Proudly Napier May 2023

Word from our Mayor Kirsten Wise

Kia ora koutou.

Region-wide, and at a local level, we are working hard on our road map for recovery. It’s predicted to involve conflicting challenges. As with every affected household, the next stage in recovery will see us check and confirm initial decisions, set priorities and potentially make some sacrifices. It will be a constant balancing act between what is needed and what is possible with the resources available. It’s not going to be straight forward, and tough choices will have to be made about how to proceed.

At a council level, we have been faced with some hard decisions. These are impacted by a need to move swiftly with our initial Locality Plan that was due at the end of April. Decisions have been influenced too by taking a wide view of what our community is facing over the next 18 months and working out how to ensure we keep on track with work programmes while maintaining levels of service.

Community voice is always important but we need to make sure conversations have value, are given time and resource, and the ideas and issues they raise are reflected in our work plans.

That said, we have made the difficult choice to finalise our annual plan and associated rates increase without engaging the community. Our annual plan makes no changes to the priorities and projects detailed in our Long Term Plan, and in setting rates we have been through a rigorous ‘belt tightening’ exercise. We have set a conservative additional recovery rate of 2% but we have also kept the increase below what was forecast in our initial annual plan workshops. In short, we’ve done what we can.

We’ve cut our cloth to match our budget, just as many, many households are currently doing. We have been really honest with community about what we have ahead of us.

We’ve taken guidance, advice and input from council officers, and we have been clear that over the next few years we may well have to reduce some of the things we’re now doing.

What comes next is important. Our second Locality Plan is due by September. Gathering a loud and significant community voice as part of that is vital. Our first Locality Plan asked what our immediate priorities were (through to August 2023) and how these should be resourced.

Our second Plan must look further out, and articulate what our community needs to truly recover more fully.

In conjunction with this, we want to have robust discussions with community as we prepare our Long Term Plan (LTP). Long Term Plans ask the community to express what they want for their city for a ten-year period, what assets they wish to keep and grow, what levels of service they expect.

In preparing the LTP, we also ask our community questions about funding and resourcing. It’s vital that we hear from as many people as possible so we can prepare a quality LTP that reflects the desires and needs of Napier.

Any discomfort I feel about the lack of engagement now is off-set by the knowledge that there are extensive important conversations to be had in the near-future.

The journey we will go through, with the LTP and the full Locality Plan process, makes me certain the community voice that is essential to decision making will be heard.

Our Annual Plan

Napier City Council’s 2023/24 Annual Plan takes into account the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle by including a $1.5 million cyclone recovery budget, funded through a new Disaster Recovery Rate of 2%.

The effects of the cyclone have presented new challenges for Napier, which has resulted in the new rate. Councils are able to introduce a new rate without consultation if it is needed to meet an unforeseen and urgent need, and can’t be reasonably met any other way.

“We have worked really hard to keep our planned rates increase this year to the agreed cap of 9.7 per cent as outlined in our Long Term Plan (LTP). We have achieved this through cost cutting and loan funding,” says Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise. “The Disaster Recovery Rate of an additional 2 per cent was a step we had to take. It will ensure our community is well looked after in terms of providing recovery support and services.”

The new rate will cover gaps in insurance cover for asset repair and replacement, such as the Wastewater Treatment Plant. It’s a priority to repair and replace these assets so they are more resilient for future weather events.

We'll also increase stormwater capacity for future flooding events. It will also cover rates remissions or lost rates revenue as a result of the cyclone.

The Annual Plan also defers the planned 2% rates increase to fund Council’s housing activity deficit.

The housing portfolio will continue to be funded by loans for 2023/24. “We are currently developing a city-wide housing strategy. This will give us more time to explore how council housing fits within this strategy. It also helps with providing a more manageable rates increase given the current economic climate,” says Mayor Wise.

The 2023/24 Capital Plan is also being re-phased. This has involved moving some planned projects and their budgets to later years in the Long Term Plan 202131. The result is a 2023/24 capital plan of $75.8 million, down from $90 million.

“It’s important to note that these projects and their budgets haven’t been cut. We have simply moved them into the following year’s budget, which is the first year of our next Long Term Plan. We’ll have the chance to reconsider all projects and budgets then,” says Mayor Wise.

