Weaving the Harakeke - Minutes 9th Sep 2024
- NZ Empowered
- Jun 1, 2024
- 6 min read
Minutes from the 9th September 2024 - Upper Hutt
Hui Details
Hosted by: Ōrongomai Marae
Location: Ōrongomai Marae - Tui Room
Chair: Hellen Swales
Attendees
9 members of the community.
3 Council members (Hellen, Tracey, Kate T)
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 those from the Council who gave up their time to attend.
Major Takeaway
Hellen emphasised that it is best to get the community involved as early in the processes as possible as when the agenda items go to Council they have been workshoped and debated and are almost a foregone conclusion, as many speak of the boxes already been ticked. Hellen has indicated that by getting involved earlier, the community are more likely to be heard and their views taken into consideration.
Items Discussed.
6th September Council Workshop
Transparency of Council
This was discussed with no outcome at this time.
Questions and Answers
Here are the Questions asked of council prior to the meeting.
Update from Tracey via Email on the questions around Katherine Mansfield Drive Tree Felling - 10 Sept 2024 -
The Katherine Mansfield Drive(KMD) trees trunks were offered by the developer to Marae’s and Menshed. The council staff are following up on this to find out who accepted the offer. The onsite ecologist had recommended their relocation due to lack of space for all 14 of them to be left in the bush - and crush the understory. There is also an official information request on this question.
The developer is Stuart Adams and he owns the land being developed into 31 lifestyle blocks on Bellbird Rise. The land that the trees were on is the (public) road reserve leading to the development. One of the private properties along the road has a QE2 covenant so the arborists had to take extra care not to disturb the neighbouring beech trees.
The work done during the orange weather warning was to cut down and mulch the canopy (accessed by cherry pickers) and mulch the understory. While we had some spells of heavy rain in the valley during this time, it wasn’t windy.
This was terribly distressing to some residents at Katherine Mansfield Drive (KMD). And a wake up call for me to find that current rules enable this. I can only assure you that the loss of trees had been minimised as much as possible and the resulting road will have curves and less width to retain trees.
My small contribution was to collect baby beech tree saplings that had survived the mulcher. Heather and I saved what we could. Tiny beech trees are safely waiting in the bush at my house for when residents at KMD are ready to plant them on their QE2 land.
Question - Asked about if UHCC has worked through the international visitor Levey increase and how Upper Hutt can gain extra funding through the 2 funds which the increase is supplying. Other councils have already assessed and applied for the funding.
Answer by Hellen - Not as yet but she will check into it and get back to the group.
Here is a related article : https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/09/03/international-visitor-levy-increasing-to-100/
Question - Can the council enforce the use of grey water tanks etc in new houshold consents and how council can effect change in how households manage their water usage.
Answer by Hellen - Lobbying central government with changes tot he Resource Management Act (RMA) is the best option as the consents are controlled centrally. Chris Bishop and Simeon Brown are the MP's involved
Chris Bishop - https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/biography/chris-bishop
Simeon Brown - https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/biography/simeon-brown
Hellen has kindly provided extra information via Email on engaging with Central Government - 10 Sept 2024
There are these two pieces of legislation that should be referenced when addressing the Grey Water type issues with the two Ministers. This link to the Resource Management Act(RMA) is important to understand as this is where Central Government are driving Local Government with regards to housing.
Important RMA Link - https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/rma-reform-phase-two-priorities-and-plan
Links to the Building Act 2004 as well as the Resource Management Act (RMA)
You are able to register an interest in notifications of open submissions to select committees. This is how you can be heard and expression an opinion on what legislative changes you would like to influence and why. Hellen does this as it gives an insight of what maybe ahead that will affect local government.
Question - What of the reports of UHCC running out of funding to repair water leaks in Jan 2025?
Answer By Kate T - UHCC is trying to make Wellington Water more accountable and is providing funding on a as required basis. e.g. 2023/2024 there was $800k budgeted for the repairs, when Wellington Water approached for more funding an extra $600k was approved when it was required. This bought the total funding up to $1.425m
Answer By Hellen - The Wellington Water contract has been in place since 2014 and has had several revisions which in most part UHCC get voted down as they are a minority partner at the table
Question - Are there any levers which can be pulled to make Welliongton Water more accountable? Like Penalties?
Answer By Hellen - Not really, The contract has morphed over the years and the control moved to Wellington Water.
Ran out of time to answer all questions at this Hui but they will be followed up and answered.
Local Water Done Well - Replacement for 3 Waters Initative
Wayne Guppy (wayne.guppy@uhcc.govt.nz) and Dylan Bentley (dylan.bentley@uhcc.govt.nz) are the current reps for Local Water Done Well initative.
For Local Water Done Well in the Wellington Region, the councils involved all councils from Horowhenua Council South to Wellington Council
Council has 1 year to create a Water Plan, Department of Internal Affrairs(DIA) and Government have legislated that councils must consult on 2 options with the public for Local Water Done Well. (Community could have involvement increating a viable option with environmental aspects included)
If neither is chosen or the council does not provide any options, then the Government will step in and take control and charge Upper Hutt to implement a solution. (It was discussed that maybe looking into new builds or grey water usage for toilet flushing could lessent the burden on the environment and water supply, and Kapiti Council had implemented a grey water policy)
Timeline for Local Water Done Well (Replacement for 3 Waters Government Initative) is now through to 2027.
At this stage the council is no better informed than the public.
More information on Local Water Done Well can be found on the Department of Internal Affrairs website (https://www.dia.govt.nz/Water-Services-Policy-Future-Delivery-System)
At present the government directives have no mention or consideration for environmental aspects around Local Water Done Well.
Rates Review
A Rates Review is being initiated, info now available on the Council Website
Rates Review Timeline
Kate T has asked councillors to review information on the Rates Review and how rates are apportioned.
Then there will be modeling done to show what the review would do to Upper Hutt dwellings rates
There will be an October Workshop
Consultation period
Hearing
Hellen emphasised that it is best to get the community envolved as early in the processes as possible as when the agenda items go to Council they have been workshoped and debated and are almost a foregone conclusion, as many speak of the boxes already been ticked. Hellen has indicated that by getting involved earlier, the community are more likely to be heard and their views taken into consideration.
Other points
Pages 8-13 of the 11th Sept Agenda are relevant to Local Water Done Well
Pages 5-7 of the 11th Sept Agenda are relevant to Water Meters Business Case
Action Points
Hellen - Will follow up about the International traveller duty.
Hellen, Tracey - Follow up on unanswered questions.
Heather - Arrange booking for the next meeting.
Whats Next
Next Korero: Coffee meet to be scheduled in between meetings.
Next Hui: 23rd September 2024 between 6pm-7pm
Many have indicated that at our next hui on the 23rd Sept there needs to be a focus on direction for the group and a terms of reference created. But do 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.
Other Related Links
Statistics we found are In New Zealand, the average person uses 227 litres of water per day: Toilet = 86 litres per day. Bathing and hygiene = 68 litres per day. Laundry = 36 litres per day.
Grey Water Links