Minutes

Minutes Tuesday 11 February 2025
7:30 –9:00 pm RSA Wairaka Rd

Attending: Paul FitzGerald, Margaret Blair, Judith Frost-Evans, Jane Comben, Jonathan Harker.
Apologies: Nikky Winchester, Ross Leggett, Iain MacLean.
Community members: Pamela Nunn

Last month’s minutes a true and accurate representation

Moved Judith / seconded Paul. All in favour. Carried.
Note: Judith was away in Nov but there in Dec minutes.

Council updates

PCC – None

GWRC – None

Matters arising

Bus Shelter – Paul has had no contact Thomas Nash. Signage at Muri Road giving direction to bus stops essential. Involving Te Araroa Trust, GWRC and Metlink (Including App).

Action Items

Treaty Principles Bill Submission – we’ve submitted, offeref to speak but not called so far
Freedom Camping Submission – prepared but not submitted in time due to illness. Emailed to see if we can under the circumstances.

Financial report as at 8 February 2025

BNZ   		$11,330.72 
Income:		
$    7.34  	Interest
$   20.10	He Ara Tee
$ 175.00	CGFF Tea Towels 
$ 462.35	CGFF Pelorus Trust
$ 108.00	CGFF Summer Festival
$   50.00	Korero  Advert	

Expenditure:
   	
$  		CGFF Rongoa
$    471.59	CGFF Kiwi Rail
$    206.80	CGFF Running costs and Crankie
$    227.70	CGFF Crankie printing
$    155.25    He Ara Website
   			

Invoices – Issued 
$  1410.00	Korero
Invoices – Paid
$      50.00	Korero
		  	
Account balances as at 8 February 2025
Res Assn 000    	$   459.15
He Ara 001		$   237.67
CGFF 002		$ 2535.21
Kōrero 066		$ 1300.27
Surf Seat 067	$   174.73
On Call Acct	025	$ 6623.69	
					CGFF		$1000.00  Donation
					CGFF		$  500.00  Payment
					He Ara	$5000.00  Donation
					Residents	$  123.69  Interest
					
NOTE:  As at 29 January Gay has five TT to sell.


Motion: Pay for the “Story of the Garden” Crankie printing costs $227.70 incl.
Moved Jane / seconded Judith, All in favour. Carried.

Budgets:
•	Draft from CGFF to be emailed to Margaret
•	Action no budget 
•	He Ara
•	Kōrero 
o	Consider Koha for Anne Johnston for all her work 
o	Accountability report for the Pelorus Trust required
Moved Margaret / seconded Paul. All in favour. Carried 

 Correspondence

20 December 2024: Whetū Bennett – celebratory event
January 30, 2025: Megan Krishnan – Placemaking and community meet up for local Res Assoc
February 6, 2025: Whetū Bennett, and follow up email. Screening of Tina, Thursday, 27 February, 5:00pm at Lighthouse Cinema Pāuatahanui. Suggest we share with Climate Action People – such as Megan and Matt.RSVP is by Friday. (All tickets now allocated)
January 25, 2025: Judith Frost-Evans. Various concerns brought up. See General Business in these minutes.

Project Updates

Community Garden Food Forest

Successful Summer Celebration

• $111 from plant sales
• Launched the “Story of the Garden” crankie
• 60 people attended including VIPs and Mayor

Budget – prepared for the RA with help from Yvonne
(Costs over $200 need a RA motion)
Motion for RA: Pay for the “Story of the Garden” Crankie printing costs $227.70 incl.

Tea towel account
$4264 costs (printing)
$6250 sales
$1986 Profit

Rongoa progress

• Driftwood collected for use on the slope. More required.
• Planting planned for April/May
• Plan to prepare holes for planting
• Notice will be given when Taku Parai is available to bless that particular part of our garden.

