27 minute read
CHLÖE SWARBRICK: MP AUCKLAND CENTRAL
This year, Matariki will set on 2 June to rise again from 2 to 10 July. The star cluster, known in Western science as Pleiades, signals the Māori New Year.
Half the year on from the height of summer, this reflection on where we’ve come from, celebration of where we’re at, and contemplation of where we’ve got to go offers a profound moment in the midst of crisp winter.
I often think about what it must have been like thirty odd years ago, in the shoes of Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald, talking about something as seemingly novel as global warming. It’s because of their dogged, tireless and composed advocacy that it is now so ‘common sense’ to have due concern for the planet on which we rely on for survival. These historical fights are not always won at the time, and more often than not, they rely on many hands to tend their flowering.
Waitemata Local Board Chair Richard Northey’s contribution in May’s Ponsonby News spoke of the need for general tree protection and local government’s advocacy for it. As a Member of Parliament’s Environment Select Committee in 2019 during an Amendment to the Resource Management Act, I sought to reinstate just that, but was voted down by all other political parties. The prospect still sits alive in the member’s ballot with a Bill in the name of my colleague, Hon. Eugenie Sage.
Such is the way of campaigning. Things don’t happen overnight; when it feels they do, it’s often because the long march to the finish line has been largely invisible in the mainstream. This past month’s Budget, launched by Minister of Finance Grant Robertson on Thursday 20 May, felt a bit like that. With healthy investment in public transport, support for the lowest income New Zealanders and a transformative commitment to recycling funds from pollution into green, regenerative projects, our future is very paved by the decisions we’ve made today, just as our present is informed by the work done by those before us.
Please get in touch if we can help you with local issues
09 302 0166 chloe.swarbrick@parliament.govt.nz
We’ve still so much more work to do. If we want to ensure every child in this country grows up with the opportunity to follow their dreams; if we want a stable climate with predictable summers, winters and the crops in between; if we’re to invest in a city we can all get around with ease.
One of the many examples of our future potential is Richmond Road School, the country’s only school with four ‘official’ languages: Te Reo Maori, French, Samoan and English. If we can rally Government to fund some necessary new buildings for its young students, we ensure a thriving environment for the learning and mixing of ideas.
Among those great opportunities are weaknesses, like the cruelty of an immigration system that refuses to allow families to reconcile. After our Auckland Central office has tried individually to process dozens of applications that will not fit through a disjointed bureaucracy, it’s time for systemic change. Please do join me at 3pm on Saturday 12 June at Freeman’s Bay Hall, along with Green Immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March. This isn’t a moment to gripe or to lay blame, but to create the overwhelming mandate for change. Because, at the end of the day, how do you facilitate political change?
We build a community unwilling to accept anything less. (CHLÖE SWARBRICK) PN
www.greens.org.nz/chloe_swarbrick
Auckland Council - 09 301 0101 COVID-19 advice from Healthline - 0800 358 5453 Healthline: General health advice - 0800 611 116 Inland Revenue - 0800 257 777 Ministry of Social Development - 0800 559 009 Need to talk? Free counselling helpline - Phone or text 1737
Chlöe Swarbrick
MP for Auckland Central
Sit back and chat with Chris Lewis
Growing up, his father owned a furniture store where he worked after school sweeping floors and arranging stock. He watched as dad greeted customers, started a friendly chat then almost by ‘accident’ sold them something. Today Chris does what dad did - make people feel comfortable.
Now, with 16+ year’s experience in the Garden City of Christchurch where some of our country’s biggest challenges have shaken us all Chris realised his best attributes have helped him succeed. Stay calm, be kind and lend an ear.
What was your first job, career or business?
Well, it’s no wonder I like making people feel comfortable because I started out my working life as an upholsterer. I spent many years in the furniture industry restoring, recreating and designing classic furniture, as seen in this photo.
How did you end up at Ray White Wynyard Quarter?
Family holidays and getaways have been spent in and around Auckland and I’ve developed a love for the region. My wife Diane surprised me with a night at the Park Hyatt Hotel, in the morning I spotted a Ray White office directly across the road, so I walked in, asked if they were hiring and to my delight we all clicked so the next thing we knew we were moving to Auckland.
How do properties differ up here?
There are many similarities – the character homes of Remuera and Fendalton, the cutting edge architecture of new builds in Greater Ponsonby and Merivale. However, the key difference is the height and scale of Auckland’s inner-city and vibrant waterfront versus Christchurch’s low-rise developments. I’m captivated by the energy and pace of the projects in Wynyard Quarter.
