Category: News

A News Post on something that has happened

Housing Dynamic Changes

·

Stats NZ Reports

 

Statistics New Zealand has reported that the housing dynamics as well as other indicators in Auckland are now pretty much unique compared to the rest of New Zealand. Of course and being a realist this is expected (even the negative indicators) in New Zealand’s sole international city of sizable comparison.

From Stats NZ

Auckland housing now very different from the rest of NZ

Auckland’s housing has changed markedly over the past two decades as the city reacts to its growing population, with more multi-storey homes, greater density, and fewer unoccupied homes all making it very different to the rest of the country, according to the latest research from Statistics New Zealand.17 December 2014

Housing in Auckland: Trends in housing from 1991 to 2013 uses the latest 2013 Census information, showing that in the seven years between the last two censuses, Auckland’s population grew by 8.5 percent, faster than the number of dwellings, which increased by 7.6 percent.

Statistics NZ researcher and report author Rosemary Goodyear says the aim of the report is to give agencies working in the housing area in Auckland information they need. “We hope this type of information will be useful to both policymakers deciding where services might be valuable, but also to developers deciding where to focus their efforts.”

“We’ve found that since the 1990s, housing in Auckland has changed so much that it’s now distinct from the rest of New Zealand. There are more multi-storey dwellings, lower rates of home-ownership, more renting, and house prices have risen to higher levels than in other parts of New Zealand.”

“It is not only young people who have been affected by the fall in home ownership,” Dr Goodyear said. “There have been substantial drops in home ownership for Aucklanders aged in their 30s, 40s, and 50s since 2001.”

Dr Goodyear says Statistics NZ worked closely with agencies in Auckland to find out what information they wanted to know about housing in the region.

One of the key findings of the report is that since 2006, building consents in Auckland are lower per head of population than in the rest of New Zealand. In 2013, there were 358 building consents per 100,000 people in Auckland compared with 423 per 100,000 for New Zealand overall. However, the number of building consents issued for new dwellings in Auckland has increased since the low point in 2009 to reach almost 7,000 in the year to March 2014.

The report also found that dwelling density had increased significantly in Auckland between 2001 and 2013, from 85.5 to 102.0 dwellings per square kilometre. In 2013, the most dense area units (Auckland Central East and Auckland Central West) had over 5,000 dwellings per square kilometre.

“Levels of crowding have remained persistently high in Auckland,” Dr Goodyear said. “In 2013 almost half of crowded households in New Zealand were in the Auckland region, compared with just over a third in 1991.” Over 200,000 people in Auckland, including around 63,000 children, are now living in a crowded household. Crowding was highest among Pacific peoples, with 45.3 percent of Pacific peoples in Auckland living in a crowded household in 2013.

Read the report – Housing in Auckland: Trends in housing from the Census of Population and Dwellings 1991 to 2013.

—-ends—–

Source: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1412/S00484/auckland-housing-now-very-different-from-the-rest-of-nz.htm

 

This shows with our Unitary Plan that we need to make sure our master planing document is not loaded up with anal development controls that restrict as well as make developments cost prohibitive. Flexibility is the key to make sure that both consents are available in timely manners and crowding is reduced through the supply of all housing typologies being efficient. Something again development controls bung up.

I suppose we will know how the Unitary Plan will shape out come 2016 when the Hearings Panel makes it recommendations to Council.

 

New Service Centre Designed For Customers First

·

Bledisole Service Centre has customers in mind

 

From Auckland Council:

New service centre puts the customer first

 

Opened today, the new Bledisloe Lane service centre – the first of its kind for local government in New Zealand – offers Aucklanders a state-of-the-art approach to meeting their customer needs.

With a focus on making it easier to do business with council, it features the latest technology and services not previously available and offers enhanced face to face interaction.

Customers are greeted by a concierge who can direct them to the service they require or they can do it themselves at one of the easy to use self-service kiosks.

There is also free wifi, people can order property information, and be connected by phone to other council departments for further assistance, or talk to staff in comfortable seated areas.

The challenge was to de-mystify complex council processes. The changes follow extensive research into what customers wanted and follow the latest retail industry trends and best practice here and overseas.

“Providing customers with options is at the heart of what we are trying to do,” says Councillor Christine Fletcher. “Depending on your individual needs, you can choose to use self-service kiosks for easy-to-understand information on council processes, making payments and doing research, or you can talk face-to-face with knowledgeable staff,” she says.