Planning for the fundraising Calendar and Garden Trail underway

• Palmers have promised $500 sponsorship towards printing
• Printing quotes received
• 10 Garden hosts for the trail being arranged

Crankie of Garden story outing to Porirua Childrens’ Library Storytelling Festival
Gay and Judith told the story aimed at involving children in gardening. It was very well received and posted on Facebook by the library.

Application Hutt Mana charitable trust underway

• Concept plan from Dave and Jen purely for the purpose of getting quotes

• Motion required in the RA minutes for funding application

CGFF Funding Application

• Motion – Pukerua Bay Community Garden and Food Forest has the approval of the RA to apply for funding from Hutt Mana Charitable Trust for a total of $2113 for:
  – Funding Aon Insurance public liability $713 due July 2025.
  – Water collection and distribution system $400
  – Composting storage and management $1000
  
  Applications open on 1 March 2025.
  
  Moved Judith, Seconded Jane. All in favour. Carried

He Ara Report

• A Short History of Muri Station, Pukerua Bay on He Ara Facebook along with displayed copy at the Community Garden Summer Celebration generated positive interest and feedback.

• We shared photographs and stories of the Gray family with Alan Gray and Lindsay Olsen, both descendants of Charles and Elizabeth Gray.

• Additional photos added to Lindsay Gray DFC and Charles Gray stories on He Ara website.

• Additional material being prepared for Lindsy Gray DFC story.

• Regular He Ara meetings recommence on Thursday 13 February

• Next Kōrero, He Ara would like a full page for an Anzac theme

Kōrero

No report

Climate Action Rōpū

Regular Crop Swaps

• This year it is still to be held at the RSA every third Saturday of the month from 3-4pm.
• December swap included Te Tiriti Bill submission help
• Ella has smartly suggested that the March event take place at the School Gala* where we can host crop swapping and recycling collection under a Hub gazebo. *To be approved by School Fundraising Trust
• We have been giving back to the community by donating any excess to the community garden. Gay has been the contact here.

Thoughts about a name change to “Pukerua Bay Climate Café” to align with Plimmerton crowd to be discussed.

Budget

• No upcoming expenses planned as yet.
• $70 cash held by Kate

General Business

Website

Jonathon suggest we rearrange the website home page navigation. To elevate the key groups and demote Village Planning. He will also archive pages and information that is no longer relevant. Margaret has requested access to minutes from 2005/6. The last minute cannot be sourced.b. Dog Control rules for our beach

(Judith email 25 January)
I propose we approach PCC for new clear public notices regarding dog control.
Given that a staff member from Parks will be attending our meeting, this might be a good time.
The purpose of these notices will be to protect Korora and other wildlife and also to give peace of mind to humans who don’t wish to swim with dogs or have dogs roaming..

I will include more background below…

Korora Protection
For both dog rules and our vulnerable Korora I would like to see a sign on Pukerua Beach Road at the place where there are lines painted for cars to stop to allow uphill vehicles through.
This would be seen by visitors who at present can drive down and park somewhere out of sight of any signs.
The sign could state;
‘Welcome to our Special beach which has rare and vulnerable species in need of all of our care’
Please see restriction by laws for dog and vehicle control at the bottom of this road.

Or whatever the sign experts recommend.

Citizen Action
Could we print a small summary of the rules for handing out to people with dogs? These could be 6 or 8 to a page and printed at Stationary Warehouse very cheaply. I speak with some dog owners but at other times I feel intimidated – see below for an example.
Action – Paul has discussed signage previously with Andrew Gray, PCC. Paul will email the full story and our suggestions to Ross Leggett, to follow up with Council.

Muri Rd Kahikatea trees

(Judith email 25 January)
Mindful of the SNA’s that are adjacent to Muri Road, to be monitored with future development

Rubbish Bin removed from Beach corner of Brendan Beach

(Judith email 25 January)
They took one out, replaced with new bin and then removed.
Paul, to add to list for Ross.

