Local board warned of what’s being lost by community

In defunding the Devonport Peninsula Trust, the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board was turning its back on 20 years of local knowledge, said trustee Ian Cunliffe.

He questioned why the board was looking to replace the vast experience of 10 people [board volunteers and three staff], with one person.

Belmont resident Claire Nikkel said local children made relationships and felt grounded in their area due to trust events. For newcomers to the area and solo mothers its free services activities such as play groups and kids athletics were a boon that she recommended.

Belmont Baptist Church pastor Andrew Page spoke of its networking benefits. “We are a welcome, connected and compassion- ate community because of the trust.”

In tabling the petition calling for the trust’s retention, Lynn Lawton, a member of the recently formed Friends of the Devonport Peninsula Trust group, asked that the trust be given the chance to deliver on new requirements.

Signs of underlying frustration played out several times during the local-board meeting.

In the afternoon session, when only around 10 trust supporters remained in the room for the final budget vote, board member Mel Powell asked a council staff member if support would be available to ensure the wellbeing of the new community coordinator in Devonport given “the animosity to the idea”.

She was told council staff would provide this.

Later, trust supporter Linda Blincko confronted Powell about “the incredibly offensive remark”. She called on Powell to withdraw what Blincko interpreted as a suggestion Devonport people would not treat the coordinator with respect.

Member Gavin Busch later spoke of “disinformation” circulating in the community about the trust having been given just eight days notice of its defunding.

While the news in late June was indeed a shock to its staff, the option of replacing the trust with a community coordinator had been on the table with the trust for several months before this.

• Trust role at Matariki event, page 10-11

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