he ara

April 2025 Residents Association meeting minutes

Minutes Tuesday 8 April 2025
7:30 –9:00 pm RSA Wairaka Rd

Attending: Paul FitzGerald, Judith Frost-Evans, Jane Comben, Nikky Winchester, Chris Kirk-Burnnand
Apologies: Cr Josh Trlin, Margaret Blair,

Last month’s minutes a true and accurate representation

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

Iain Maclean’s Passing

We acknowledge Iain Maclean’s passing and send love and best wishes to Kate and whānau. Iain has touched many and contributed to the Bay in multiple ways. He had been on the RA since the 90’s and took over the Chair from Pat Hanley. He’ll be sorely missed by many.

Dying’s not so bad if you’ve had time to get used to the idea. There is no avoiding it. But you can’t say you’re not disappointed; there’s fa lot to leave behind. You’ve been surrounded by the aroha of the beautiful people throughout the journey. That’s why I love Pukerua Bay.
Nā Iain MacLean

Council updates

PCC – None

27 March Judith sent info to Ross about the Rubbish Bin on Brendon Beach.

GWRC –

Wellington Water

Nick Leggett getting a lot of flack. Previous Chair resigned and that’s when Nick took over. Wellington Water is a mess with some conflicts of interest etc.

Annual Plan is underway hoping to keep increase below 10% but that is still quite high in present climate e.g. people across NZ living on their savings.

Rail GWRC don’t control bus replacement/upgrade of the lines. KiwiRail decide when they do it. The on-demand bus in Tawa was cancelled because of costs but putting on hourly minibuses. Average bus trip costs GWRC $8 and train $12.

Centreport paid $9 million In dividends to GWRC. 27 million total benefit.

Failed to get anywhere on the bus stop or lease for garden.

Transport Cut in monies supplied by Waka Kotahi so GWRC are having to cut their plans.

Porirua Stream cleaned out the stream by Railway station of stones and silt etc.

Council looking to bring in extra money in by developing and selling off some land as commercial direct to market.

Chris not standing for council again and finishes in Oct.

Matters arising

Plunket Rooms – No more news

Financial report as at 4 April 2025

Finance Report to April 2025 Meeting   as at 4 April 2025
BNZ $ 11,768.94
Income:
$7.79 Interest
$160.00 Korero Advert

Expenditure:
Nil

Invoices – Overdue
$270.00 Korero

Account balances as at 4 April 2025
Res Assn 000 $ 462.58
He Ara 001 $ 87.67
CGFF 002 $ 483.21
Kōrero 066 $ 221.77
Surf Seat 067 $ 174.73
On Call Acct 025 $10,338.98
CGFF $3,000.00 On Hold
CGFF $ 500.00 Payment
He Ara $5,000.00 Donation
Korero $1,700.00 On Hold
Residents $ 138.98 Interest

________________________________________________________________
Action Notes:
• Korero – Overdue invoices to be followed up

• Copies of Funding Applications to treasurer
 CGFF 2024 December Pelorus Trust (supplied by Judith)
 CGFF 2025 March - Hutt Mana (supplied by Judith)

• Honorarium Korero designer

• All invoices to be issued by the treasurer.

Moved Paul / seconded Jane. All in favour. Carried

Correspondence

20 March
From:    John Meeuwsen
Subject: Placemaking and community 19/3 meeting – follow up on Emergency mgt [EM] discussion.
To circulate amongst RA to discuss next meeting.

25 Mar
From:    Tim Costly Tim.Costley@parliament.govt.nz>
Subject: Anzac Service this year
Response: CC-ed the RSA email. Supplied Yvonne’s number and general information from the RSA newsletter.

26 Mar
From:    Barabara Edmonds MP
Subject: Boundary Changes for the Mana Electorate Information about the boundary.

27 Mar
From:    Judith

3 April
From:    Elise Broadbent
Subject: Question around Plunket rooms
Response: Info from the minutes, link to PKB Hub website and suggestion to contact Kelly.

Pukerua Bay Developments Ltd Will Caccia-Birch supplied update on Muri Rd Development about earthmoving onto site and the access onto Muri Road. Posted onto Website and Facebook.

Action Items

Train Replacement Bus Service – Thomas Nash sent response from the Operational people. They will be doing a review of their train replacement bus service in the future.