Haunui Road Speed restriction

(Judith email 25 January)
I have previously emailed regarding the 30km sign on Haunui Road which was removed.
Pamela understands that the sign was put up by a resident so not gazetted. Pamela is in conversation with the Council concerning the dangers to people and animals. It seems the council is looking into the conduct of drivers on Beach and Haunui Roads and related safety factors. She will keep us informed.

Community and Placemaking

(email from Megan Krishnan)
This ties in with our work on the hui after the end of Village Planning.
Paul is happy to respond to email, go and we’ll recommend March dates.

Communication with PBRA members.

A courtesy email update to people who are signed up members, who attended the last two AGMs (as per new incorporated rules where people need to opt in). Possibly a quarterly newsletter.
Request Kōrero half a page advert for Residents’ Association. Judith to find out the dates so we can discuss at the next meeting

St Mark’s.

There is an upcoming parish meeting about the future of the building.

Action: CG Budget to Margaret – Judith and Jane
Action: Contact Megan and Matt (3 tickets) from Whetu – Jane (done)
Action: Paul to contact Ross Leggett about beach signage, Freedom Camping Submission, Community and Placemaking.

Meeting ended 9.06pm

Minutes Tuesday 8 October 2024
7:30pm–9:00am RSA Wairaka Road

Apologies: Gay Hay, Jonathan Harker, Chris Kirk-Burnnand.
Attending: Paul FitzGerald, Margaret Blair, Nikky Winchester, Iain MacLean.
Community members: Dorothy Ibrahim, Pamela Nunn.

Council updates (PCC)

Report by Councillor Ross Leggatt.

Three Waters. PCC has to develop a Three Waters Delivery Plan for government by the end of this year outlining which option they would prefer for the region: a council-owned company (CCO) or a stand-alone organisation. Horowhenua, Wairarapa, Kāpiti, Porirua, Hutt City, Upper Hutt, and Wellington are local authorities that could be included in the regional stand-alone organisation. This is likely to be similar to Wellington Water, and the assets of the existing councils would be transferred to it.

Sixty percent of PCC capital expenditure is on water infrastructure. This new organisation needs about 30 percent more staff to do the work that is required throughout the region.

Good progress on water leaks. The number of recorded leaks has dropped from 240 to 32. Pukerua Bay is now saving three percent of its water.

Papakowhai shared path: This will be opening in a couple of weeks. There is no money for changing the intersection by Aotea College.

Mormon temple: The Church of Later Day Saints is applying for resource consents to build a new temple on the Gear Homestead site. It has owned the land for around 30 years. The application will be considered by a panel of three commissioners. One issue will be the impact of traffic while it is being built.

Other roads: The shared path to Onepoto is off the table as the government has withdrawn funding, and a number of other roading and intersection projects will be delayed.

Last month’s minutes

Moved Paul / seconded Iain. All in favour. Carried.

Matters arising

None.

Financial report as at 6 October 2024

BNZ                  $ 12,563.36
Income:

$ 18.21         Interest

$ 350.00       CGFF Tea Towels

$ 10.00         CGFF Seed Sales         

$ 20.00         Kōrero 

Expenditure: 

$ 1.80         Fees

$ 153.00     CGFF Pavilion

$ 395.00     CGFF Rongoa

$ 8.00         Haywards Horse Manure

$ 58.25       Waste and Compost 

Invoices – Issued

$ 20            Kōrero 

Invoices – Paid

$ 20            Kōrero 

Invoices – Outstanding Account balances as at 6 October 2024

Res Assn 000       $ 459.15

He Ara 001           $ 1165.82

CGFF 002            $ 1296.37

Kōrero 066          $ 1158.77

Surf Seat 067      $ 174.73

On Call Acct 025 $ 8318.52               

             Grants and donations
CGFF                  $1000.00 Tree Crop Grant

CGFF                  $1000.00 Donation

CGFF                  $ 500.00 Donation

He Ara                $5000.00 Donation

Kōrero                $ 750.00 Pelorus Grant

Residents           $ 68.52 Interest

Margaret has prepared the financial statements for the 2023-24 year to present to the AGM.

