five yearly report on the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area

This term the Local Board oversaw the preparation of the third five yearly report into the operation of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act. This is an ongoing requirement for Council to monitor the state of the environment in the heritage area, the progress made towards achieving the objectives and the funding impact arising from activities.

There were positive aspects in the report. Forest ecosystems continue to regenerate, and bird numbers and other indicators show ecosystem improvements.

There is a problem with identifying the impact of council spend and this is an area that I believe needs to be improved. In particular I believe more resources need to be applied to dealing with weeds and pests.

There was some concern expressed in the report and for the next report I believe that a more inclusive approach should be adopted. There should be widespread consultation with and involvement of the local community. This could include significant involvement of the joint committee with Te Kawerau ā Maki.

Submissions

The past term has seen an endless request for submissions on proposed legislation and policy proposals. These included submissions on the following matters:

• Local Government (Auckland Council)(Transport Governance) Amendment Bill

• Local Government (Systems Improvement) Bill

• Going for Housing Growth Policy

• Waste Minimisation and Litter Act proposed changes

• Time of Use Charging Proposal

• Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill

• Crown Minerals Amendment Bill

• Local Government Water Services Preliminary Arrangements Bill

• Draft Regional Land Transport Plan

• Fast Track Approvals Bill

• Draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport

• Bottom Fishing Access Zones proposal

This list is not exhaustive.

The requests for submissions are often presented with limited time to respond or analyse. As an example the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament on September 26, 2024 and submissions closed on October 1, 2024.

The local board filed a submission against the bill, designed to allow the potential of oil drilling off the west coast of Auckland. We thought it important to express local views.

I also had the opportunity to address the Select Committee on our submission. My view is that these significant changes need to be handled in a more orderly manner.

Other activity

We continued to support Community Events and Arts including support for local events like Open Studios Weekend, Matariki celebrations, and the Waitangi at Waititi event. We value our relationships with important arts institutions such as Te Uru Gallery, McCahon House Trust, the Upstairs Gallery, the West Coast Gallery and the Going West Trust.

We continued to invest heavily in the Environmental sector. We recently increased support for volunteer ecological restoration on local parks and continue to support Pest Free Waitākere and several other groups. When you factor in the amount of volunteer work this investment generates the return is prodigious.

We continued to support local community houses and ensured that the funding for them allowed them to pay employees a living wage.

We concluded phase two and phase three of Te Kete Rukuruku and accepted the gifting of Te Reo names from Te Kawerau ā Maki for forty parks and our two libraries. Nineteen of these parks have been given sole Te Reo names. The names adopted reflect the history of the area and reflect our commitment to supporting Te Ao Māori. They are also quite beautiful. My thanks to Robyn Taua-Gordon for the obvious passion she brought to her role on proposing the names.

We made progress on advancing Dark Sky status for the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park to protect the area's natural darkness and promote astro-tourism.

Our work I believe emphasises the importance of environmental protection, community engagement, and sustainable development in the Waitākere Ranges area. And that it is the partnership with community that achieves the optimal result for our community.

Nga mihi

Greg Presland

September 22, 2025