Author: Ben Ross - Talking Auckland

Admin and author of Talking Auckland Blog ( http://voakl.net )

A Fresh Perspective at the Unitary Plan

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The Unitary Plan from Zoe’s Perspective

 

I caught this piece from a comment mayoral candidate John Palino made on Facebook yesterday morning while I was reading Orsman’s piece from the NZ Herald. It is called “The Unitary Plan – Zoe’s Perspective” and it takes a look the Unitary Plan from Zoe’s viewpoint.

An extract from Channel:

The Unitary Plan – Zoe’s Perspective

Zoe Lenzie-Smith is a 20 year old student who stepped up to present her perspective on the Unitary Plan in the public forum of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board meeting held on Tuesday May 21st. Her perspective certainly added some balance to the heated debate.

Zoe is an undergraduate studying a BSc majoring in Biology, and a specification of Environmental Science at the University of Auckland. She was born in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England, and emigrated to Auckland in 2000 – and considered herself to be a kiwi as soon as she arrived. Zoe says she loves the sea, great music, weekend markets and is passionate about working with people to create positive change that benefits the survival of future generations. She is a member of a group called Generation Zero.

 

This is a solution focused social movement of young people. It’s purpose is to move thinking beyond fossil fuels and mitigate against the threat of climate change. This was the content of Zoe’s presentation to the Devonport Takapuna Local Board.

20 year old student Zoe Lenzie-Smith made this presentation to the public forum of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board in late May:

…

You can read the rest over at the Channel’s website

What Zoe did at the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board meeting on The Unitary Plan would have taken courage above and beyond what would be “normally required.” I say that as I know the North Shore UP meetings went towards the rabid end if the Auckland 2040 debunking on this blog was anything to go by.

In Zoe presenting her legitimate case to the Local Board though on what SHE wants to see in the Unitary Plan and thus the future of her Auckland – her home, I tip my hat out of absolute respect and encouragement.

 

Yet it is not over with the Unitary Plan. There is still more come even before formal notification at the end of the year. We still have:

  • Initial responses to the feedback round of the Unitary Plan
  • Changes to the UP as a result of the feedback
  • Southern Rural Urban Boundary work in getting studies and further consultations on the three options available to us down here in the South
  • That cursed Housing Accord and its Special Housing Areas

Oh the fun times ahead

But myself and my firm will be here through to the end with the Unitary Plan providing our range of services tailored for you.

TALKING AUCKLAND

Talking Auckland: Blog of TotaRim Consultancy Limited

TotaRim Consultancy
Bringing Well Managed Progress to Auckland and The Unitary Plan

Auckland: 2013 – YOUR CITY, YOUR CALL

 

 

http://www.channelmag.co.nz/community-mainmenu-35/webpage-2702/the-unitary-plan-zoe-s-perspective

Unitary Plan Coverage Running Hot Again

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Feedback Closed yet the Commentary runs Hot

 

There must be a report due out (which there is) in regards to the Unitary Plan looking at five (now six) different Chrome tabs I have open at the moment in regards to media coverage. The MSM coverage is pretty wide-ranging from support of the UP to some impending changes towards The Clunker as well. Some of the more “interesting” pieces I will look at an individual level later on today and tomorrow.

But first some links into the chatter today around the draft Unitary Plan:

There is also a segment from Morning Report on how kiwi’s might be needing to let go of the 1/4 acre dream as well and be more pragmatic as Auckland grows

Quite the reading for your start of the week…

 

 

Follow Up to The Block and The Unitary Plan Article

· 2 Comments ·

An Acknowledgement

 

Yesterday I wrote what could be deemed a very heavy broadside commentary piece against a North Shore Local Board member and her comments in the Herald on Sunday in regards to The Block.

The said commentary can be found here: The Block, The Unitary Plan And What?

I have acknowledged feedback that the commentary in the said post is the equivalent of taking a nuke to cracking a walnut open rather than being more “tactful” in response to the comments made in the particular Herald article yesterday. Using the nuke approach has caused upset on the North Shore and again I have acknowledged this as such.

I could write a whole spiel on errors from yesterday but that would be inconsiderate. Needless to say there were errors yesterday and errors I picked up on as well. But with the errors there are ways of handling them including using a nuke. That particular option was not the best option given

My indiscretion from yesterday has been noted and will follow-up with more appropriate responses next time such an article from the MSM comes to light.

In saying that our old buddy Orsman has written a piece on the Unitary Plan…

Time for a look 😀

 

Council Submission on the Housing Accord

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What Council thought on the Housing Accord

 

I am no fan of the Much-Ado-About-Nothing (aka the Housing) Accord as it short cuts the Rural Urban Boundary processes we are going through right now, and it also impinges on Council Sovereignty. I have made mention of this last month while the Unitary Plan was open for the first round of discussion.

Auckland Council, some Local Boards and the Independent Maori Statutory Board have written draft submissions on the Accord which is due to go before Select Committee in Wellington.

I am still reading the submission Council has written myself and will comment on it on Monday. In the mean time some light reading for you and if you are inclined leave your thoughts in the comments below.

The Submission (Starting page 7) to the Housing Accord

 

Unitary Plan Update

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Over 20,000 pieces of feedback?

