A News Post on something that has happened
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From the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority
The tihi (summit) of Maungawhau / Mt Eden will be free from motor vehicles as a result of last night’s meeting of the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority.
Last December the Maunga Authority agreed in principle to the move and last night progressed to a clear direction that the tihi (summit) will be motor vehicle-free, subject to confirmation of the costs associated with the various arrangements including access for those with limited mobility.
Maunga Authority Chair Paul Majurey explains that the important decision for this ancestral mountain reflects the serious consideration given to the initiative.
“There was unanimous agreement at the Maunga Authority hui last night that a motor vehicle-free summit is the right outcome for the iconic taonga of Maungawhau / Mt Eden.”
Council staff have worked closely with various disability organisations in addressing the matter of tihi access for people with limited mobility and identified practical measures such as the installation of electric gates with an access code, or similar outcomes. The access code could be distributed to people with limited mobility via the Auckland Council call centre.
Mr Majurey explains that in making their decision the Maunga Authority placed emphasis on the spiritual and cultural significance of the tihi to Mana Whenua and the community aspirations reflected in the long-standing public programme that led to the 2007 Maungawhau / Mt Eden Management Plan.
The plan identified that unrestricted access raised concerns over pedestrian safety, congestion and damage to the maunga. In response to these concerns, heavy vehicles were restricted from accessing the tihi in 2011.
“Motor vehicle removal from the tihi of Maungawhau was signalled many years ago as a necessary outcome to protect this taonga, and to reflect the Mana Whenua and community aspirations of their living connections with this taonga,” says Mr Majurey.
“The removal of heavy vehicles from the summit has been successful, resulting in significantly less congestion and also a change of attitudes in visitors. The community has embraced the much safer walk to the top of the maunga, and are excited about the enhanced experience with this ancestral place overlooking Tāmaki Makaurau.”
A motor-vehicle-free tihi on Maungawhau / Mt Eden is expected to be implemented in the coming months.
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Click here for more information about the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority.
The Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act 2014 appoints the Maunga Authority as the administering body for the Tūpuna Maunga under the Reserves Act 1977. The role of an administering body is to administer, manage and control the reserve(s) under its administration in accordance with the Reserves Act.
The Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority is independent from Auckland Council and has statutory powers and functions.
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From Auckland Council:
Community groups have had a small financial reprieve with Auckland Council ‘forgiving’ outstanding water charges for groups that lease council land or buildings for community activity purposes.
The amounts vary between around 200 groups with an average of about $500 per group being forgiven.
Council has been working with Watercare to reconcile water charges for community groups after the super city amalgamation to align water and wastewater charging for community groups from the various legacy councils. Because of the complexity in determining how much each group used per water meter, Auckland Council became the default payee for water and wastewater.
With a resolution in sight and a more clearly defined billing system scheduled to begin on 1 July, Council is to forgive historic payments required of community groups that have not already had their water charged directly from Watercare.
Ian Wheeler, General Manager Property at Auckland Council, said with the vast range of community facilities, the task of attributing each community user group’s meter usage for water and wastewater is a time-consuming task.
“It is more cost-efficient in terms of staff time and resources to forgive the charges and start with a fresh slate in July,” he said.
Mr Wheeler said it was important that community groups understood they would be responsible for the payment of their water accounts to Watercare from July and he urged groups to contact the Council if they have any concerns about their future metering charges.
He said Council’s Property Lease Advisors are available to work closely with and support community lease tenants as they transition through this new invoicing process and to answer any queries.
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And the “winner is:” From Auckland Council: Transport survey: more than half support Auckland Plan transport network A majority of Aucklanders support the proposed Auckland Plan transport network, according to … Continue reading Transport Alternative Funding Survey Results Out [Full Report Included]
Talking Southern Auckland 