Iain MacLean

May 2024 Residents’ Association meeting minutes

Minutes Tuesday 14 May 2024
7:30 –9:00 pm RSA Wairaka Rd

Attending: Ross Leggett, Chris Kirk-Burnnand, Paul FitzGerald, Margaret Blair, Jane Comben, Gay Hay, Jonothan Harker, Iain MacLean. Ashley Blair, Hugh Evans
Apologies: Nikky Winchester

Council Updates

GWRC

Summary of submissions out today – plenty have come through. Hearings starting soon. Drop in sessions.

Community Garden – has a reply for a meeting with KiwiRail. Escarpment Walkway have access way and questioning why we can’t back onto that. Chris says GWRC They have leverage on other issues

Meeting with Simeon Brown mentioned about ferry terminal cancelled. Was going to be 1000 year resilience and pointless if everything else was is damaged in a massive earthquake.

PCC

Long Term Plan consultation Paul and Iain presented a submission today.

We aren’t the only ones who commented on Village Planning. There is a conversation for councillors on that.

Plimmerton Farm have applied for fast track consenting. A panel will be put up from PCC and fresh water experts etc. Draft comments PCC generally supportive of development. The extra special development (SDP) would be led by Kainga Ora and planned properly. Council are having a briefing in coming weeks about benefits of PCC taking part or not. In theory a good idea but in practice more mixed. PCC don’t have to take part in it. Barber development would be part of SDP. Some developers including Barber are ready to go. PCC worried about downstream load on sewage, silt, mana waste-water, etc.

Wellington Region water options are open to discussion.

Love Local trade show coming up again.

Career expo in Arena was successful.

New hub sign installed to replace Civil Defence

Ross on Transport Committee – new government seems to be moving away from cycle ways but being addressed in other ways.

Escarpment domes and replanting

Discussion with Hugh Evans (Floruit)

Regenerative Tourism — focus as social enterprise, investing in marginal farmland to plant mostly native forest. Looking at 5 sites around NZ. This is a pilot and test for accommodation for revenue to plant Verity and Pamela’s farm. ¾ through build. Resort consent for 5 years with strict conditions. 3 domes accommodation, 1 is a communal dome. Max 12 people on site. First year just over hectare planned for planting. They are interested in relationship of people and place. Larger model will have a membership model. Plan for 2040 timescale.

Previous project Thankyou Payroll transitioning to steward ownership. Into a trust with all profits into a trust to be a self-funded charity. They want a similar approach with this project. Profits from carbon sequestration, all sites will have grant making and employment opportunities. They starting people staying in one month.

Fencing needs to be done with Hamish the farmer. They only need about 500 metres. Access through Woolshed road and their carpark on a 4 wheel track. Composting and waste water large dispersal field.

Approval of April 2024 minutes

Motion: Paul moved to accept April minutes, Iain seconded – all agreed, carried.

Matters arising from previous minutes

Action – Long Term Plan Submission made.

Finance report

As at 10 May 2024

Income:
$ 11.19 Interest
$ 10.00 Seeds
$ 2860.00 TT
$ 20.00 Surf Seat Postcards

Expenditure:
$ 517.50 Korero Printing
$ 50.00 TT Refund
$ 4264.20 TT Printing
$ 5.20 Bank Fees

Funds Transfer

Invoices – Issued

Account balances as at 10 May 2024

Res Assn 000 $ 255.19
He Ara 001 $ 1504.22
CGFF 002 $ 396.41
Kōrero 066 $ 1907.97
Surf Seat 067 $ 174.93
On Call Acct 025 $ 4511.92

Motion: Paul moved to accept May financials, Gay seconded – all agreed, carried.

Correspondence

Contact through website looking for Margaret Blair.

