Latest news with #EkePanuku
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Auckland Unifies Urban Development: New Office Centralises Growth And Investment
Mayor Wayne Brown has delivered on his key priorities of CCO reform. Today marks the establishment of the new Auckland Urban Development Office (AUDO) at Auckland Council. It's the first change of its kind for the region since the super city began. The Auckland Urban Development Office will serve as the council's development front door for investors, developers, iwi, Crown agencies, and private sector partners. Its role is to simplify engagement and strengthen Auckland Council's capability to deliver integrated, smart, sustainable urban development in areas identified for regeneration and strategic growth. The move follows the disestablishment of Eke Panuku. The new office within council will merge the functions of both Eke Panuku and council's Development Programme Office. Today also marks the Economic Development function of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited coming into Auckland Council. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the changes will bring functions in-house to cut down on silos between organisations, duplication, and lack of integration in planning. 'I ran on a platform of taking back control of so-called council-controlled organisations. In December last year we agreed to a package of CCO reforms to get council working effectively for Aucklanders. 'Today shows we're on track with what was promised: bringing the functions of Eke Panuku and the Economic Development arm of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited in-house. The process of reforming Auckland Transport so decision-making returns to democratically elected councillors has also begun. 'This work will improve strategic alignment between council's decisions and CCO activities, increase democratic accountability and transparency, and deliver better value for Aucklanders. This will get the council group fit for purpose to realise Auckland's growth potential.' The mayor says the Auckland population is set to grow by more than a quarter of a million people in the next 10 years, more than the entire population of Wellington city. 'If we are to make the most of the opportunities ahead, we must lay the foundations for an agreed, thoughtful approach forward. Streamlining these functions within council makes the most of what we have and sets us up to plan for the demand ahead.' He says alongside working through legislative change with government he's making sure the private sector is also on board. The Development Community Forum held last week was the first of many to improve the council-development sector partnership. There were frustrations over a lack of leadership with an agreed, single path forward, inconsistencies across council divisions, and a lack of commercial understanding. 'These are the people who shape our city: where and how we live, work and unwind – so worth listening to. There was an upbeat response in the room and nigh audible sighs of relief. They've told me that the industry hasn't had engagement like this before. They said they were on board with intensification in the right places and were ready to get on with it and make it happen.' This is the start of an ongoing dialogue with the development community. Themes from the event will inform the direction of a new office to create a thriving Auckland that makes better use of its land and buildings, attracts private investment and develops public spaces. The CCO reform of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and Eke Panuku follows on-going reform of decision-making between Auckland Transport and Auckland Council.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Parent Calls For Better Playground Fencing To Stop ‘Runners'
Article – Torika Tokalau – Local Democracy Reporter The lack of fencing around a destination park in rural south Auckland, where 17,000 cars zoom by each day, has come under fire. After hearing the safety pleas from a local parent and principal, the local board has agreed to fence the whole of Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park. The upgrade of the historic Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park began last October, by Eke Panuku's Unlock Pukekohe High Level Project Plan. Once complete in mid-2025, Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park is expected to feature improved play facilities to cater for a wider age range. However, residents were unhappy that the playground on the corner of one of Pukekohe's busiest intersections, with a traffic volume count of 17,000 vehicles per day, was not going to be completely fenced. Valley School principal Roger Goulstone, speaking at the Franklin Local Board meeting on Tuesday, said barriers or fencing was needed to keep children safe. 'With the busyness there, and attraction of a new facility, it's going to quite a higher traffic area,' Goulstone said. 