You have a great reputation in Christchurch - does it feel like it is translating to Auckland?
Thank you, I built a strong referral-based business over 16 years in the Garden City and look forward to building that momentum in the City of Sails! Transitioning to my new home and work area is about consistently doing the right thing and simply be a decent human being every day.
Auckland gets a pretty bad rap sometimes so are you feeling welcomed in the Big Smoke?
Everyone is so friendly, when you grow up with the rivalry thing between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand, it’s easy to be guilty of a bias. Now I’m happy to eat humble pie and shout from the rooftops ‘Aucklanders are awesome!’
You have had a staggering 920 listings which seems like a considerable amount.
Very proud of those numbers, I find it fascinating that almost exactly 50% were auctions and 50% exclusive listings so yes, I have learned a thing or two, but you’ll still see me at every training session.
How are you dealing with our famous traffic?
Let’s face it - all of New Zealand has a car culture so it’s no surprise that with more people there are more cars, so I’ve been expecting it. But I’m spoilt - from home I can walk the harbour suburbs and waterfront to get to the office or visit clients. I haven’t had the bumper-to-bumper experience yet!
What does it take to keep up the sales?
At the end of the day preparation equals performance, so I always go back to what my upholstery craft taught me - prepare a solid framework, build up the required layers and lastly, arrange the final details. But mostly I just love bringing people together so that everyone wins.
Christchurch has had a tough go of it in the last decade - and the whole country has felt it too - what lesson can be learned from what Christchurch went through?
Leadership and support are the key words that describe how we got through, from a national, local government and workplace level we were incredibly grateful. It was an amazing example of kiwis doing what kiwis do best, rallying around with resources and directing them to the front line.
Chris Lewis Licensee Salesperson Ray White Wynyard Quarter chris.lewis@raywhite.com M 027 405 0287 rwwynyardquarter.co.nz
JOHN ELLIOTT: PROPOSED WEALTH TAX DOESN’T FIT
During the US Presidential primaries last year I supported Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren for the Democratic nomination.
She didn’t win for several reasons. She was regarded as too left wing, she was regarded as too old (she is about seven years younger than Joe Biden), she was a bit schoolmarmish (she had been a teacher and a law professor).
I was attracted to much of her philosophy, and her policy platform, but here I want to talk about her wealth tax proposal.
I strongly supported Warren’s wealth tax which she pushed pretty hard. It proposed a 2% annual tax on anyone with assets over $50 million. Warren set out in detail what this could accomplish for the poorest of Americans, and it was very persuasive. There are a large number of Americans with assets well above $50 million.
I attended the Green Party launch of its poverty package before our election last year, and then just a couple of weeks ago I attended a Fabian Society lecture on housing and taxation by two well known left wing economists, Susan St John and Terry Bauchier.
I was surprised to hear at the Fabian Society the proposed ‘Fair Economic Return’ method, a wealth tax by another name, and almost identical to the Green Party one. Both are well meaning attempts to level the waka somewhat, as inequality and poverty have got out of hand in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
At both meetings I heard about the aggregation of wealth in the hands of the one percent, and the first decile of citizens too.
At the Fabian meeting other taxes were canvassed, including the now much maligned capital gains tax. I think it a huge mistake for Jacinda Ardern to have ruled it out as long as she was leader. Bright line tests or not, if someone buys and sells property as a living and makes a profit on it, they should pay tax like anyone else does where they work to sell goods or services at a profit.
But the Fabian lecturers and the Green Party hierarchy both settled on a wealth tax.
Wealth taxes have been on the decline around the world, with fewer countries using them. Some countries have watered them down so much with exemptions they bring in little revenue. Clever accounting, and trading in overseas jurisdictions has hidden much wealth from the tax man too. Still, without a CGT, and without more progressive income tax rates, something is needed if we are to return New Zealand to a more fair and just society.
So, I supported Elizabeth Warren, why not our Green Party?
The targeted asset level was set too low. Mainly because of house price inflation, hundreds of Aucklanders I know, and many other New Zealanders are now living in multi-million dollar homes through no fault of their own. Some can sell up and move to the provinces, taking a lump of cash out of their Auckland home. Others love their home, their proximity to friends and family and don’t want to move. These fixed income families are already burdened by increasing rates, maintenance and insurance. They are virtually renting their homes now.