Project updates

Community Garden & Food Forest

  • Tea Towel sales
    108 sold, need to sell 50 more to cover costs.
    Payment made to printers
    We need to develop a marketing plan to complete sales. Action Jane to promote on Facebook through all channels we can think of.
  • Matariki & Crankie
    Thanks to Peter Stevenson (Welsh artist /storyteller) for his generous contribution of his talent and time to this concept. Thanks to Brian for the wonderful Crankie construction.
  • Compost
    Paul and Brian have built an amazing set of 3 bins. Vicky will manage the making of compost with help from Brian and Cory (Wellesley Sustainable Trust).
  • Tree Crop Trust Application and project.
    $1000 applied for to buy trees, signage and promotional pamphlets. Thanks to Jonathan for his computer skills to complete application.
  • Tree Crop visit
    Approximately 20 people from Wellington / Horowhenua Tree Crops Association will visit garden 18 May at 1pm. Jane to welcome, Ara to present history of the garden, Gay to talk about current projects. We will provide afternoon tea and promote tea towels.
  • Work day 9 June
    Poster in Residents Association notice board, Facebook promo.
    Cory from Wellesley Sustainable Trust has agreed to talk about liquid composts we can make for our gardens. He asked for a Koha.
  • Kindergarten visit
    Proposed for last Wednesday of May (29th).
    They have asked for a Crankie presentation of the Matariki story at the kindergarten. We need to confirm with storyteller.
  • Identifying of fruit trees
    Paul has made good progress with this. Agreed to purchase a ‘poker’ to write names onto wood. More computer details to access information may be added later.
    Lenka has asked for our support to cater John’s birthday at RSA. She will make a donation to the garden.
  • Cranky
    Thanks to the generous contribution Peter Stevenson from Wales made to us having a Crankie. During his visit to Aotearoa last year and his visit to our Garden, Peter put forward the idea of a Crankie for our Community Garden. Peter is a world renowned story teller, illustrator and collector. Peter’s son is now resident in our country and so Peter will visit him for several months every year. When he was planning his trip this year, he suggested to me that if he could stay in my studio he would paint a Crankie for us as a donation to our Garden.  Gay, can you help me here? Was it after meeting with you and Moira Wairama, that we as a collective came up with the idea of a Matariki themed story for the Crankie. Gay arranged permissions from Moira and also Margaret Tolland who illustrated Moira’s book ‘Nanny Jo and the Wild Mokopuna’. Peter based his illustrations on Margaret’s work. He did not copy but was inspired by Margaret’s work. Within Moira’s book Nanny Jo tells the story of the great fisherman Taramainuku and it is this story that Peter painted onto our Crankie Scroll. Brian Sullivan took up the task of creating the frame within which the Crankie scroll sits and is turned for the telling. Brian met with Peter, Peter provided drawings and dimensions for the Crankie house and Brian created a most wonderful home for our Crankies. There are many people to thank for this Crankie we now have and it began with and was facilitated by Peter’s generous offer to our community. 
    Peter is also a story collector and during his next visit to our shores, Gay has suggested the idea of Peter collecting stories of Nobby Clark and creating a Crankie of Nobby’s story.

He Ara

  • He Ara Facebook story about the RSA embroidered tablecloth was well received. Excellent connections made on ANZAC day at the RSA.
  • A very successful team visit to the Mt Welcome Bush as part of research for the Natural History section of our website.
  • The panel for Pou Tangaroa has been through the approval process and is now being manufactured.
  • Tony Jackman has passed to us large crates of papers. The first two covered the bypass v TG issue, reclaiming the gully which is now the Secret Valley, and a few other gems, including an advertisement for the very first Matariki walk in Pukerua Bay.
  • We have been helping to clear the space which housed the Museum at Pukerua Bay School.
  • Rail Comes to Pukerua now on our website:
  • He Ara has registered to be part of the 2024 Heritage Festival

Kōrero

Kōrero is working on this year’s Matariki issue, which incorporates the theme of music. We’re grateful to the Hub for its koha. It means we can support them in their mahi, while also helping to cover our own costs.

We will be making this, or a similar statement, in the editorial:

The Kōrero whānau joins with the Residents’ Association in grieving Council’s decision to end the Village Planning Framework, a process and funding source that has helped facilitate so much that is good in Pukerua Bay, including many of the initiatives and activities shared in these pages. We hope to play a part in finding other ways to give residents a voice in shaping our community and place to be what we want it to be.

The next issue will be published in September and will be on the theme of hauora. The November issue will focus on writers and writing.

We will be applying for a grant from Pelorus Trust after this issue, looking for sufficient funds to cover two issues.

Climate change

May 14 2024 – Moira Visited the local Repair Café in Raumati and we have talked about running another workshop series in September/October.