Judging by the Auckland Council‘s release there was 20,200 individual pieces of feedback to the first round of “consultation” for the Unitary Plan.

From Auckland Council

Thanks for your feedback

Published: Tuesday 04 June 2013
Mayor Len Brown with some of the written feedback on the draft Auckland Unitary Plan.
 Mayor Len Brown with some of the written feedback on the draft Auckland Unitary Plan.
(Wonder where my one got put at 104 pages)

More than 20,200 Aucklanders have had their say on the draft Auckland Unitary Plan– the new planning rulebook that will help shape Auckland.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse says the level of interest during the 11-week informal public engagement period, which finished on 31 May, was phenomenal.

“Developing a plan that covers all eight previous council areas is a mammoth task and we are taking on board the feedback from our communities to ensure we get the best plan possible,” she says.

“It has been fantastic to see so many Aucklanders taking part in the engagement and sharing their ideas as we plan for the next 30 years of Auckland’s development.”

To ensure communities understand the proposed changes, local boards held around 250 events across the region, including drop-in sessions, meetings in libraries and community centres, and community walks.

  • About 14,000 Aucklanders attended these events.
  • Auckland Council also sought the opinions of Auckland’s young people – via a youth video competition.
    • The competition was won by ‘The Future’, produced by four Orewa College students.
    • View the five finalist videos.

 

Aucklanders involvement

  • 20,200 pieces of individual feedback received
  • 14,000 people attended events
  • More than 88,000 people visited www.shapeauckland.co.nz
  • More than 15,000 people tried the housing simulator.

Next steps

Feedback will be considered in the development of the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, which is due to be notified later this year.

On notification, the public will have a statutory right to make submissions and be heard by a hearings panel.

More information will be available at www.shapeauckland.co.nz and in future editions of OurAuckland.

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Of note the following developments have either occurred or being heard in the wind somewhere (but something to keep an eye on)

  • An independent review is under way with the recent 11-week feedback process. The review will be presented to the Auckland Plan Committee (“Wart n all”) at its conclusion
  • Caught in the wind that the current stacking of feedback is 60:40 “against” the Unitary Plan. HOWEVER and this is a big point here, the definition of “against” is wide open for interpretation. If I support the basic concepts of the UP but wrote 104 pages on how to clean it up through some large-scale alternatives, does that make me “against” the Unitary Plan. I think the better way in looking at it if the 60:40 point can be substantiated is that 60% are looking for some whole-scale changes to aspects of the UP rather than minor (which is where the 40% would go). In those regards then yes I would fit in there especially with the Special Character Zones and Manukau as the Second CBD of Auckland

 

But, lets wait and see where things go with the UP and the review currently underway

 

Message to Governor General

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For the Integrity of the Parliament and the Citizens of NZ

 

To the Governor General of New Zealand
Representing our Sovereign and Head of State – Queen Elizabeth the Second.

For the integrity of the New Zealand House of Representatives, the citizens of New Zealand, and to allowed continued confidence of the Queen to our Parliament where there can be possibly none right now, I ask that you dissolve the current Parliament and order fresh elections in six weeks.

While leaks do happen from and within our Parliament and the State apparatus, leaks that come from the Government Communication Security Bureau that was had concerns to 88 New Zealand citizens being spied upon without their knowledge by the GCSB is a very serious situation.

For a Minister of the Crown (that operates in the name of the Queen) to leak such serious information where our citizens are affected is beyond reprehension. Beyond reprehension as it damages the very integrity of being a Minister of the Crown (operating in the name of the Queen) who we trust with our confidence in such sensitive matters like the GCSB affair. The breach by now former Minister Peter Dunne damages the confidence of the citizens towards the state apparatus and the Executive Wing of our Parliament – the highest authority in our land (as it can effectively over rule our courts). For Peter Dunne to remain as an MP in this parliament after such a reprehensible breach in my opinion brings the House now into disrepute.

Thus I would call on the Governor General to dissolve this Parliament and seek a fresh election. This fresh election would allow a new mandate and Parliament to occur. This would also allow the nation to put behind a very sorry mess that has occurred. To not call for a fresh mandate belittles our faith in the Parliament and would cause loss of confidence from the Sovereign against the Parliament as well.

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Of note in that message above I have noticed a small number of National Party members through social media effectively lashing out and acting like near sycophants in this matter. The questions are quite simple:

  • How did Peters claim a scalp but you can not claim his
  • Can you blame for 5.4% of the population for voting NZ First. This is a democracy not an autocracy or plutocracy just because someone voted the way you did not want them too
  • Does that artillery piece with the phrase “aim to the far left John” do the Party any favours or does your behaviour also bring the party into disrepute with no only members but the wider public. There is a difference between Satire and disturbed behaviour, that photo being the latter of the two especially on a serious day like this
  • And what would you have done to Dunne with him so implicated in the report on leaking security information that had concerns in regards to 88 citizens being spied on unknowingly. Probably nothing so long as you get to stay in power…

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This message was written as a concerned citizen seeing Parliament being effectively brought into disrepute and upsetting the governance of this country. Honesty and Transparency should be held at the utmost. Lets start afresh and get on with the job as the people want.