Every home around the central city is now worth one, two, three, or more million dollars. The Greens proposed exempting the first million dollars - two million for a couple.
That still left couples on pensions only (some with small nest eggs earning almost no interest), possibly paying $10,000 a year on their 2.5 million dollar home and a $500K family bach.
People were told they could defer payment until the sale of the property. That’s just a disinheritance tax. Another hazard-if one partner dies, the surviving one has only one million exemption, not two.
Now these sound big numbers, but a million dollar property is now just a national average price. Millionaires are two a penny, and many have little or no income.
Introduce a capital gains tax, increase income tax brackets for the thousands of people earning two, three or more hundred thousand dollars.
Finally, do introduce a wealth tax, but like Elizabeth Warren proposed, set it high enough to avoid pensioners who have a highly valued house through no effort of their own - just through rampant house inflation.
Grey Lynn and Around, the Grey Lynn Business Association, is moving to become a Business Improvement District (BID).
All the other city fringe business areas – Ponsonby, Newmarket, Karangahape Road and Kingsland – are BIDs. Grey Lynn and Around is the exception. We’ve resolved to attempt to fix this.
At present we’re funded by voluntary member subscriptions and small grants from the council. A lot of our work is done by volunteers. While it is great to be in an organisation of businesses helping businesses, we are unable to deliver the range of programmes, promotion and support for businesses in Grey Lynn, compared to other city fringe areas.
We have a great and unique vision. Seeing business, community sustainability and environment coming together in a sweet spot will ensure Grey Lynn is New Zealand’s best place to live and work. But we need to be better resourced to make this happen. So, we are now on a two-year journey to become a BID, which means predictable funding each year as part of the rate. We have the support of the Waitemata Local Board and we will now be going out to all local businesses in the Grey Lynn area to discuss how a BID could be best structured to work for the area.
We are not rushing this – we need to get it right. We look forward to working with our local businesses on this exciting step. If you want to get involved, go to our web site and get in touch.
While this is going on, we are continuing to work for the community. Partnering with Auckland Unlimited, we will be delivering the local Elemental Food Festival. We are planning a series of Saturday night markets in July, with multiple food trucks, entertainment, crafts and arts, plus special signature dishes from local eateries.
We are also helping to expand Grey Lynn as a market destination. The Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market is already an icon and a huge success. Andrew, Neil and the team at 606 Great North Road are now developing a start-up Eco Market in Grey Lynn village. They have held one successful event and are looking to make this regular, and to complement the farmers’ market. We are supporting this venture with local promotion. It is great to see local business bring vitality and culture to our streets. We all benefit.
Earlier this month we held a well-attended business accelerator event with speakers from Auckland Transport, the Grey Lynn Residents Association (GLRA) and ourselves talking about making Great North Road a safer and better place.
A huge thanks to Liz Mitchell Designs and Pearl at 149 Great North Road, who hosted the event. The resident’s association and Auckland Transport each put forward their vision for the development of Great North Road and local businesses were able to ask questions, challenge and debate ideas.
The future of Great North Road is of critical importance to the Grey Lynn community supporting intensification and businesses as well as enabling multi-modal efficient safe transport. We are concerned the Auckland Transport plan is not aspirational or visionary enough. Getting the upgrade right can turn the road from a bleak and windswept corridor into a place that is people friendly and is a catalyst for high quality regeneration of the Great North Road ridge. The alternative is to lock in a second-rate solution for a generation. This is a huge opportunity to get urban planning and our roading right. We want Great North Road to be a gateway to Auckland we can all be proud of. PN
www.greylynn-around.com
Photos are from our highly successful event 5 May 2021.
Anzac Day services at Grey Lynn RSC
Every April Ponsonby News attends the annual Anzac Day service at the Grey Lynn Returned Services Club. It’s a time to reflect and pay our respects to our armed services. The club tell us that the last Anzac Day over 2000 people attended to support the club.
JOHN ELLIOTT: SAVING AND REDEVELOPING GREY LYNN RETURNED SERVICES CLUB
RSAs around New Zealand are struggling to survive. Our old veterans are dying, and some clubs have failed to adapt.
Not Grey Lynn. Manager, Kris Hall, has ensured they move ahead with the times, and will not be caught out like other local clubs.
Since Kris and his staff’s modernising actions, turnover has increased three fold. Younger people have been particularly welcomed, and are always asked to join. Membership is compulsory for frequent attendance.
