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Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Ashburton's Market Day To Move After Retailer Complaints
Article – Jonathan Leask – Local Democracy Reporter It means a popular annual market day in September has to move – but only just down road. Market days are no longer welcome on a section of Ashburton's main street during business hours. It means a popular annual market day in September has to move – but only just down road. Retailers had argued the town's main street was no place for a market as the road closures hurt local shops. The Ashburton District Council voted last week to ban events on the block of East Street, south of Havelock Street, if they required road closures. The organiser of Ashburton's annual market day sees the decision as positive. Spealing to LDR this week, Carol Johns said she was already looking to move the market day one block north on East Street, in front of Baring Square East. 'I was just waiting for the council to make a decision. 'I'm not worried, I'll move and the market day will still go ahead. 'Nothing changes, we just move down the road a wee bit. 'There are more positives than negatives.' The move means Johns will have to pay for a new traffic management plan, but only has to contact three businesses about a road closure, rather than 96. Baring Square East had a $2.45 million upgrade in 2023 to coincide with the construction of the $62.3m Te Whare Whakatere, Ashburton's library and civic centre. That investment led to the majority of councillors voting to close the southern end of East Street off to market events during business hours, at a council meeting on 18 June. The annual market day attracts thousands of people to Ashburton. It is held on South Canterbury Anniversary Day, on the fourth Monday of September, which is not an Ashburton District public holiday. When discussing the options last week, councillor Tony Todd said historically the local businesses were heavily involved in the market day, previously known as Boulevard Day, but times have changed. 'The event was fully supported by local retailers but over time that support has declined, and other operators have been involved,' Todd said. 'The day still attracts a large number of people to the CBD that mainly walk the street and the vendor stalls have become a barrier to get into retailers stores. 'It's time for a change. 'The market day is still important to the town so we should support it, but I think a new location will breathe new life back into it.' Another issue is Burnett and Tancred streets becoming one way, which means they also close when East Street is closed, Todd said. Councillor Phill Hooper felt no events should occur south of Havelock Street as the council had invested in making Baring Square an event space. 'We spent the moolah out here, let's have it out here,' Hooper said. The councillors voted 9-1 for the section of East Street south of Havelock Street to be off limits to events 'involving trade and associated equipment' between 8am-5:30pm, Monday to Saturday. Hooper was the lone opposing vote, supporting the alternative option of no events south of Havelock Street. Compliance and development group manager Ian Hyde said a short closure for an event with no stationary caravans, stalls, tents or other structures could still be permitted.
Scoop
3 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Matariki Pou Whenua Unveiling Marks Milestone For East Coast Marae's Cyclone Rebuild
Article – Zita Campbell – Local Democracy Reporter 'It's emotional for us because it is a long time coming,' a marae trust official says. A Tai Rāwhiti hapū unveiled a pou whenua over Matariki weekend, marking the beginning of its journey to relocate and rebuild its marae after it was destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle more than two years ago. The waters reached 3 metres up the wharenui wall of Rangatira Marae when the cyclone struck Te Karaka on 14 February, 2023. The water line marks are still visible on the wharenui mahau (entrance). 'There wasn't any other option but to relocate,' the secretary of the Rangatira Marae Trust, Whitiaua Ropitini, said at the event on Saturday. Ropitini said the destruction was 'heart-wrenching', but the Ngāti Wahia hapū (of Te Aitanga a Māhaki) persevered. The pou whenua is dedicated to tipuna (ancestor) Wi Haronga, who will act as kaitiaki (guardian) over the project and signal the start of construction, Ropitini said. 'We're here with Wi Haronga … Watching over us and seeing us through our build … bringing our people home, our whānau home and bringing our community together again.' Many whānau had been up since the early hours attending the 4.15am dawn service, the karakia whakamoe, at the existing marae, which was followed by a karakia whakatapu (consecration) at the proposed new site and a pōhiri to unveil the pou whenua. The pou whenua was carved by local kai whakairo (carver) Eruera Brown (Te Aitanga a Māhaki/Ngāti Porou), who teaches at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. 