Dog Signs – Paul hasn’t followed up on this yet

Beach Rd Remediation work – no update

Project Updates

Community Garden & Food Forest

Crop rotation – Vicky explained the importance of rotating heavy feeding crops with more leafy crops and planting green crops for over wintering. We have a visual plan for this and will display on pavilion noticeboard.

Strawberry patch is a big project. We will need to collect resources for this plus promote it to our community as a fun opportunity for them to take home plants. Perhaps have a sausage bbq.

Calendar update – we have the 12 gardens identified and a lot of the photos taken. The house at 33 Ocean Parade will be our focus on the home for our little blue penguins. Peter Stevenson has completed the illustrations for a crankie story telling on the beach. Vicky and Gay have worked on the information pages at the end of the calendar showing what we do each month at the garden.

Current budget – there have been no expenses this month so balance remains $3,483.21 Judy and Gay completed and submitted a funding application to Hutt Mana Trust. This covers $ 713 for AON Public Liability insurance and $1400 for the extension of the pavilion as a compost collection complex. Dave Garret has been very generous with donated goods and access to his building account to buy materials needed. This work can not start until we hear from Mana Trust, and if declined we will have to activate fundraising – which is what we are trying to avoid.

Brian motivated us to get back to production of ‘ Cory’s Activator’. We will produce a brew on May 3 and will sell and use this mixture. The new compost will be turned on April 5

Rongoa report – The Scouts are enthused to get involved with some of this work, Fantastic

A reminder that when the call comes, those who can, will drop other priorities and help organise Iain’s Wake.

He Ara Report

Flight Lieutenant E.L. Gray in Cairo, 1942. Photo Mike Gray
  • RSA email to members with story of Lindsay Gray DFC has had a very positive response.
  • At the RSA AGM unanimous approval to name lounge the Lindsay Gray DFC Lounge.
  • Display board and nameplate for Lindsay Gray DFC Lounge are being designed.
  • Great progress with the story and illustrations of the Bevan children’s walk,
  • Story of the voyage of Lady Nugent put on He Ara Facebook on 17 March: 184 years since the day the ship carrying the Bevan and Prince families arrived in Wellington.
  • A response to this post has given us a link to another person living in Pukerua Bay who is a descendant of a passenger.
  • Transcripts of the surgeon’s log and Thomas Bevan Snr’s letters have been sourced at the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Kōrero

Working on the proof for the current issue which will be out at the end of April. Had a meeting to discuss the next Matariki issue. Copy deadline 8 May for Matariki issue.

Climate Action Rōpū

A meeting planned 23 April
Regular monthly crop swaps  

General Business

a. PCC Annual Plan

Looking at a 7.19 % rate increase on average $7.10/week. Further reduced if removing funding and increasing charges.

Submission – we support the proposal for cuts to minimise the rates increase but we don’t support the increase in Cannon Creek Pool fees. Submission to be circulated.

b. MOUs with groups under umbrella. Defer until next meeting.

c. Karakia at meetings. Purpose to pause and a bringing together at the start of the meeting. Generally everyone says it together to bring focus together. Suggest we have an opening and closing one we’re familiar with. Open to other karakia (suggestions below). Discussed and agreed.

He timatanga: Whakataka te hau

Whakataka te hau ki te uru
Whakataka te hau ki te tonga
Kia mākinakina ki uta
Kia mātaratara ki tai
E hī ake ana te ataakura
He tio, he huka, he hauhunga
Tīhei Mauri Ora

Cease the winds from the west
Cease the winds from the south
let the breeze blow over the land
Let the red tipped dawn come
with a sharpened air,
A touch of frost, a promise of a
glorious day

Karakia

Kia hora te marino
Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana
Hei huarahi mā tātou i te rangi nei
Aroha atu, aroha mai
Tātou i a tātou katoa
Hui e! Tāiki e!

May peace be widespread
May the sea be like a greenstone
A pathway for us all this day
Let us show respect for each other
For one another
Bind us all together!

Karakia Whakamutunga

Kua mutu ā mātou mahi
Mō tēnei wā
Manaakitia mai mātou katoa
ō mātou hoa
ō mātou whānau
Āio ki te Aorangi.

Our work is finished
For the moment
Bless us all
Our friends
Our families
Peace to the Universe.