General business

PCC Long Term Plan – Iain and Paul talked at submissions. There was another submitter talking about composting.

Shared Pathway repairs. – From shop to overbridge. 2 parts to it.
Drainage issue meant water eroded. Council and engineers are discussing and Engineering firm may have to redesign and cover the costs. Further slip – being bundled with other Whitby slips and out for tender. May start in December once process complete.

Closed: 9pm

May 2024 Residents’ Association meeting minutes Read More »

April 2024 Residents’ Association meeting minutes

Tuesday 9 April 2024
7:30 pm, RSA, 5 Wairaka Road

Apologies: Jane Comben, Margaret Blair, Chris Kirk-Burnnand.
Present: Paul FitzGerald, Nikky Winchester, Gay Hay, Iain MacLean

Approval of March minutes

Motion: Paul moved to accept February minutes, Iain seconded – all agreed, carried.

Council updates

None

Matters arising

None

Financial report

Have transferred money into interest bearing account. Finance Report to April 2024 Meeting, as at 31 March 2024:

BNZ         $11900.35

Income:
$ 460.00 CGFF TT Orders at Gala Day
$ 10.00 CGFF Seeds
$ 220.00 Korero Invoice
$ 0.68 Interest
Expenditure:
$ 99.48 Ara Web Hosting
$ 57.50 He Ara Website Updates
$ 2.60 Interest
Funds Transfer:
$ 4500.00 From CGFF to 25 Act
Invoices Issued:
$ 64.00 Kōrero

Account balances as at 31 March 2024

Res Assn 000    $  255.19
He Ara 001      $ 1504.22
CGFF 002        $ 3075.41
Kōrero 066      $ 2409.87
Surf Seat 067   $  154.93
On Call Acct    $ 4500.73

2024 Budgets for Kōrero, CGFF, He Ara, Surfers’ Seat

Expenditure:
Surfers’ Seat $ 70.00 On-going maintenance
He Ara $ 1000.00 Website development, Domain name
CGFF $ 1117.85 Kiwi Rail & Aon Insurance
$ 4275.00 Tea Towels 250 @ $17.10 each
Korero $ 2620.00 Print costs @16 pages $524 x 5 issues

Income:
Surfers’ Seat $ 50.00 Events
He Ara $ 400.00 Print Sales
CGFF $ 600.00 Plant Sales
$ 6750.00 Tea Towels
Korero $ 1350.00 Advertising

Motion: to accept the finincial report. Moved Paul, seconded Gay. Agreed.

Motion: Pukerua Bay Community Garden Food Forest to make an application to the NZ Tree Trust to cover any shortfall in expenses for the project to develop a rongoa medicinal garden. This is likely to cover specimen and ground cover trees, signage and pamphlet. Can apply for up to $2,000. Proposed Gay Hay, seconded Nikky Winchester. Approved by committee.

Correspondence

Email from Adele Hickford about drop-in session (PCC report forwarded by her).

Action items

None.

Project updates

Community Garden Food Forest

  • Compost bins. Work in progress. Being painted.
  • NZ Tree Trust application is being processed.
  • Developing a worksheet with aerial photo to encourage people to nominate areas they can work in as part of working days
  • Winter prep for garden. Group discussion needed.
  • Plan for focused work day on the second Saturday of June.
  • Matariki — plan forJune 22. Peter Stevenson Welsh story teller has painted pictures for Cranke / story-telling performance. Ara leading harakeke star making. There will be an opportunity for shared kai.

He Ara Pukerua

  • A replacement seat in memory of Delma Mosen has been installed in Muri Reserve and Brian Pool’s memorial bench there too. The families and locals have expressed appreciation and presumably Te Araroa walkers are happy. And no, the seat does not block the gate! Thanks due to Dave Stone at PCC for organising this to happen.
  • He Ara Facebook stories have received good feedback. Stories about the seats, benches and sculptures around the Bay will be put up on a regular basis.
  • We displayed our panorama and Waikokako prints at the school gala. Good connections and conversations.
  • Application for grant submitted to Nikau Foundation.
  • A team visit to the Mt Welcome Bush has been organised as part of research for the Natural History section of our website.
  • A panel for Pou Tangaroa has been designed and is currently going through the approval process.