Public consultation on the Annual Plan is not required due to there being no significant changes for 2023/24 as outlined in Council’s LTP 2021-31.

“Although we aren’t required to consult on this year’s plan, there are some key topics that we want people to know about,” says Mayor Wise.

Find out more by visiting napier.govt.nz and using the keyword search #annualplan A Facebook Live session will take place in May. Details on this will be advertised soon.

Planned rates increase New Disaster Relief Rate For $1.5 million Cyclone Recovery Budget

9.7 %

2 %

11. 7 % Total Rates Increase

Jull Wharf

Jull wharf has reached the end of its life and needs to be removed. Demolition won’t hold up traffic but penguins may hold up demolition.

Work to remove the old wharf, near the Iron Pot, began at the beginning of May. Russell Bond, Acting Executive Director Infrastructure, says it’s a project that has complexities, including its proximity to kororā nesting sites. Cooperation across a number of agencies including Waka Kotahi NZTA, Napier Port and Napier City Council is essential.

“We are working with Dr John Cockrem from Massey University as well as with Port staff to make sure any penguins at the site are safely moved,” explains Russell. “Penguin experts will be located onsite keeping a close eye out for any kororā among the rocks under the wharf and in the revetment that sits alongside the wharf.”

If a penguin is found it will be relocated to the Port Sanctuary. Traffic management is in place reducing the speed limit to 20km/h. Traffic will continue to flow in both directions. The project is due to be completed by August.

Ocean Spa

Ocean Spa reopens to the public on Monday 15 May, after essential upgrades undertaken since Napier City Council took over the facility in February.

The work has made the facility fit-for-purpose as a significant attraction for both locals and visitors. Work has included upgrading the electrical systems, repairing and resurfacing the large heated pool and spa pool interiors, and improving the floor surfaces for group fitness.

There are new changing rooms with improved facilities for families and people with special needs. There’s new decking, lighting, and upgraded CCTV security. When Ocean Spa reopens, members will receive new cards on their first visit back. These can be scanned for access to the gym, pool areas and other members-only benefits. There is still some staff recruitment and training being undertaken, including for lifeguards. This means there may be times when the cold-water pool and the toddlers’ pool aren’t resourced to allow us to open them for swimming. As soon as our team is fully staffed and certified we will resume operations with all pools fully available.

Napier's Locality Plan

As part of the official Cyclone Gabrielle recovery, councils and partner agencies throughout Hawke’s Bay were asked to produce locality plans to outline their immediate needs and priorities, and how these should be funded and delivered over the next six months.

Recovery for Napier means understanding the community’s issues and priorities within the regional context, and working together to recover, as well as ensuring matters are addressed by our partners within the regional framework.

Ahuriri/Napier’s Locality Plan outlines the initial planning, priorities and actions to support recovery in the short term (to mid-August 2023), while a second plan with a longer view will focus on long-term resilience for lifelines.

Ahuriri/Napier’s Locality Plan Priorities

include:

• Supporting people and communities in their recovery

• Ensuring businesses and key sectors are being supported in their recovery

• Ensuring te taiao (the environment) is protected and enhanced throughout our recovery

• Wastewater treatment plant: Re-establishing full and effective operations with a clear plan to improve resilience

• Fast-tracking work to transfer ownership of Awatoto stormwater pumps from HBRC and to upgrade pumps to an urban flow standard

• Creating climate-resilient communities.

The Napier Locality Plan can be read in its entirety on the Napier City Council website at napier.govt.nz keyword Cyclone Recovery

Tuesday 14 February 2023 is a date etched in Hawke’s Bay’s history as one of the region’s darkest days. In Napier, Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread damage and flooding. This resulted in a period of extreme isolation and vulnerability.

The Napier urban area was without power, communications and access, the Awatoto wastewater treatment plant inoperable and associated industrial area completely inundated as the stop banks breached. Some of Napier’s residential and commercial areas, along with surrounding rural communities and productive land were decimated.

Over 70,000 residents were left without lifelines including health services, power, road connectivity (in every direction), wastewater, drinking water, internet, and cellphone networks.

Nearly three months on, Hawke’s Bay has formally moved from response to recovery. For many, life has returned largely to normal but for others this is still a period of displacement, response and providing ongoing assistance to those affected by the disaster.

