Weaving the Harakeke - Minutes 23rd Sep 2024
- NZ Empowered
- Jun 1, 2024
- 8 min read
Minutes from the 23rd September 2024 - Upper Hutt
Hui Details
Hosted by: Ōrongomai Marae
Location: Ōrongomai Marae - Tui Room
Chair: Heather Blissett
Attendees
10 members of the community.
2 Council members (Hellen, Tracey)
3 Apologies
This Hui has been established by Heather Blissett to foster open and transparent communication between community and the Upper Hutt City Council. Thanks to Heather for all the work she has done to make this happen, Sammie for organising the space and others behind the scenes. A special thanks to the atendees and those from the Council who gave up their time to attend.
Major Takeaway
The Deputy Chairperson of the Health Committee is calling for submissions on the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2). Submissions are due Friday 27th September 2024.
Items Raised to be Discussed.
Lorna Heemi opened snd closed the meeting with a karakia.
Heather opened with some clarification around how these Hui are intended to be in a more relaxed conversational style.
Items Raised to be discussed
- Smoke Free environment Act (Vaping)
- Commissioners Report
- Plan Change 49
- Maori Wards
- Elections 2025
Voting Rates.
How we can get a more varied representation.
Questions from the public for Candidates.
Shadow Youth Council.
Smoke Free Legislation (Vaping)
Upper Hutt was the first city in the country to go Smoke Free in 2006.
Up for submissions now is legislation around Vaping and availability of Vaping.
Submissions need to be received by Friday 27th September 2024.
The bill seeks to better protect young people by amending the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 to strengthen the regulatory framework around vaping. The bill proposes to do the following:
prohibit the manufacture, sale, supply, and distribution of disposable vaping products
increase penalties for unlawful sales of regulated products to minors
impose retail visibility restrictions for vaping products
include restrictions on the sale of vaping products within certain boundaries of schools, marae, and early childhood centres.
Hellen suggests if you address some of these issues above in your own words within the submission that would be helpful. Also say you wish to be heard. She is happy to sit down with any submitters who wish to be heard orally and provide guidance on what to submit on and how when being heard by the commission.
Other info on the Vaping Bill –
Commissioners Report
The commissioners’ findings were briefly mentioned but we wouldn't know any more than the report until Wednesday’s meeting.
Mary Beth said one of the best outcomes from the commission was that the commissioners stated that they had heard the submitter and that the submissions were reflected in the recommendations.
Roz raised relevant pages for reference
pg 939 which shows the Significant Natural Area (SNA)
pg 376 Council Decision
From 388 onwards Recommendation Report of The Independent Hearing Panel
Tracey spoke about the report being a good read which gave background, history and submissions.
Tracey also spoke about the requirement for a separate resource consent required for the Road on the Silverstream Spur.
Rolling Review of District Plan
Hellen has offered to write up words from this discussion and will update when received.
Hellen has asked that a round the table conflict of interest check be done for Wednesdays meeting at council.
Discussion was had around what a conflict of interest consisted of and Hellen advised that there is minimal in the legislation about personal conflict of interest but a fair bit on financial conflict of interest.
Mary Beth asked if there could be an addition to the conflict-of-interest question on Wednesday to include “Do you have a Conflict of Interest or a Perceived Conflict of Interest to declare?”
Not much more was discussed as both councillors were aware of conflict-of-interest potential and did not want to jeopardise their involvement. The group respected this and will await an update after the meeting.
Wellington Water Waste Pipe Update
There has been a question on the wastewater pipe near Melling Bridge which has deteriorated. Hellen has advised that corrosion and debris has accumulated in the pipe and is has reduced the pipe significantly.
The most cost-effective option currently is to take the pipe out of service. Clear the corrosion and debris out and insert a sleeve.
Example Video:
This option would extend the life of the pipes by 50 years and cost $5.1m to repair a 500m length of this pipe.
Hellen said the question has been raised if the $220.5M over the next 10 years is the correct place to be putting the funding or if there is a more suitable site for the treatment plant that could be explored?
Roz referenced page 76 of the Long Term Plan with respect to the funding allocation to this.
Sent through by Tracey
This is the link for the Hutt valley services
committee which WW presents on the Western hills sewer pipe on SH2 September 20.
It includes the Days Bay leak 3:26,
Western Hills sewer pipe SH2 & Taita rock erosion 12:09,
Silverstream landfill report 37:27
Akatarawa cemetery 48:30
Plan Change 49
This will be being discussed and recommendations voted for or against on Wednesday 25th Sept 2024.
Due to the sensitive nature this was only briefly touched on as councillors did not want any conflict of interest and jeopardise any involvement at the Wednesday meeting. Those at the meeting respected this and it was agreed that councillors would report back at a later date.
More Info on Plan Change 49 (PC49) Variation Proposal
Rezone the Silverstream Spur from a mix of Rural Hill Zone and Residential Conservation Zone to Natural Open Space. Protect identified significant natural areas on the Silverstream Spur from development. Enable site-specific provisions for infrastructure, including a transport corridor.