Becoming easier to deal with and raising customer service levels is key to meeting Aucklanders’ expectations of their council, according to Cr Fletcher.

The décor is far cry from what some might expect from a local authority – with bright colours and themes which reflect Auckland’s diverse communities and lifestyle.

This is council’s flagship service centre, serving not just central city residents and ratepayers but thousands across the region who visit the city daily for work and pleasure.  An estimated 90,000 people are employed in the central city.

The visit is made more welcoming by the ongoing changes to the Bledisloe Lane walkway, linking to the shared space of Elliott Street. When complete the new Bledisloe Lane will feature new paving, additional seating and cycle parking and a re-modelled canopy to make it a lighter and more inviting place.

More light and removing the alcoves will improve the lane’s safety with less opportunity for anti-social activity.

A pocket park at the Wellesley Street entrance will also open in the new year.

“The changes are good news for the many customers of the lane’s businesses such as the NZ Post, Kiwibank and the Metro Centre,” according to Cr Fletcher. “We are very grateful for the patience shown by both the businesses and their customers during construction,” she says.

The new service centre replaces the one in the Civic Building, which has now closed.

 

Further Information

The improvements to the customer service centre represent a long term investment and will inform changes elsewhere in the region, as and when other service centres require upgrading. The cost of the new service centre, including all the new customer touch points was $800,000.

During the holiday period, the new service centre will be closed from midday 24 December until 8am 5 January 2015.

—ends—

 

Auckland to Celebrate 175 Years

· 2 Comments ·

Come celebrate all things that are – well Auckland

 

From Auckland Council:

Launching Auckland’s 175th birthday weekend

 

Come and celebrate the 175th anniversary of Auckland, from Saturday 24 to Monday 26 January. 

Auckland Council and ASB are partnering to transform Shed 10 and Queens Wharf to give Aucklanders a glimpse into our past across the three days of Auckland Anniversary weekend 2015.

Mayor Len Brown says “Auckland is coming of age, and you can feel a renewed sense of pride in our place and ourselves. The 175th anniversary is an important milestone for us so we’re looking forward to celebrating with an event reflecting who we are and what makes Auckland proud.”

The centre-piece of the event is a large-scale, never-seen-before, immersive multimedia exhibition which is a tribute to Aucklanders who have played a significant part in the region’s history. The exhibition, produced by acclaimed Creative Director Mike Mizrahi, features stories told on screen about the people who have shaped Auckland; and stories of Tamaki Makaurau will unfold in a live story-telling zone.

Quay Street will be closed to traffic, and as people arrive on Queens Wharf they will walk through an historic archway designed to mark this significant moment in the city’s history. Then the wharf – including Shed 10 and The Cloud – will come alive with entertainment and historical displays that will take people back in time.

A highlight of the weekend will be Sunday evening’s free concert from the HMNZS Otago – berthed alongside Queens Wharf. Curated by Tama Waipara, a selection of bands will bring a local flavour to the celebration. The concert will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display from barges in the harbour and from the Sky Tower. All three days will feature buskers, a waka display in the harbour, photographic exhibition, vintage cars lining Quay St, markets, food vendors and more.

“Since Sir John Logan Campbell and James Dilworth opened New Zealand’s first savings bank in Auckland in 1847, the histories of ASB and Auckland have been inexorably linked,” explains Barbara Chapman, ASB’s Chief Executive.

“Given ASB has been a key part of Auckland for over 165 years, we are proud to be working with Auckland Council to celebrate with everyone Auckland’s amazing journey to becoming the world-class city it is today.”

Mayor Brown adds; “We want everyone to come join the celebrations as we look back at a rich history, celebrate our diverse cultures and acknowledge some of those who have made Auckland great.”

……….

