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Toni van Tonder Bringing a fresh approach to local board business
Toni van Tonder
Bringing a fresh approach to local board business
There was a changing of the guard on the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board as a result of the 2022 local body elections held in September/October. The A Fresh Approach team, led by Toni van Tonder, had four members elected (including three new members), along with two members of the C&R ticket. Due to their strong showing Toni van Tonder was elected the new Chair of the local board. Aidan Bennett put these questions to Toni in late October, just as she officially took on the role of Chairperson.
AIDAN BENNETT: You must be thrilled with the mandate you have been given for your Fresh Approach team?
TONI VAN TONDER: That’s putting it lightly. It was an outcome I hadn’t even entertained. While we are sad that we didn’t nudge Zane [the fifth team candidate] over the line we are humbled by the support the community gave us. Getting four out of the five of us in shows that our offer as a cohesive group of future-focused leaders, as well as our collective values and passion for good governance, spoke to the voter. I do want to acknowledge though the effort and time that every candidate put into their campaign. There were 20 people running for just six seats on the Local Board. Fourteen were always going to miss out. Electioneering isn’t for the faint hearted and there’s no crystal ball that tells you how you’re going and what to expect when the votes are tallied. I take my hat off to all of those who ran for election. It is seriously hard work.
AB: You had expressed a desire to be Chair. You must feel wellequipped for the role having spent three years as a member and watching how the wheels of local democracy work?
TVT: Absolutely. I have a pretty strong sense of the type of Chair I’ll be. The Chair’s job is to set the tone, be professional, build consensus around the table and work collaboratively with the other elected members. The voters have voted for a collaborative and functional board. That’s what they’ll be getting. There will be no grandstanding or rousing speeches; there will simply be hard work and good decision making.
AB: What were the key learnings during those first three years and what things are you seeking to improve under your leadership?
TVT: The learnings have been enormous. Understanding the Council system, the key people, the dos and don’ts and political process – that’s all a massive learning. What you and I focussed on in our first three years was working alongside Council officers, rather than against them. I’m not really into politicising issues, I’m into resolving them. I heard the phrase, ‘We’re not here to rubber stamp things’ used a lot through the election campaign and in my head I was thinking, you’re right, we’re not; instead we’re here to workshop projects with staff, we’re here to bring local views to the table, we’re here to refine and give input, and we’re here to get the best outcomes for the community with the experts who are employed to do the work. If we don’t take this collaborative view we stand to lose opportunities, and it’s the community who misses out.
AB: What difference are you hoping a Toni Van Tonder and A Fresh Approach can make to the way the DTLB operates?
TVT: The first thing is to say good bye to A Fresh Approach as a ‘team’ for now. The voter has chosen their team and the first thing I’ll do is ensure all members feel they are included, that they are able to participate, that there is openness and honesty between one another. Every one of us has put our hand up to do good things for the community. This is a unifying factor. If we stay professional and stick to the issues we’ll work well together, whether we always agree or not. It’s time for oppositional politics to be a thing of the past and that will be the first change in the way the Board operates.
AB: What do you see as the key issues waiting to be tackled during this three year term?
TVT: There are actually quite a few. One of the things we campaigned on is taking the long view. Decisions we make today aren’t responding to today’s problems, they’re responding to tomorrow's. We’d like to see that Sunnynook is considered as a site for urban regeneration, given the pace of intensification the area is experiencing. The public realm needs to be vastly improved so that the community needs are met there. All members are keen to see an improved Takapuna Library and community services offer in Takapuna. Whether this is in the new
Toni Van Tonder.
town square or in its current site, our decision-making will be driven by the best outcome for future users of these services. What we want is a modern community hub that is uplifting and inspiring and accessible for all users. Progressing important transport projects such as the Bayswater ferry terminal and Lake Road, as well as improved connections and infrastructure for active modes – all this is front of mind.
AB: Will you stay on the Tūpuna Maunga Authority?
TVT: Yes. I’m incredibly proud of what the authority has achieved. In the last three years we’ve planted 94,525 natives species, eradicated pests, upgraded tracks, strengthened Maugauika's military tunnels, designed a mara hupara (indigenous playground), hosted 17 planting days, installed new entrance signage across seven maunga, won a 'Landscape of Distinction' award, won a Gold Award at the prestigious International Design Awards for Te Ipu Kōrero a visitor experience centre on Maungawhau, established a research scholarship, enabled and delivered 'love your maunga' events and we have started the process to apply for UNESCO world heritage status for our remarkable network of maunga. If we are successful, not only will that truly enshrine the sacredness of the maunga, but it will be a fantastic win for the whole of Auckland and a drawcard for visitors.