Kris reckons people these days need a reason to go to the pub, so they have introduced a plethora of activities every day of the week. Since quiz nights, DJ nights, and other music events have been introduced good quality wines have been in demand, something oldies told Kris would never happen.
Dress rules have been amended somewhat, without any detriment to behaviour and decorum. It has made some young people feel more welcome.
Kris Hall told Ponsonby News they will entertain any group who can add to the flavour of the club. There is something on every day of the week.
New Caterer, Ben’s Kitchen, produces food Wednesday to Saturday. Ben is a Grey Lynn super star. He made No. 6 in the 2014 Australian Masterchef series. No bookings - so get there early. The functions room upstairs is in constant use. Kris amusingly told me that last year so many people missed out on a good 40th, 50th or 60th birthday party, because of Covid-19, he now has a number of 41st, 51st and 61st lined up for this year. Kris’s is one of those - I won’t say which one!
Kris Hall stressed to us that he and his staff respect the Honours Board at the club and the club’s history and raison d’etre.
Anzac Day this year was a huge success. Mayor Phil Goff was a guest speaker. Also present were Labour MP Helen White and National MP Melissa Lee. Over 2000 people attended during the day.
No, we have not forgotten.
I’m a life member, but had just about forgotten the camaradie at the club until I visited again several times lately. The Grey Lynn Returned Services Club is in good hands, and serving our community very well. There are a variety of events on all week, so no excuse not to call in for a pint and check out the menu, food or music.
Grey Lynn RSC is open every day from 11am. Joining fee is just $30 per year. Call Kris Hall anytime for more information. There is something new happening every week. (JOHN ELLIOTT) PN
JOHN ELLIOTT: HELP MIGHT BE ON THE WAY FROM THE EPA TOWARDS BANNING GLYPHOSATE IN NZ
I’ve been fighting for a while to get what is now regarded as a ‘human carcinogen’-glyphosate banned from New Zealand. Many others have been fighting the battle for much longer.
Glyphosate is the active weed killing component in Roundup, and a number of other products. It is now banned in a number of countries around the world, and previous owner Monsanto, and new owner Bayer of Germany, have already shelled out billions of dollars in costly court actions to families whose loved ones have died of cancer after using glyphosate.
Bayer bought the rights to glyphosate from Monsanto for - wait for it - 64 billion dollars in cash.
The New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is finally seeking feedback on glyphosate use in New Zealand. It won’t admit it, but it has been partly held back by using the USA EPA as its goto organisation. The USA EPA has been accused of collusion with Monsanto, helping to publish articles saying glyphosate is perfectly safe, and they should now be ignored.
So now, we at Ponsonby News urge you to put a submission in to our EPA calling for glyphosate to be banned, at the very least from our streets, parks, berms, school gates and public walk ways. If you, or someone you know, has had their health compromised by contact with glyphosate, please tell the EPA. Glyphosate is still used extensively on Auckland street berms, in parks and reserves, outside school gates, and on sports fields. It is important to stress that it is not only Roundup which contains glyphosate. There are 60 or 70 other commercial products which do too.
We personally had a landscaper doing some work on our section. He said he would spray first, to make the clean up easier. I specifically told him - No glyphosate. He told me he used an organic glyphosate-free spray. When the weeds died so spectacularly, I was very suspicious. Sure enough, the weedicide he used said ‘organic, glyphosate free’ but the fine print on the pack said ‘includes glyphosate’. It wasn’t him that was being deceptive, it is the bloody producer of this cancer causing product, hidden away in so many weed killer products.
Let’s hope our EPA gets the full story from users, and the abused, and bans this deadly product. Sometimes cancers take 30, 40 years to come to light. How many of our young are we allowing to absorb this dangerous product, who may be ingesting a carcinogen which will eventually kill them.
The head of hazardous substances at our EPA is Dr Chris Hill. Here is the EPA email: glyphosate@epa.govt.nz (JOHN ELLIOTT) PN
THE LIFE CENTRE
Multi-dimensional Well Being
A Sanctuary for Soul, Mind and Body
Open Day Saturday 26 June 10am – 3pm. 88 Jervois Road, Herne Bay.
Come and sit in our pyramid meditation room, contemplate our large and extraordinary garden crystals, or book a life enhancing session with one of our 15 experienced, literally, ‘out of this world’ practitioners.