A regional structure has been established to enable recovery where local agencies work together to develop and implement a Hawke’s Bay Regional Recovery Plan. Napier City Council is working alongside its mana whenua and tangata whenua partners, other territorial authorities, community groups, business sector, and government agencies to provide support to make Napier a more resilient city and area.

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Work at the WWTP is progressing well. Across the works programme, improvements and resilience measures are being built into the plant wherever possible.

The milliscreen, which filters out solid waste, has been back online since the beginning of April and is working well.

Trade waste is being accepted from the Pandora Industrial Zone. The WWTP is not yet able to take trade waste from Awatoto Industry but we’re working closely with those businesses on a plan for bringing their waste into the plant.

We are on target to get one of the two biological trickling filters back up and running by the end of July.

Ground and air testing continues and biological contaminants are degrading well. It is still important for people to stay out of the water around Awatoto and Waitangi.

Odour beds at the plant will be repaired to the latest comparable standard, which will include particular types of bark, shell, and bespoke grids and membranes.

Sir John Kirwan offers support following cyclone

MAY

15 16

Join us for a free inspirational event with All Black legend and Westpac NZ ambassador Sir John Kirwan.

NAPIER: Mon 15 May, 6.30pm, Napier War Memorial Centre

HASTINGS: Tues 16 May, 7.30am, Toitoi - Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre

Sir John Kirwan has helped tens of thousands of New Zealanders stay strong through tough times. Now he's travelling around the North Island visiting communities hit hard by severe weather.

Please spread the word among friends and whānau. Find out more at napier.govt.nz keyword #cyclonerecovery

@NationalAquariumNZ

Following the inaugural event last year, the National Aquarium of New Zealand has again joined Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay for the 2023 Beautiful Bay in May. Like last year, there are incredible prizes up for grabs thanks to generous local businesses.

Community Services Grant

Annual Funding Round

We want to support your great community mahi – together we can make a better Napier.

Community and volunteer organisations play an important role in Napier, offering our community help in their time  of need. Council’s Community Services Grant supports these groups, so they can meet current and future needs, and directly benefit the community.

The fund gives financial grants that typically range from $500 to $2000 to assist operational costs.

information, local more!

The National Aquarium has 31 activities to inspire everyone to get out in nature this autumn - from the birds in our backyards, amazing flora and fauna, to beaches and the clouds in the sky. Hawke’s Bay has had a difficult few months and spending some restorative time in nature can help with mental and physical wellbeing. It’s about getting out, connecting with nature and by

Scan here for more information, suggested local hotspots and more!

@BiodiversityHB

@NationalAquariumNZ

In collaboration with:

by

Priority is given to groups that are 100%  targeted to Napier residents, and whose main purpose is:

Benefiting the Napier community directly Alleviating disadvantage and/or

by

Scan here for more information, suggested local hotspots and more!

Scan here for more information, suggested local hotspots and more!

Providing a specific community service (including social services)

Applications open Friday 19 May and close Friday  9 June. No late applications will be accepted. For more information or to apply visit napier.govt.nz #servicesfunding

In collaboration with:

Interested in volunteer and conservation work?

@BiodiversityHB

Info@biodiversityhb.nz | biodiversityhb.org

@NationalAquariumNZ

National Aquarium of New Zealand: education@nationalaquarium.co.nz | nationalaquarium.co.nz

Interested in volunteer and conservation work?

Drop us a line:

Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay:

Info@biodiversityhb.nz | biodiversityhb.org

Interested in volunteer and conservation work?

Drop us a line:

National Aquarium of New Zealand: education@nationalaquarium.co.nz | nationalaquarium.co.nz

Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay: Info@biodiversityhb.nz | biodiversityhb.org

National Aquarium of New Zealand: education@nationalaquarium.co.nz | nationalaquarium.co.nz

and conservation work?

biodiversityhb.org

Zealand: education@nationalaquarium.co.nz | nationalaquarium.co.nz

Cr Keith Price

Cr Greg Mawson

Cr Nigel Simpson

Cr Graeme Taylor

Cr Maxine Boag

Cr Sally Crown

Cr Juliet Greig

Cr Chad Tareha

Cr Ronda Chrystal

Cr Hayley Browne

Cr Richard McGrath

Annette Brosnan Mayor Kirsten Wise