'With the high amount of families coming, they would like the security of a barrier going at least around the park to stop kids wandering from off … [It's] a very busy intersection.' The park, located at the corner of East St and Stadium Dr, is costing $1.5 million to upgrade. The local board considered three design options – initially going with the first option which included a 900mm-high wired fence at the top of the park, leaving multiple areas of the park with no fencing or gates. Option two included two additional gates with latches, including a sliding gate and a wired fence completely around the park. Resident Sam Ross said she was stoked the park was being upgraded but felt it needed to be safe and inclusive for all users. 'As a mother of two neuro-diverse children, I'm particularly concerned about the safety issue. 'My kids have a tendency to be runners as do a lot of autistic children, they're brilliant climbers so they can easily scale the fence as is.' According to Eke Panuku's overview of the project – the park was bordered by major arterial roadways that were expected to get even busier as Pukekohe grew, its website stated. The local board moved a motion to adopt option two for fencing – supported by five of its nine members. Member Logan Soole said the difference in design options was huge. 'They involve the addition of two more gates and extension of fencing,' Soole said. He said one of the main issues board members debated about was accessibility, and highlighted Auckland's only accessible playground in Weymouth. 'If we choose to retrofit later, it will cost more and the likelihood of that happening is not very high. 'The one thing I don't want to see is us opening this park, and something happens and it undoes all the good work that the Pukekohe Unlock programme has brought for our town.' Member Gary Holmes said they should upgrade the playground once, 'and do it right'.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Parent Calls For Better Playground Fencing To Stop ‘Runners'
The lack of fencing around a destination park in rural south Auckland, where 17,000 cars zoom by each day, has come under fire. After hearing the safety pleas from a local parent and principal, the local board has agreed to fence the whole of Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park. The upgrade of the historic Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park began last October, by Eke Panuku's Unlock Pukekohe High Level Project Plan. Once complete in mid-2025, Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park is expected to feature improved play facilities to cater for a wider age range. However, residents were unhappy that the playground on the corner of one of Pukekohe's busiest intersections, with a traffic volume count of 17,000 vehicles per day, was not going to be completely fenced. Valley School principal Roger Goulstone, speaking at the Franklin Local Board meeting on Tuesday, said barriers or fencing was needed to keep children safe. "With the busyness there, and attraction of a new facility, it's going to quite a higher traffic area," Goulstone said. "With the high amount of families coming, they would like the security of a barrier going at least around the park to stop kids wandering from off ... [It's] a very busy intersection." The park, located at the corner of East St and Stadium Dr, is costing $1.5 million to upgrade. The local board considered three design options - initially going with the first option which included a 900mm-high wired fence at the top of the park, leaving multiple areas of the park with no fencing or gates. Option two included two additional gates with latches, including a sliding gate and a wired fence completely around the park. Resident Sam Ross said she was stoked the park was being upgraded but felt it needed to be safe and inclusive for all users. "As a mother of two neuro-diverse children, I'm particularly concerned about the safety issue. "My kids have a tendency to be runners as do a lot of autistic children, they're brilliant climbers so they can easily scale the fence as is." According to Eke Panuku's overview of the project - the park was bordered by major arterial roadways that were expected to get even busier as Pukekohe grew, its website stated. The local board moved a motion to adopt option two for fencing - supported by five of its nine members. Member Logan Soole said the difference in design options was huge. "They involve the addition of two more gates and extension of fencing," Soole said. He said one of the main issues board members debated about was accessibility, and highlighted Auckland's only accessible playground in Weymouth. "If we choose to retrofit later, it will cost more and the likelihood of that happening is not very high. "The one thing I don't want to see is us opening this park, and something happens and it undoes all the good work that the Pukekohe Unlock programme has brought for our town." Member Gary Holmes said they should upgrade the playground once, "and do it right".