Project updates

Community garden food forest

Compost – Great job from Brian, Ralph, and Paul shifting the cape ivy to compost. Theu brought back soil and compost to the flower garden. Then returned for 3 m³ for the Rongoā. Half a bin of compost ready to be used.

Hoses – Work in progress. Gay would like every tap to have a sprinkler and and a hand held nozzle. Donations welcome. Gay has sorted out the hoses to dahlias, lemon and tomato, potatoes and water tank. Soaker hose by gooseberries has split. Last year we divided the watering into areas, which worked ok.

Finances:

002 Acc               $1344.62
On call               $1000.00 Grant
                            $1000.00 Donation
                            $500.00 Donation

Rongoā costs:
Plants              $131.10
Compost         $395.00
                   $526.10

28 teatowels on hand

Spring Planting

• Southern side mulched ready for compost and planting.
• Tomato seedlings – Vicky has some spare.
• Vicky to build structure for runner beans
• Zuchini, pumpkin and corn ready. School involved.
• Potatoes and Kumara looking good.

Rongoā – Cardboard needs to go under the sacks as sacks aren’t smothering the cape ivy and bindweed. Ziggy’s cardboard is great!

Dahlia – We’re extending the dahlia bed up the hill a bit. Miranda suggests putting the cafe au lait dahlias and cosmos in the raised flower bed. Plans to sell tubers and cut flowers.

Garden club visit – A local garden club has asked to visit and we’ve arranged 11 Feb.

Berry Tunnel – Ashley was proved right about the netting last year. We will leave it off until the fruit starts to set.

Battling bugs –

• Last year we got passion vine hopper and shield beetles.
• Peaches and apricots we used seaweed and copper band. Only one tree has curly leaf.
• We used Corey’s soil conditioner. John has applied to trees.
• Gay and Judy went to a biodynamics workshop and they got some stuff which John has painted the trees with it.
• Coddling moth confusers are hanging in the trees.
• Vasoline and cardboard around the apple and pears.

Worms – the worms are great at the moment although we do have slugs.
Event – we need an event to sell worms, dahlia and celebrate the pavillion.

Summer Celebration – maybe Sat, 7 Dec.

Fundraising – still thinking about fundraising calendar and a possible garden tour.

Security – the cameras seem to be effective.

He Ara report October 2024

The fencepost on Muri Road, dated AW (Antony Wall II) 1929, from the corner of Wall property has been removed and stored following a conversation with Simon Barber. 

PKB Hub Pop-Up Parlour session “Do you remember” on 10 September was very successful. Forty people attended, enjoyed Macaroon cake from Mrs Charles Gray’s recipe, and contributed to lively discussions on Pukerua Bay’s past from the night cart to mushrooming to growing up in the Bay.

Research of the Mulhern family involved a visit to St Joseph’s Church, Pauatahanui. Brian Murphy was a superb host. Lunch followed at GroundUp using the vouchers the team won at the school quiz.

Work is progressing on the website.

Isaac du Toit has been commissioned to illustrate and produce a story book about the Bevan children’s walk from Wellington to Waikawa in 1845. Their overnight stay in Pukerua is recorded in great detail in Thomas Bevan’s book The Reminiscences of An Old Colonist.

Gun Emplacement – no word from PCC.

Pou Panel – kaumatua to be contacted.

Heritage Festival event 9 November – planning underway. Unfortunately Barbara Edmonds is unable to open the event.

Korero

We’re assembling copy for the final issue of the year, to be published in November. Our theme is writers and writing, a kind of mirror to the theme for November 2023, which was reading. We have many talented writers in our community, and illustrators and designers

This issue will also promote some of the events planned over summer, as well as reflecting on some of what has happened over the last month, with the very successful Parlour Pop-up and Climate Action series.

We would like to thank the RA committee for endorsing our application for a grant from the Pelorus Foundation. It was successful and will cover our costs until early next year.