Kōrero

  • Issue 2 at final proofing stage. Delivery from 19 April
  • Issue 3 (themes Matariki and music) underway and stories already being sourced. 1 May deadline

Waste free PKB

Nothing to report.

Climate Change

Nothing to report.

General business

Long term plan

Three topics to focus on in submission:

  • Water meters from year 4. General agreement in committee to support their compulsory installation as a conservation tool.
  • Kerb side recycling and rubbish collection. Do we agree with this? Proposal to sort glass at kerb side is good idea, but probably don’t have a choice with proposed changes to the general rubbish going into large bins. Residents can’t save money by not putting out bin. Big bins don’t provide incentive to reduce their waste. Can PCC provide the black plastic bags for people who want to save money? Please bring back the non-organic recycling collection.
  • Village Planning – focus should be on community development, rather than Capex funding. Staff costs in operational budget, rather than capital expenditure on projects, structures, etc.

Provide a Kōrero story on LPT. Summarise RA submission, and link to full response on RA website.

PCC drop-in meeting

Publish PCC report on website.

Penguin signs

PCC putting in new penguin signs at beach. Dog bylaws being reviewed in 3 years. Rules and signs need simplifying.

Meeting ended: 8:46 pm
Next meeting: 14 May 2024

April 2024 Residents’ Association meeting minutes Read More »

RA submission to Porirua City Council on its 10-year plan

The Residents Association made the following submission to Porirua City Council on its 10-year plan up to 2023.

The increased costs ratepayers are now expected to pay for necessary work in the city are a direct consequence of the approach of previous councils to keep rate increases as low as possible by not investing in infrastructure. This same error has come back to bite councils across the country, and we hope that has changed the approach PCC will take in the future. We understand this might be unpopular with ratepayers, but there are important intergenerational equity issues in this, and councils cannot continue to ‘kick the can down the road’ for any longer.

RA submission to Porirua City Council on its 10-year plan Read More »

District Plan panel cancels tower blocks

In a decision that’s likely to please Pukerua Bay residents, the latest version of the Porirua City Council Proposed District Plan has removed any possibility of high-density housing being built in Pukerua Bay.

Read the latest version of the Porirua City District Plan here.

Kāinga Ora had proposed that every part of Pukerua Bay within 800 metres of the train station should be rezoned as ‘high-density housing’, which would have allowed at least six-storey buildings taller than 22 metres. We were worried that the panel was going to agree to that proposal, or at least rezone all the land within 400 metres of the station, which was the original Kāinga Ora proposal.

PCC has accepted the latest version without change as the new proposed plan. In this, the whole of Pukerua Bay is now locked in as ‘medium density housing’, which is the default for the Wellington region. This allows for up to three houses of three storeys each (up to 12 metres high) to be built on all residential properties as a permitted activity (i.e. without needing a resource consent).

Many Pukerua Bay residents, including the Residents Association, sent in submissions opposing the high-density proposal, and the Association is very pleased to see there won’t be any here.

The current version can be appealed to the Environment Court, but unless the court makes any changes, the latest version will be the final operative plan everyone has to follow.

Climate change and resilience added to District Plan

We were also very pleased to see that the panel added a new section on climate change and resilience to the introduction to the District Plan variation that covers the new developments off Muri Road and the Mount Welcome deer farm (i.e. Variation 1 Northern Growth Area).

We had pointed out that there was no mention of the need to both build to anticipate and prevent the impact of climate change in the new developments, and not do anything that would make it any worse. The panel added proposed wording directly from our submission:

The development will incorporate design principles that anticipate the effects of climate change, to mitigate its impacts, to avoid contributing to it and to increase community resilience.

District Plan panel cancels tower blocks Read More »

August 2023 Residents Association meeting minutes

8 August 2023

Present: Paul FitzGerald, Iain McLean, Mel Galletly, Margaret Blair, Lenka Horanska, Jonathan Harker, Nikky Winchester, Chris Kirk-Burnnand (GWRC), Josh Trlin (PCC), Deepa Goswami (PCC Waste Minimisation Adviser).
Apologies: Moira Lawler, Gay Hay.
Approval of previous minutes: moved Jonathan, seconded Margaret, none opposed.

August 2023 Residents Association meeting minutes Read More »