NZ Herald
30-04-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Auckland stadium question raised by Eke Panuku's $300m Wynyard Quarter plan
After a recent column decrying the lameness of Auckland Council electing to proceed with Eden Park as the national stadium but having no money to do so (and with government also keeping their hands out of their pockets), new information came to hand. It concerned the plans of Eke Panuku, the council-controlled development organisation, to build a big park alongside private sector development on unsightly Tank Farm, bordering on the Wynyard Quarter. It seems a good idea until you read the small print, which can be found in Eke Panuku's own designs for the area, called Te Ara Tukutuku. They would like $300m of ratepayers' money, please, about half of it to be spent over a 10-year period. How's that again? About $100m is for the park itself. The rest is for developing infrastructure to enable private development – and thus profits for developers – on Wynyard Point, bordering the park. How's that again? What private development? Housing was said to be part of the mix, but it turns out Eke Panuku are planning to build up to 600 apartments on Wynyard Point. I have seen a confidential document sent out by Eke Panuku to ask for expressions of interest in a development which will sell off the land or lease it out long-term, presumably to help pay for Te Ara Tukutuku. The document refers to 600-plus homes and 133,000 sq/m floorspace potential with over 50% for housing. The proposed stadium on Wynyard Point. If there has been any public discussion or consultation on this, I can't find it – and that raises some questions: Firstly was Wynyard Point – the 55,000-person stadium planned for the water's edge at Tank Farm (including plans for a similar park and public spaces surrounding it) – quietly slipped into a desk drawer because of this? The plans for Te Ara Tukutuku cover the same land as that earmarked for the Wynyard Point stadium – the proposal which seemed to me to make the most sense and was, in theory, the least expensive for ratepayers and/or taxpayers. However, it mysteriously missed making it to the short list presented to council. Eden Park and the Quay Park (which to me seems wholly over-ambitious) were. The latter was judged to be commercially, technically and financially infeasible by the committee overseeing the decision – making the Eden Park decision easy and Te Ara Tukutuku free to proceed. Secondly, do we really need another big park close to Victoria Park? Sure, Victoria Park is not exactly London's 170 ha Regent's Park and there will be support for bigger 'green lungs' in Auckland's centre. But two parks? Thirdly, do we really need up to 600 apartments on the waterfront? These will not be 'affordable housing'. So do we need housing for a few – available only after $300m is spent first – at the expense of a stadium and entertainment precinct for everyone? Access and egress have been mentioned as one reason for cooling on the idea of a stadium at Wynyard Point. However, consortium head Richard Dellabarca has previously told media of Auckland Transport figures which show that 76,000 people could be moved in an hour with the City Rail Link up and running, plus the North, East and Western busways, plus ferries and plenty of private car parks in the area. It's difficult not to wonder if a perfectly viable and potentially iconic stadium and entertainment proposal might have fallen foul of the bureaucracy's own plans – and has subsequently been quietly buried. The Wynyard Point proposal was not just a stadium build – it was focused on rationalising Auckland's over-supply of stadiums (North Harbour, Mt Smart, Eden Park and Western Springs). Albany and Eden Park would go, sold off for development, financed by Wynyard Point consortium backer and giant investment bank JP Morgan, the money channelled into the waterfront stadium. A bridseye view of plans for the end of Wynyard Quarter. The council has talked for years of the expense and redundancy of having four stadiums, yet this solution didn't even make it to the full debating chamber. In July, Eke Panuku is technically being subsumed into the greater council but there is no indication yet of any changes to the Te Ara Tukutuku plan to spend $300m of ratepayers' money. To that, add $150m that the council has said will be needed to maintain and operate the four stadiums. Eden Park wants $110m of public money to build its first stage. So we are already up to $560m, for what? Establishing infrastructure so developers can build apartments, the Te Ara Tukutuku park and shoring up existing stadium facilities. Better, surely, for the council to follow its own advice, rationalise at least some of the stadiums and build something iconic and visionary on the waterfront. It all calls to mind the old British TV comedy Yes, Minister – a cynically funny exploration of politicians manipulated by the civil service. In one episode, Prime Minister Jim Hacker was set on a course of action cutting across the advice and self-interest of the civil service. The head of the civil service demands to know why this is happening. One of his staff says: 'I think the Prime Minister wants to govern Britain.' To which the response was: 'Well, don't let him!' Paul Lewis writes about rugby, cricket, league, football, yachting, golf, the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