Proposed District Plan Change 49 Open Spaces and Variation 1 to Plan Change 49 Silverstream Spur - pg 364. Some items of interest are on pg 365 under number 6, and then it continues from there.
Elections 2025
Roz asked if there could be an opportunity for the community to be included and have input into the future induction/orientation of new and existing councillors once they have been elected.
Discussion around how and when this could happen was had with thoughts about engaging earlier with the community when they are candidates.
Hellen advised there were discussions at the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) level about the 100-word limit on the candidates and how that could be extended. Hellen also stated that there was an independent site at the last election where candidates were invited to add a fuller description of themselves and their bid to be elected.
It was discussed that many of the candidates blurbs which they provide, many felt did not have any meat and substance. They would like to see the public provide questions to be included for them to answer. e.g. why are standing? etc
Discussion about getting the youth of Upper Hutt to have a Shadow Council, whic has worked well elsewhere.
There was also talk of “speed dating” type meetings where candidates met with public and had 3 minutes to talk to them individually. This type of meeting was held at the Mayfair Cafe in the past.
Maori Wards
Mary Beth stated that she would like to see more youth involved in council and asked how we can best encourage and welcome them in.
Tracey answered by saying there needed to be a push for pre-election engagement, more community consultation and the encouragement people to stand, of all ages and cultures and encouraging of voting.
There was a slight diversion from Māori wards at this point. Mary Beth asked if the council has looked at a youth council to which Hellen replied that other councils has been looked at with this in mind and Stratford and Hastings councils seem to have done a very good job. It is something being looked at. As part of this the councillors are split in different sections of the community to lead how they can be best engaged and provide a framework.
Back on Māori Wards, Hellen gave some statistics on who is registered to vote etc.
- 91% of the community are registered to vote
- Of that, 2001 people are on the Maori Roll.
There is a Memorandum of understanding between the Council and Manawhenua.
Mary Beth asked how do we get better representation?
- Discussion was had around this and how in 2016 there were 5 Maori who stood for council and the need for encouragement for Māori to stand.
- Hellen said there was a need to demystify the engagement with council.
- Tracey added that she stood in 3 elections before she was voted in and there were many Māori who stood who were just outside the elected 10 when she stood.
There is a lot in the Maori Ward discussion and we are working on getting more of an understanding of Maori Wards and hope to publish something separately at a later stage.
Additional Info on Māori Wards
Question from the public:
Can people join via Zoom.
Answer from the group: Not at this point. It is best we are meeting in person.
Discussion about the possibility of having Sub Hui in between the Hui to allow sharing and for questions to be answered if others know the answers. This way the Hui can be more focused on the information which is most relevant.
Question from a previous Hui: Regarding council applying for some of the funding from the increase in international visitor travel tax.
Answer: The Council won’t be applying for this funding.
The general consensus was that Upper Hutt needs money from wherever it can get it and it’s a shame this wasn’t being pursued.
Action Points:
AP - Hellen to provide summary on discussion regarding the commissioners report.
AP - Heather to look into the Sub Hui further.
With discussions around 2 meetings in addition to Monday fortnightly Hui. Potentially one at the Library and one at the Marae. To be advised.
AP - Anyone who would like to contribute to the agenda, please send through any agenda items they wish to discuss to weavingtheharakeke@gmail.com 5 before the Hui.
Whats Next
Next Hui: Pencilled for 7th October 2024 between 6pm-7pm
Please forward any agenda items or questions to weavingtheharakeke@gmail.com at least 5 days before the Hui so we can create the agenda and allow respondants to find info to respond.
Please be aware as the Hui are only one hour in duration, questions may not always be answered on the night but will do our best to follow up.
Any questions/concerns or if you would like more info, please email them to weavingtheharakeke@gmail.com and we will do our best to have them answered.
We also have a Facebook Page which is for the community to discuss these kind of topics openly and respectfully. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1160276101835948
Other Ralated Links
Some info which has been shared post this meeting about Creative NZ Grants submissions.
Applications are opened for the Creative Communities Scheme
They close on the 16th of October.
Creative Communities Scheme (CCS) is a partnership between Upper Hutt City Council and Creative New Zealand to help fund local arts projects. In 2024/25 there is a total funding pool of $42,455 with another $1,727 carried forward from 2023/24 year. This money will be distributed over 2 funding rounds as per below:
Upcoming application periods and amount
September to October 2024 $22,954
April to May 2025 $21,227
If unsure if you or your group qualifies for funding please attend one of the sessions offered by our library.
Council are holding 3 drop-in sessions at Central Library where you can talk to one of the staff about the application process for the Creative Communities Scheme funding.
Dates are as below:
- Tuesday, 24 September: 10am to 11am
- Tuesday 1 October: 10am to 11am
- Tuesday 8 October: 10am to 11am
Info on how to apply: www.upperhutt.govt.nz/creative