“Restore the spirit and the rest will follow”
We look forward to welcoming you.
www.thelifecentre.nz
Photography: Jamie Cobel
MOVE INTO YOUR BRAND NEW LUXURY HOME SOON
Jervois & Lawrence on the corner of Jervois Road and Lawrence Street, a new landmark high up on the Herne Bay ridge, is almost complete.
Designed to take full advantage of its elevated position, the 28 luxury apartments offer an intriguing variety of harbour, city, and volcanic Auckland views. Every part of the build has been fastidiously designed, from the elegant, timeless stone facade through to every inch of the luxurious interiors. Jervois & Lawrence is the best of the best.
Rich interiors for luxury living crafted in partnership with Matisse showcase exquisite kitchens, bathrooms and wardrobes designed by a collection of the world’s most renowned designers.
The prize possession is the Arclinea kitchen designed by the great Antonio Citterio; be the owner of an entertainer’s dream and professional chef’s kitchen at home. The elegance of Convivium doors combined with the warmth of a back wall and island in American walnut is offset by the clean lines of white lacquer drawers.
Natural stone vanities with lacquered negative handle doors from Ideagroup, feature in the bathrooms. Wardrobes by MisuraEmme exude luxury, featuring Italian Bronzo doors with Panama Grey internals and a full length bronze split handle detail.
Matisse offers a complimentary design consultation and an exclusive package to purchasers to furnish their new apartment with lounge, dining, bedroom, lighting, and outdoor furniture from the world’s leading brands including B&B Italia, Cassina, Rimadesio, Herman Miller, Vitra and more.
It is not too late to secure your new home from the remaining beautiful apartments available in Jervois & Lawrence. Two-bedroom apartments starting from $1,690,000.
To arrange a time to view the show apartment, please phone Aaron Cook 021 612 642, Alex Kramarenko 021 049 4824, or Luke Shi 021 137 6845. PN
www.barfoot.co.nz/805657
NEW RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS SET TO ELECTRIFY KINGSLAND
A new collection of 33 boutique residential apartments have been announced for the heart of Kingsland. Located on the ridge line at 445 New North Road, The Electric is bringing a distinctly different approach to apartment living in one of Auckland’s most vibrant communities.
Based on the concept of ‘live differently’, The Electric has been designed to acknowledge and to be suited to the diverse personalities that make up the central Auckland suburb.
Designed by an award-winning architectural team led by Simon Woodall, director at Chow:Hill, the concept for The Electric was originally born in 2016.
“Our team, including Katie Dickens, Amy Land and myself, wanted to create an apartment complex that set itself apart from the neighbouring developments. The Electric has been designed to capture the essence of Kingsland, a suburb that embraces both heritage and modernity, a community of forward thinking, design savvy residents.
“The architectural language of the building took clues from our observations of bold, high profile multi-residential developments in Australia, most notably around the Sydney foreshore. We wanted to produce a piece of design that simultaneously felt at home in Kingsland and yet stood out in the middle of a constantly evolving, energetic neighbourhood,” says Woodall.
The L shaped building has been thoughtfully designed to incorporate green space and beautiful outlooks in every direction. Unique features include climbing greenery and floor to ceiling glass bifold or sliding doors to the outside face of balcony spaces which allow these to be enclosed and used as sunrooms or outdoor living spaces interchangeably. The proudly unconventional building design offers multiple floor plan options to suit a variety of lifestyles with several boasting sunsoaked terraces that look west towards the Waitakere Ranges. With expansive outdoor terraces, sunrooms, contemporary interiors and designer kitchens with integrated appliances, The Electric has been created with entertaining in mind. The lush climbing greenery, private outdoor spaces and spectacular views provide a refreshing retreat from city fringe living.
The residence also includes a Japanese inspired Zen garden with a water feature and green wall to complement the raw and refined materials that speak to the historic streetscapes Kingsland is known for.
Apartments range from 50 to 155sqm, excluding outdoor spaces, with layout options that include studios, one, two and three bedroom units and a rooftop garden penthouse of 667sqm which boasts a 360 degree view across Auckland and an extensive outdoor terrace. All apartments have single or tandem car parks and full height storage units have been allocated for the one, two and three bedroom units. Bike storage and motorbike parking bays are also available. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 with purchasers taking up residence in early 2024.
The Electric’s on-site showroom will be open from June at 445 New North Road. Prices range from $695,000 to $2.75M+ and the garden penthouse is POA. Register your interest at www.theelectric.co.nz. PN
A slice of Auckland life in the month of May.