 

Further Information

  • Queens Wharf events are FREE to the public from:

o   Saturday 24 January: 10am – 6pm

o   Sunday 25 January: 10am – 10pm (approx.)

o   Monday 26 January: 10am – 6pm

 

  • Shed 10 multimedia exhibition opening times:

o   Saturday 24 – Monday 26 January: 12pm – 6pm daily

o   Exclusive ASB customer access: daily 10am – 12pm

 

  • HMNZS Otago open Saturday from 10am – 6pm / Sunday from 10am-3pm.
  • HMNZS Otago concert, Sunday 25 January, 5.30pm – 9.30pm.
  • Harbour/Sky Tower Fireworks display, 9.30pm Sunday 25 January.
  • The Auckland 175th Anniversary weekend event on Queens Wharf and Quay St will be alcohol-free.
  • Quay St will be closed to traffic from lower Albert St to Commerce St across the whole weekend.
  • Other events happening at Auckland’s waterfront over Anniversary Weekend include; Auckland Regatta, SeePort, ASB Auckland Seafood Festival, International Buskers Festival, and St Jerome’s Laneway Festival.

The Auckland 175th Anniversary weekend event is also supported by a family of sponsors including:

  • ASB
  • Downer
  • Imersia
  • Oceania/Spyglass
  • Image Centre Group/Aaque Graphics
  • Ports of Auckland
  • RNZN

 

————————————

 

Providing the weather holds that weekend it should be a ball celebrating Auckland’s 175 years – young!

 

Glenora Road Station?

·

And what about Te Mahia and Westfield

 

I saw in the Auckland Transport Board Meeting closed agenda for this month as well as the forward program sheet that three stations are up for discussion and possible decisions.

They are:

  1. Whether to close Te Mahia and/or Westfield Stations
  2. Allow Glenora Road Station to be built next to the Takanini Village

 

The Agenda and Forward Program papers that caught my attention

 

 

Comments

I note that the discussion around all three stations is behind closed doors under the justification of frank and free discussion to which a decision will be noted (rather than actioned by the looks of it). All three stations have stirred up the emotions with Manurewa Local Board roping in the Mayor to get Te Mahia to stay open while Papakura Local Board and Councillor Calum Penrose are fighting to get Glenora Road Station built and operation (rather than Auckland Transport’s favoured Tironui Station).

What could be indicative around Westfield and Te Mahia is that they are on the Auckland Plan Transport Network funding program for upgrades. Meaning if full funding is available the stations would be upgraded within the next 10 years otherwise not at all under the current Basic Transport Network scenario. However, that APTN and BTN could change depending how the Governing Body treats the final version of the Long Term Plan next year.

That said Glenora Road Station is not on either the APTN or BTN but if Auckland Transport give it the green light then somehow the Council will need to get funding for it.

 

The agenda paper notes that the decisions around those three stations will be released in due course. It will be VERY interesting to see which way AT fall over these stations.

 

Public Transport Livery To Be Consistant

·

A Universal Brand

 

Auckland Transport are simplifying things as we start heading into the new public transport regime from mid next year.

From Auckland Transport with more on Tuesday:

A consistent look for public transport in Auckland

Auckland Transport is about to give the city’s public transport network a fresh, clear, consistent brand.

Over the next three years the branding will be phased in starting with the LINK services and the Northern Express.

Auckland Transport’s General Manager Marketing and Customer Experience Mike Loftus says a single identity will give Aucklanders and visitors a clearer understanding of what public transport is on offer and which areas specific buses, trains and ferries serve.

“Most metropolitan cities have a single brand network that is easy to recognise and enables clear, consistent communication with customers. Currently in Auckland there is no single identity, we have a variety of brands and looks. Customers relate to buses by the operator name rather than the wider public transport network”.

Auckland Transport’s Group Manager Public Transport Mark Lambert says having a single public transport network will ultimately build public confidence in the developing and improving PT system. “Knowing that all the services are integrated and part of the same system will help grow patronage”.

The  branding will mean common livery across public transport vehicles but differentiated by colour depending on the type of service.

The implementation of the livery is already underway and budgeted for on the electric trains.

Costs for the bus fleet will be kept to a minimum through:

  • Retention of ocean blue for Rapid Network services (Northern Express is already this colour).
  • Retention of red, green, orange and light blue for existing targeted services of the City LINK, Inner LINK, Outer LINK and Airbus.
  • The rest of the bus fleet to be transitioned as part of new contracts and costs incurred through new contract rates.

Mr Lambert says Auckland’s bus operators are aware of the changes and are working with Auckland Transport.

The Auckland Plan looks to double public transport trips from 70 million in 2012 to 140 million in 2022. The Auckland Plan’s priorities for Auckland’s transport system include “a single system transport network approach that manages current congestion problems and accommodates future business population growth to encourage a shift toward public transport.”