In the next month or so, we will be planning themes and topics for next year. We’re always interested in your ideas!

General business

Fireworks

Pamela Nunn raised the issue of fireworks being set off next to neighbours’ houses. After last Guy Fawkes day, when her neighbour set off fireworks within a few metres of her house, she approached the RA and Council about whether we were able to stop this. She wrote to Josh Trlin as local councillor, who told her the council has no power to stop people setting them off, but does have to respond to noise complaints.

Committee decided we would do some publicity asking people to be considerate and promote public events families can attend.

Train replacement bus shelter

Paul has had a response from Greater Wellington Regional Council. He has suggested an alternative route around Pukerua Bay that includes drop offs and pick ups at Teihana Road, which are closer to the train station and shops.

Bike on Raroa Reserve

Margaret was told about some people riding powered bikes up the track through Raroa Reserve. This is obviously a danger to people walking there. Paul will write to PCC asking for a barrier at the bottom to stop vehicles without interfering with other things like buggies.

Annual General Meeting

To be held on Wednesday 30 October, 7:30pm Pukerua Bay RSA.

Publicity has started with an item in latest Kōrero issue. We will create an event on our website and share it with community Facebook groups. We will send emails directly to members.

Meeting ended 8:50pm.

Minutes Tuesday 10 September 2024
7:30 –9:00 pm RSA Wairaka Rd

Apologies: Gay

Attending: Paul FitzGerald, Gay Hay, Margaret Blair, Jane Comben, Iain MacLean, Chris Kirk-Burnnand
Apologies: Jonathan Harker, Ross Leggett

Council updates

a. GWRC
Still hasn’t got the garden access. Still hoping but KiwiRail are occupied elsewhere.

Long term plan:
Goal is better management of transport.
74% increase of staff since 2020 (some taken off contract)
Transport – large shortfall. 23 mill debt funding. Over the last 3 years 36 mill funded operational costs, debt funded for 10 years.
Half operating costs from Waka Kotahi, but less funding coming.
May affect in Porirua:
• New bus route from between Cambourne, Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay.
• Regional Busways Programme: Funding to work with WCC, PCC and HCC to develop high-frequency, bus prioritisation corridors including roading and traffic signal changes.
• Porirua Subway Ramps: Seismic strengthening of subway walls.
• Porirua Bus Hub: New bus interchange infrastructure and accessways.
• Council depot and charging infrastructure implementation: Required for future bus growth, fleet electrification and competitive tending of bus services.

Centreport hui last month. Increasing returns that offset rates and they are looking good.

Bus Train Replacement – No southbound shelter.
Action: Chris will put in a request for information

Planting
Lots of planting going on especially around TG, Belmont and around inlet. Pest control of stoats coming down TG towards Wellington.
Lots of rabbits at St Albans but not considered same pest as rats, stoats etc.

b. PCC

None

July 2024 minutes (August was an interim meeting)

Motion: Paul moved to accept July minutes, Gay seconded – all agreed, carried.

Matters arising

Judy McCoy has been contacted about the guest speaker for AGM – waiting to hear (About impact of tree removal and development to Tāupo Swamp).

Financial Report

Finance Report to September 2024 Meeting  as at 6 September 2024
BNZ   		$ 12,691.20
Income:		
$    15.35   	Interest
$  530.00	CGFF Tea Towels
$    52.00	CGFF Refund	

Expenditure:
$   678.50  	Korero
$   782.00	He Ara Website
$       2.00	Fees		 
$     96.99	CGFF Hazelnut
$     40.00 	Codling Moth Spirals
$   131.10	Rongoa Plants		

Invoices – Issued 
	
Invoices – Paid

Invoices – Outstanding
		  	
Account balances as at 6 September 2024
Res Assn 000    	$   459.15
He Ara 001		$ 1165.82
CGFF 002		$ 1552.22
Kōrero 066		$ 1138.97
Surf Seat 067	$   174.73
On Call Acct	025	$ 8300.31	CGFF  		$1000.00  Tree Crop Grant
					CGFF		$1000.00  Donation
					CGFF		$  500.00  Donation
					He Ara	$5000.00  Donation
					Korero	$  750.00  Pelorus Grant
							$    50.31  Interest

Motion:  Paul moved to move Financials, Iain seconded – all agreed, carried.