(link to video)

d. Explore how we know we are acting on behalf of the residents and what we can do to learn more about what is of concern to our community.

Nikki suggested we look at the latest Village Plan. Everyone to read through it and put it on the agenda to discuss at the next meeting.

2022 Village Plan, See if there is anything not covered in there.

e. How to allow Judith to join meeting while away. We’ll try a Zoom meeting Jane to set up and invite.

Meeting ended 9.10pm

April 2025 Residents Association meeting minutes Read More »

March 2024 Residents Association Meeting Minutes

Present: Ross Leggett, Chris Kirk-Burnnand, Paul FitzGerald, Margaret Blair, Jane Comben, Gay Hay, Jonothan Harker , Iain MacLean. Late comer Matt Meladonis
Apologies: none

Approval of February 2024 minutes

Approval of February 2024 minutes
Motion: Gay moved to accept February minutes, Iain seconded – all agreed, carried.

Council Updates

GWRC

  • Chris has visited the community garden with Paul and will try to make inquiries.
  • Mt Welcome understand the consenting issues and challenges. First bit will be 10% of whole development. We’ve seen the visualisation images with lots of trees.
  • Thursday this week voting on LTP for GWRC looking at a 19.8% rates rise. 66% transport (but more technically) so that is a concern. Includes fares increase. When national ticketing comes in there maybe charges for Park and Ride with concessions for train ticket holders.
  • Consulting on own and set up a depot in Miramar and northern areas. Depots need to be near electricity for charging buses.
  • Looking to purchase 2approx 3% shares owned by Horizons Centreport shares. Considered important to add to 77% existing shares so it’s kept in local community ownership. Chris is confident their yield can be improved overtime.

PCC

  • Long Term Plan consultation coming out 1 April. There will be a meeting 4 April 3-5pm at RSA. 17.5% proposed rates increase in the first year. Many projects have been deferred or stopped.
  • PCC have chosen to include water in the LTP – although it should be taken over by other govt arrangements. 66% of Capex is water. Most commitments that are remaining are related to water. The big tank project will help prevent overflows into the harbour.
  • New govt policy statement changes direction from previous govt and downplay emissions but deals other items such as increase road maintenance. There will be more clarity over time. Way things are funded (eg cycleways) are changing.
  • Civic awards nominations are open again. Think about if we’d like to nominate anyone.
  • Plunket Room consultation document is coming out. Although we have already consulted in a basic overview way.
  • Village Plan – proposal for consultation is coming out that Village Planning will be culled for cost saving. Capex will go. Some projects in the system will be worked through.

Matters arising from previous minutes.

Action: Chris and Paul have visited to the Community Garden.

Finance Report

To March 2024 Meeting, as at 10 March 2024

BNZ   		$11,369.25
Income:		
$   130.00  CGFF Tea Towel Pre Pay
$   770.00  Korero Invoices
$   300.00  Korero Donation
$       3.52  Interest
$     13.58  Interest

Expenditure:
$  678.48  Korero	
$      3.80  Bank Fees 
			
Invoices – Unpaid
$  220.00
				  	
Account balances as at 10 March 2024

Res Assn 000    	$  255.19
He Ara 001		$1661.60
CGFF 002		$7107.01
Kōrero 066		$2190.47
Surf Seat 067		$  154.93

Correspondence

12 Feb 2024: Porirua Community Leaders Forum invite forwarded by Jono fromTalanoa Wānanga 

13 Feb 2024: Paul FitzGerald responded to Bill Inge’s email about cleaning work on theSecret Valley Murals.

No Action items

Project Updates:

Community Garden

  • Compost system. Bins in place. Vicky and Brian leading the project.
  • Pest Control. Very frustrating for beans tomatoes and berries. We plan to consult other gardens and try to establish a yearlong attack. We will plant less densely next year.
  • New signs created by Gay to prevent people taking fruits before they’re ready
  • Pavilion report. Working on interior.
  • Matariki celebrations. Plan to provide pumpkins for school hangi in future. Garden to host Welsh author, artist storyteller, Peter Stevenson. He will work with community to construct a “Crankie” and provide art work to retell a Matariki story. Ara Swanney has offered to work with tamariki to make harakeke stars. Possible date 22 June.
  • Winter prep of gardening. Discussion still needed.
  • School Gala. We will be taking orders for our tea towels (Due April 20). We will donate a basket of produce as a raffle prize for the school.
  • Korero. Gay and Margaret have agreed to work on an article for the next publication focussing on “kai”.
  • Local business (not sure which) may support garden with a staff work day. We need to action this.