'Through his strong whakapapa links to Rangatira Marae, Eru was approached by the marae trustees to design and carve the pou based on the kaupapa,' Ropitini later told Local Democracy Reporting. The marae is being rebuilt at the corner of Kanakanaia Rd and Paulson Rd, just a few minutes' drive by car from its original site at 66 Rangatira Rd. Rangatira Marae whānau and friends attended the unveiling of the pou, with mayor Rehette Stoltz, National East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick, Labour MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, and the national president of Red Cross, John Dyer all present. Millions for marae rebuilds from government Kirkpatrick said when she first saw the destruction of the marae, there was an 'absolute feeling of hopelessness'. She was delighted the Crown was able to play its part in the relocation. Last month, the government announced $136.2 million in funding for the Whenua Māori and Marae Relocation Programme, which supports Māori communities severely affected by North Island weather events, and includes Rangatira and four other Tai Rāwhiti marae: Puketawai, Ōkuri, Hinemaurea and Takipū. It was the first time everyone was able to gather at the new site together, which Kirkpatrick noted was fitting: 'At the time of Matariki, where it's time for us to honour what's gone before us, celebrate our successes, and look to the future.' Two months after the cyclone, in late April 2023, the hapū engaged Asher Nikora of Rotorua company Xcel Builders, which specialises in marae renovations and rebuilds, to direct the project. According to a statement, from February to April 2023, the Marae Trust and Nikora conducted Conceptual Design Wānanga both in person and online, where whānau and hapū were asked to add to 'the dream list' of potential designs and concepts. In August 2023, the hapū received an Oranga Marae technical feasibility grant to carry out an assessment. A year later, on August 12, 2024, the Rangatira Marae Trust secured the purchase of the whenua (land) for its marae rebuild. At the unveiling, Nikora said his company will hire locals where possible, and he expects the build to take anywhere between a year and a year and a half. 'It is building effectively a marae from scratch.' They looked 'long and hard' at the logistics of moving the wharenui but found that there had been 'significant deterioration'. They want to maintain the essence of that wharenui, which includes transferring some of its key elements, Nikora said. 'The idea is that when you walk into the new wharenui … it will give you the same feeling around the existing wharenui that, of course, many of you will have many fond memories [of].' In January, the Rangatira Marae Trust received a Crown offer from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's Cyclone Recovery Unit, which the trustees signed in May, according to a statement. A revival journey Before the cyclone, the marae and hapū had been undergoing 'a revival journey' that started in 2016 and led to many whānau returning, the statement says. The existing Te Whakahau wharenui opened on 5 November, 1926; however, over the years, 'it fell dormant due to social, economic, and urban drift'. In 2019/2020, the marae trust secured funding grants, including from the Provincial Growth Fund, which enabled renovations valued at $200,000. Ropitini said at the pōhiri that the trust had completed several works and the last job came in January, just before the cyclone. 'The floods came through and took over everything … The carpet was only six months old. 'Today is about a celebration of our next stage. 'It's emotional for us because it is a long time coming.'
Scoop
11-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Resident Battles Auckland Council's ‘Ridiculous' Choice Of Berm Tree Criticised
Article – Torika Tokalau – Local Democracy Reporter An Auckland resident says authorities need to carefully consider the trees they plant on berms after her complaints of a leafy liquidamber planted outside her home fell on deaf ears. Papakura resident Sarah Thompson said she was surprised when she found that Auckland Council had planted a dwarf version of a liquidamber on her berm last month. A berm is the grassed area that sits between the road and either the footpath or the property boundary. Thompson was concerned about how big tree would grow. 'You could hardly pick a more ridiculous tree to plant on a berm,' Thompson said. 'They've planted them on alternate berms all down the street, and they said they want more shade and I take their point on that. 'But, they've managed to plant one on an incredibly shady berm, it's already got massive trees on there … they haven't thought this through at all.' Liquidambar styraciflua, commonly known as sweetgum, is a tall, fast-growing tree known for its distinctive star-shaped leaves, which change colours in the autumn. When matured, they can reach a height of around 20 metres, with an extensive root system. A dwarf version grows as tall as 3m. Auckland Council says the tree is known for its strong form, vivid autumn colour, and resilience in urban environments. However, Thompson said the trees grow to be huge. 'And it is deciduous with massive leaf fall that will clog the drains.' Thompson and a few of her neighbours wondered why another tree wasn't considered. 'A fruit tree would be nice and provide food for the local community, or a native.' She raised her concerns with council, about the lack of consultation with residents. 'We got a leaflet in our mailbox, on the same day of the planting, and the email address provided didn't work.' Several factors considered Council's Urban Forest, Arboriculture and Ecology manager David Stejskal said tree species for street planting were selected carefully by council urban foresters. Guided by the Auckland Urban Ngahere Strategy and informed by a regional tree palette tailored to local conditions, they considered a range of factors, including space constraints, and the expected long-term performance of the tree, he said. 'While Liquidambar can grow to be a large tree over time, it is valued for its strong form, vivid autumn colour, and resilience in urban environments. 'Where appropriate, council uses smaller cultivars and applies root management techniques such as root barriers to reduce the risk of damage to nearby footpaths and underground infrastructure.' He said the Papakura Local Board, in its Local Board Plan 2023, held concerns that Papakura had low tree canopy cover of only 14 percent. 'Consequently, the Local Board is supporting an increase in the tree canopy through tree planting, especially in streets and parks,' he said. Stejskal said council welcomed community feedback on planting choices, and was happy to assess individual sites where there were specific concerns.