The new branding will be unveiled next Tuesday 16 December.

—ends—

Source: https://at.govt.nz/about-us/news-events/a-consistent-look-for-public-transport-in-auckland/

 

Now then if we can just get those interchanges and, park and rides built so people could use this new network more…

 

Funding for Whau Environmental Projects

·

$14,000 granted

 

From Auckland Council

$14,000 for Whau environmental projects

 

Two Whau-based projects have been awarded a combined $14,200 from Auckland Council’s Environmental Initiatives Fund to help care for the area’s environment and protect its heritage.

The Whau River Catchment Trust receives $11,700 went to support the rehabilitation of the coastal bush found at the Kurt Brehmer Walkway in Rosebank Peninsula next to the Whau River estuary.

And $2,500 was awarded to the West Lynn Garden Society Inc. providing a contribution towards an audio/visual system to enhance the community education facility.

Whau Councillor Ross Clow says the awards were well deserved.

“It is clear that there is real passion for preserving our natural environment and heritage in Whau. These two projects will make a real difference to the community, and were worthy recipients of the funding.

“Empowering the local community to help benefit the areas they live is an important part of what Auckland Council does, and I am delighted to see these two deserving projects being recognised by the council.

“I am really excited about them and can’t wait to visit them to see how they are getting on,” he says.

The council’s Environmental Initiatives Fund awarded a total of $634,000 in funding to 133 projects across Auckland with an average grant of $4000.

—-ends—-

 

City Rail Link Start Date Set to 2018

·

Governing Body Agrees Finally

 

Just In:

After debating – well relitigating four years of previous debate the Governing Body in an extraordinary session of Council has agreed by a vote of 14-6 (one absent) for the main City Rail Link project to start 2018. That is Option Two of the recommendations per the agenda (below).

As for the Notice of Motions I called for well they didn’t happen (was to be expected but tried) so will try again in the Long Term Plan submission rounds early next year.

 

The debate itself which dragged from 1:30 to 4pm and should have realistically taken 45 minutes was absolute torture and shows the lack of capacity some of our elected representatives have in that Governing Body. The sole purpose of that debate today was to vote for Option Two and work out funding arrangements to satisfy the Auditor General’s concerns she has raised over the situation. NOT to push a personal barrow from the last four years and especially since the Government has agreed to the City Rail Link in the first place.

 

So yep again the Governing Body did screw up a debate and continue on its history path of being ineffectual as a collective. Which is a damned shame as we do have some fine and smart individual Councillors in there.

Bring on 2016!

 

Reference Post and link to agenda

Amendment to CRL Start Date in the Long Term Plan

 

Bouncing Houses

·

Too many on the move?

 

From Auckland Council on Housing:

Too many small Kiwi children moving house

 

Auckland Council says data showing nearly half of New Zealand’s children moved house at least once before their second birthday is a sign that renters need more security on the length of their leases.

The main finding of the University of Auckland’s Growing Up in New Zealand report – Residential Mobility Report 1: Moving house in the first 1000 days, is an unexpectedly high level of residential movement in young families – much higher than an equivalent UK study.

The report identifies housing tenure as the key determinant of whether a child moves; that is, those in private rental accommodation are most likely to move.

Auckland’s Deputy Mayor, Penny Hulse, said the survey provides evidence that achieving a stable housing situation is a major challenge for families with young children who are renting in Auckland.

“I am disturbed by the report’s findings that such a high proportion of our most vulnerable, being children, have unstable accommodation in the first years of their lives,” said Ms Hulse.

“This situation is not acceptable on any level. Auckland Council’s Housing Action Plan identifies the need for more secure rental tenure as a key priority. We are calling on the government to urgently address this issue and put some options to the community on how this can be achieved,” said Ms Hulse.

“Security of tenure for renters was a major focus of the recent Auckland Conversations event ‘What’s wrong with renting?’ which attracted close to 600 people, showing this is an issue that matters to Aucklanders”, said Ms Hulse.

Growing Up in New Zealand is a contemporary longitudinal study tracking the development of approximately 7,000 New Zealand children from before birth until they are young adults (the majority are in the Auckland and Waikato regions). Today’s release is the fifth substantial report from the study and the first in the new ‘Residential Mobility’ series.

For a link to the Growing Up in New Zealand report, see: www.growingup.co.nz/reports

—ends—-