He Ara Pukerua

• The Stores panel was revealed on Thursday 7 March by Janine Thomson and Darryl Lindsay. They are grandchildren of Arthur and Annie Lindsay, the original owners of the Lindsay family store.
– Bill Inge and Megan Krishnan from PCC also came along.
– We are blown away with the responses to our posts on He Ara Facebook from all over the world. There is often subsequent dialogue between many of these people.
• Pou panel – wording had been approved by PCC we are now waiting on approval from Ngati Toa.
• PCC have put in the concrete pads for the Mosen and Pool seats in the Muri Reserve.
• Wellington Heritage Festival – we have received an invitation to participate in October.
• Margaret has met with author and researcher Clare Gleeson about Miss Ngita Woodhouse.
• Work is proceeding on the He Ara website.
• Ashley accompanied three classes from Pukerua Bay School to Wairaka rock and talked to them about Albert Augustus Clark aka Nobby Clark.
• Visit from Dick Farrell. He has so many stories about living in the Bay as a child. He will be back again. He donated a large, framed photograph of the beach in the 1960s

Motion:  Approval requested from this Residents’ Association meeting to apply to the Nikau Foundation for funds to complete the panels project. moved Paul, seconded Jono – Carried

Kōrero

Kōrero is now in its fourth year of publication. We’re entering this year without our dear friend, Mel, and in the knowledge that we will soon lose Iain. In the face of those losses, we’re delighted to welcome three new people to our editorial team: Gill England, Carla Guy, and Kelly McClean.  Iain remains on the team for the meantime. Kate continues as co-ordinating editor, Moira ably organises advertising and budget, Nikky is chief proofreader, Jonathan looks after the IT side of things, and Gill has stepped in to look after distribution.  Anne’s role as designer is critical – she makes us look good!

Our extended whānau includes our distribution team; Paul, who does most of the pickups from the printer; and Margaret who processes our invoices and helps Moira keep track of finances. And, of course, it includes our wonderful contributors, whose numbers grow with each issue.

Publication would be impossible without the generosity of our advertisers, sponsors, and, last year, the Pelorus Trust. 

Our first three issues this year have needed to be produced on a tight timeframe, as Matariki will be celebrated a month earlier than usual, so Issue 3 will have to come out in the first half of the year. We have not finalised dates for issues 4 and 5. These will be determined later in the year and be responsive to community events.  With that in mind, this is the 2024 schedule.

Korero schedule 2024 (in devt.)
IssueThemeCopy due date
FebruaryThe beach – where we live and playComplete
AprilKai12 March
Early JuneMusic and Matariki1 May
August/SepHauora 
NovemberWriters and writing 

Financially, we are reasonably on track, but our planning is based on 16-page issues, and we find that we normally need 20 pages. A sign of success, but it does create some pressure. For that reason, we would like the RA committee to endorse our application for another grant to help pay for printing.

Motion:  To apply to Pelorus Trust for extra funding for Korero printing costs. moved Iain, seconded Jono – Carried

General Business

Community Resilience – Matt Meladonis

  • Still pin point water sources outside the community hub and distribution plan.
  • We need to localised fliers specific to Pukerua Bay about what to do. What to do, what to keep in stock. Margaret suggested we find a sponsor for printing
  • Need a list of people who would require assistance, on chronic meds etc.
  • Hoping to get some street groups going with Street Rep so it will help distribute information easily. Could coordinate with neighbourhood watch if it existed. Neighbourhood day could be an opportunity.
  • Whetu Bennett contacted Matt about radios and told Jane the PKB report will be updated in April.
  • List of key personnel in bay (medics, elderly care, police etc)
  • If we have a long term panic, perhaps put out a call out for generator, chest freezers etc. Investigate EV’s V2L powering like a battery.

Muri Road Development update

Artist impression renders were sent in the part that is already zoned for residential and consented. It’s a Jennian homes development. To be put out on a Facebook post.

Closed: 8.52pm

March 2024 Residents Association Meeting Minutes Read More »