AB: What will you like your term as Chair to be judged by in three years time?
TVT: I follow a Women in Urbanism facebook group. About four years ago I noticed one member share a press release on something their local board had done and wrote at the top, I LOVE my Local Board. I thought, I’ve never seen anyone write that about our Local Board. If, in three years, someone publicly says, “Our Local Board is doing a fantastic job” then that’s when I know we’re doing things right. I want the community to feel like we’re working hard, we’re listening, we’re achieving things and that we’re in it for all the right reasons.
AB: Complete the following: After a draining election period, and end to the year, I am looking forward to…
TVT: …quality time with my kids and husband. They’ve endured a distracted, insanely busy mum and wife for the last few months, and their understanding and fortitude has been appreciated. I need to give back to them, and there’s no better way to do it, than by spending days beachside enjoying summer together.
Our North Shore Fund recipients have been announced for 2022
Head over to our website to see the amazing work the recipient organisations have planned for the year ahead.
Auckland Foundation are proud to once again support a variety of organisations, doing brilliant mahi in their local North Shore communities.
aucklandfoundation.org.nz/north-shore-fund info@aucklandfoundation.org.nz
Ear Health, Devonport
82 Lake Road, Narrow Neck Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5pm Sat & Sun: Closed www.earhealth.co.nz 09 242 0866
17 Wynyard St, Devonport 09 445 6001 www.devonportchocolates.co.nz info@devonportchocolates.co.nz @devonportchocolates
ACC approved provider
Phone: 09 445 4000
31A Bartley Terrace, Devonport Open late and on public holidays.
Have you been ignoring your hearing loss?
There’s nothing quite like hearing loss. It happens gradually. So slowly, in fact, that most people don’t take much notice until it starts to have a profoundly negative impact on their lives.
Did you know most people wait an average of 10 years after discovering their hearing loss before they decide to do something about it? It’s no secret – the earlier you do something about your hearing loss, the better. Even when hearing is just starting to deteriorate, hearing aids may help maintain the neural pathways in your brain responsible for decoding all the sounds you hear. Simply put, hearing keeps your brain active, which helps the parts of your brain responsible for interpreting sound to stay healthy.
Five sensory signs you need a hearing check
If you experience any or all of these sensory symptoms, it’s a good indication you need to take action about your hearing: 1. Phone calls are hard work! Do you find it difficult to understand phone conversations clearly? 2. Your TV volume is turned up to 11. Do family or friends complain about the volume when listening to the radio or television? 3. It’s difficult to hear in noisy places. Is it a struggle to follow a conversation in a restaurant or when there is a lot of noise around you? 4. Eye contact is essential. Do you hear much better when looking at the person talking to you? 5. Being social is exhausting! Are you often exhausted after social outings because listening is such an effort?
Focus Feature onDevonportFocus Feature onDevonport
Ear Health, Devonport.
Be proactive about your hearing health
It takes a bit of effort, partly because living to an advanced age is a relatively recent achievement for humanity. The average human life span gained more longevity during the 20th and 21st centuries than in all previous millennia combined. In many ways, we’re still becoming used to getting 'old'. As your age increases, your quality and enjoyment of life need not decrease. All you need is to establish some preventative measures and have a little luck on your side. There are many ways to lose touch with youth, both physically and philosophically. The good news is that your hearing doesn’t have to be that way. That is, if you decide to do something about it.
The four steps in assessing your hearing ability
Most people follow similar steps when first evaluating their hearing ability. Generally speaking, this includes: 1. Try an online hearing test at www.earhealth.co.nz which only takes a few minutes. 2. If an online test detects hearing loss, the next step is to contact Ear
Health. 3. Your Ear Health audiologist might recommend a hearing screening or a full diagnostic hearing test. 4. After your test, your audiologist will discuss your results with you and make a recommendation.
Contact Ear Health 82 Lake Road, Narrow Neck 09 242 0866 www.earhealth.co.nz
23 Victoria Road, Devonport Mon-Sat: 10am-4pm, Sun: 11am-3pm
(Opening hours may vary on public holidays) 027 493 8126 devonport@blueillusion.com blueillusion blue.illusion
Upstairs in the Devonport Arcade 5-15 Victoria Rd, Devonport 021 6578 21 frankpilates@xtra.co.nz www.frankpilates.co.nz