Ponsonby U3A featured another delight this month - a stirring presentation by Wayne Brittenden. A local these days, café philosophy facilitator, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster, and a film buff, Wayne has also written a book, The Celluloid Circus: The Heyday of the New Zealand Picture Theatre 1925-1970, a richly informative and often hilarious record of a crucial part of our social history.
Wayne whirled his attentive U3A audience from Tokyo to China, from Rome to Copenhagen and then to London, outlining his exciting work as a foreign correspondent for international media. Wonderful stories and anecdotes abounded as he met with many prominent leaders and influencers. Some accounts were hilarious, some revealing about personas, and some downright disillusioning about the ‘heroes’ of the time.
As for many foreign correspondents, his research and ‘probings’ uncovered uncomfortable facts and issues so that sometimes he was exposed to danger, occasionally necessitating a speedy exit from a country. Undoubtedly the work of some journalists can make a difference. For example, in Ethiopia, there was a scandal about agricultural pesticides sold unnecessarily to peasant farmers with labels only in foreign languages. A two-week jeep trip with a camera crew revealed that the containers for the unused toxic chemicals were seeping into the soil and waterways. Live on BBC World Service radio, Wayne subsequently confronted the director of the global organisation of manufacturers who finally agreed to clean up the poisons. All in all, Wayne’s was a lively, informative, and riveting account of a life well spent as a correspondent.
Dr Colin Harvey, a member of U3A, gave us a stimulating and positive presentation entitled, Resource Full NZ. A Londoner by birth, Colin at 10 years’ old went on a council paid vacation to the Kentish coast collecting fossils. The idea of being at work while doing something of interest sparked his life-long commitment to geology. Studying geology and chemistry at the University of Auckland, he began his career with Crown Lynn Potteries, spending the next 15 years developing New Zealand industrial resource and assisting developing countries to identify and develop their natural resources. In the next 20 years, as New Zealand deregulated, he changed direction from minerals into geothermal energy, consulting and teaching internationally in over 20 countries, particularly those on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Back in New Zealand, he became manager of GNS Science to continue geothermal research. In 2002 geothermal energy was at 6% of generation. Now at close to 18% and increasing, Kiwi expertise in the resource is in great demand for developing nations.
New Zealand has a target of 90% renewables and the mix currently is 60% hydro, wind and solar 6% (all vulnerable to climate change) and the balance natural gas or coal. On a positive note, Colin asserts there is potential to grow geothermal energy to 30% which puts New Zealand in a strong position to be self sufficient with 90% renewable electricity generation.
Ponsonby U3A holds a general meeting each month and hosts a guest speaker with topics ranging widely over social, political, scientific, economic, cultural and health issues of the day. It is a great meeting place to stimulate the mind and/or flex the muscles and most importantly to make new friends. Opportunities abound to learn and share knowledge and skills. Special interest groups cover nearly 30 different special interest areas, and it is in these small groups where friendships are forged.
Visitors are always welcome to attend monthly meetings but are asked first to telephone, Philippa Tait on T: 027 4523 108.
Guest speaker for June is architect Pete Bossley - Themes, Obsessions, and Ideas in Architecture. (CHRISTINE HART) PN
NEXT MEETING: 10am Friday 11 June, Herne Bay Petanque Club, Salisbury Street, Herne Bay
ENQUIRIES: Philippa Tait, President, Ponsonby U3A, T: 0274 523 108, www.u3a.nz
LEYS INSTITUTE STATE OF PLAY
This is being asked of the Friends of Leys Institute frequently, so here is a quick summary of the state of play.
Council reports from September 2020 to the Local Board say the Leys Institute is fit for purpose, should be strengthened and have library services restored. Waitemata Local Board fully endorses this and has been advocating for the buildings in its submission to the proposed council Long Term Plan 2021-31.
Many locals and Friends of the Leys Institute members put in submissions to the Long Term Plan in March, asking for funds to be allocated to the Leys.
Council has analysed all the submissions and reported back to the public. 954 submissions were made from the Waitemata Local Board area, with 722 comments on investments in community facilities, with specific mention of the Leys Institute a key theme. The Long Term Plan and its budget will be released at the end of June, so until then all we can do is hope that our lobbying has been successful.
We all understand that council finances are constrained, so we’re asking for a commitment from the council to strengthen, restore and return library and community services to the Leys Institute, even if funding is not immediately available.