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Marlborough residents speak against council's preferred water plan
By Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporter Brendan Kearney speaks at the Marlborough District Council's Local Water Done Well hearing. Photo: LDR/Kira Carrington Residents have spoken against the Marlborough District Council's preferred water services model at a Local Water Done Well hearing on Monday. The Government requires councils to choose from five water service delivery options ‒ a modified status quo (an in-house council department), a single council-controlled organisation, a multi-council-controlled organisation, and two types of trusts. The Marlborough District Council's preferred option is to create a standalone Water Services Organisation owned and controlled by the council. The council said it would find greater efficiencies to deliver better service at a lower cost, and have more borrowing capacity to maintain and improve the region's water infrastructure. But Marlborough residents aren't convinced. Of about 45 submissions made, 58 percent wanted to keep water services in-house, compared to 13 percent who preferred the standalone organisation. The remainder did not indicate a preference. Five people spoke on their submissions at a hearing in the council chamber on Monday, and they were all opposed to a standalone organisation. Brendan Kearney, who used to be chief executive of a council-controlled organisation in Canterbury, said there was no proof that a separate organisation would be more efficient, and setting up and funding a separate entity could cost ratepayers more. It would "inevitably duplicate some overhead costs", Kearney said. He said he saw no reason for water services to be removed from a council that had maintained its water systems relatively well. "[Water] assets are in good or very good condition. That's a credit to the current council and past councils as well. Council also has low debt relative to its peers. "This is compelling evidence, in my view, that the council has performed well and will continue to do so." To create a separate organisation, Kearney said the council would need to appoint directors, manage a new relationship with the organisation, and manage the organisation's own agenda. "A standalone company is no guarantee of good governance." Kearney said there also needed to be balance in who footed the water infrastructure bill between the ratepayers of today and of tomorrow. "It's unfair to gift hundreds of millions of dollars ... to the next generations completely debt free. That means the past generations paid too much. "On the other hand, it's unfair to get those assets, billions of dollars of assets, fully debt funded ... it's unfair on future generations. "Something in between those two extremes needs to happen." Submitter Lauchy Hynd said that creating a separate organisation to take on debt outside the council books was not sustainable. "What happens when we default?" Hynd said. "We're leveraging [water assets] by three to five times to borrow money against them. "This looks to me like Three Waters from the back door. "You can kick the can down the road and borrow recklessly, but I appeal to you to act boldly on behalf of the people." Submitters also voiced concerns about allowing an unelected and "unaccountable" organisation to take control of water services. "How do we maintain the ownership and the status of [water] assets in the hands of the people of Marlborough, when we're divesting them to an unelected group?" Hynd said. Submitter Bob Watson said he was worried about the potential to more easily privatise a separate organisation, pointing how the United Kingdom's water management became privatised. Ten regional water authorities were formed in 1974, which the UK government then sold to the private sector in 1989. "I think that the potential for private ownership ... basically our water utilities to be sold off to another entity, and for us to lose the democratic voice, would be terrible," Watson said. "I like the idea that [we're] here with people that have represented the community who can speak for us." The coalition Government had previously said that privatisation of water services was not on the table. The council would make its final decision on water services delivery on June 26, and submit its plan to the Government for approval by 3 September . LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Edinburgh Reporter
09-06-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Charity refused access to land after buying it
A charity which bought vacant land next to a waste recycling plant have been refused permission to create an entrance to it as it included chopping down 38 trees. WAFA EL, whose objectives are described as tackling poverty, advancing religion and providing recreational facilities, applied for permission to create an access road onto the site after it was revealed the sale did not include permission to use a nearby entrance. However the plans included cutting down the trees, removing 40 metres of stone wall and gave no indication of what they wanted to use the land for. A report by planning officers said the applicants argued they needed access to maintain the site which has a septic tank on it and would mitigate for the loss of trees in future plans. The report said: 'The council's biodiversity officer has advised that notwithstanding that the applicant has stated that mitigation for the loss of the trees would form part of a future application without mitigation being proposed within this application then it can not be supported and is not acceptable.' The land lies to the east of Kinwegar recycling centre off the A199 and property known as Irene's Haven. Planning officers said the site was previously owned by a private individual who retained a private access lane serving both his property and the land adding 'since purchasing the site a few months ago, the applicant no longer has any right of access via this lane and therefore requires their own access to the site'. The planning application called for a change of use of land and the public footpath on the other side of the wall from the site to form a new vehicle and and pedestrian, as well as creating hardstanding areas, and erecting a new wall, fencing and gates. Applicant WAFA EL gave an address in Motherwell and registered with the Scottish charity regulator OSCR in November last year. Its main operating area is given as Edinburgh. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