Correspondence

• From website: Ashleigh Price about bus replacement shelter on southbound side  – 18 Aug
  (Jane replied it would be brought to the meeting).
  Paul has emailed person in charge of bus stops – has yet to hear.
• Gay Hay has resigned as the community garden rep to the RA – 5 Sept

Action Items

JUNE /JULY ACTIONS:
Completed: Paul to contact other local Residents’ Associations about a hui.
Not completed: Iain to respond to Brian about colour in Kōrero

SEPTEMBER:
Action: Chris K-B will put in a request for information about the southbound bus stop.

Project updates

Community Garden & Food Forest

• Security: Cameras and signage (gate, shed and pavillion) installed. Police dog handler local has been dog walking regularly. Neighbour has been collecting cans, we’re going to send a thank you note.
• Codling Moth: Spirals purchased from Tree Crop Assoc. We’ll put out the pheronome trap, spirals and cardboard & vasoline trunk wraps.
• Rongoa: Ara has been in touch with local tangata whenua. Meetings planned when everyone is available. Some plants are purchased and we’re waiting the meetings and appropriate blessings before the plants go in. All receipts to go to Pukeruarbayresidents@gmail.com
• Tea towel sales: 52 left to sell.
• Garden Rep to RA: Gay is resigning from attending RA meetings as the garden rep.
• Funding: The garden are investigating applying to Pelorus Trust for funding (For KiwiRail access) with the help of Iain.
• Toru Education: Doris for POG has asked us to become a partner on the Toru Education website. Gay with write some words and Jane will set up a partner bio. We can then add our events etc.
• Compost: Gay has purchased the mesh bag and is willing to lend it to the garden for brewing compost liquid.

He Ara Pukerua

• He Ara was invited to the PCC farewell for Bill Inge, Village Projects Coordinator. Bill has guided He Ara through the intricacies of installing 19 regular panels and four major installations around the Bay. He will be missed for his extensive knowledge at PCC. We presented Bill with a Freedom of Pukerua Bay certificate as an acknowledgement.
• Great response to the PKB Hub Pop-Up Parlour: Session on 10 September – “Do you remember…” 40 people came from as far away as Dannevirke and as old as 93. Representatives from the Waddiloves, Ryans, Beauforts, Willcocks and Quayles.
• Pou: Kaumatua has returned from overseas but at present at Kīingi Tūheitia tangi.
• Website: Anne has put up several stories and their images. We met with her Friday 6 September to fine tune layout of stories which have many sections.
• Several stories have been written and now being checked by the Naïve Enquirer.
• Heritage Festival Programme released on 8 September.
• Gun emplacement: No response to date from PCC.

Kōrero

Latest edition distributed and on the website.

Waste Free

Climate Action Rōpu

Notes: Successful Crop Swap & Recycling Collection. There are plans afoot for another date.
Ella Garnham is updating the recycling information that Nikky had.

The Spring Series finishes soon with Mike Jebson’s talk and community supper.

General Business

Living without Village Planning – Update

The hui was held on Sunday and everyone was invited from the 14 Village groups. We had Whitby, Plimmerton, Pauatahanui, Titahi Bay and Paremata attend. The meeting was to ensure that the good things that came from Village Planning could continue despite the council pulling their funding. Most of the RA were created as part of the Village Planning process. There were 4 and now there are 14. The process of Village Planning prompted consulting with communities. That method is still sound. The main thing for us is who is our contact at the council to get things done now that Bill Inge is gone.

Annual General Meeting

Date set and advertised in Kōrero. More advertising required. Hoping to hear back from Judy.

Close: 9.00pm