Radio Live Panel: 25 October 2015

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Vernon Tava

radio liveListen to my RadioLive panel with Mark Sainsbury and Matthew Hooton. We talked about the annual round of scrutiny of MPs’ expenses. These tend to be a bit of a beat up but we are more critical of the former-MPs and their spouses’ subsidised travel.

The flag referendum looks like it’ll confirm the status quo based on latest polling. Which leads us into the sometimes vicious world of ‘the twitterati’ and whether they are as influential as they think they are.

Paula Bennett has said that Housing New Zealand tenants should have one option of refusal on a house after which they will be dropped from the waiting list. We’re sceptical.

We reflect on the Trudeau clan after Justin Trudeau’s win in the recent Canadian elections and our own Prime Minister’s oversharing, this time on Radio Hauraki’s morning show.

Strong views are exchanged on the recent stoush between Matthew and Jacinda Ardern. Matthew’s views are much stronger than mine but we both question the quality of the debate around whether Jacinda is yet up to being a leadership contender.

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Paul Henry Panel: 22 October 2015

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Vernon Tava

logo-paulhenryA panel with Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Paul Henry Show. We discuss Heather’s exploitation of a legal loophole to purchase a rifle and the prosecution that may result. What would my legal advice be for Chris Cairns? We discuss Annette King’s confirmation as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party over Jacinda Ardern and the State of the Environment Report.

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September 2015 Local Board Member Report

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Vernon Tava


PurposeLogo cropped

This report covers my
Waitematā Local Board Activities during September 2015 as Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee; Deputy Chair of the Hearings Committee; Lead of the Parks and Open Spaces portfolio; Heritage, Urban Design and Planning portfolio holder; and Local Board representative on the K Road Business Association.

Executive Summary

  • General Tree Protection rules were lifted on 4 September by way of the 2013 amendments to the Resource Management Act. The only legal protections for trees in urban areas now is by listing on the Schedule of Notable Trees or being in a Special Environmental Area
  • Motion on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), moved by me, seconded by Chair Chambers, passed at business meeting of 8 September
  • Board resolved on the Alcohol Bans to be retained beyond 31 October 2015, passed at business meeting of 8 September
  • Board resolved on the Local Dog Access Rules, passed at business meeting of 8 September

  • This slideshow requires JavaScript.

    Beach Road Cycleway Stage II opening: 18 September

  • Freyberg Square and Ellen Melville & Pioneer Women’s Hall Designs went out for public consultation at the beginning of the month. Consultation ended on 27 September
  • Presented on the Aotea Quarter Framework at Auckland Conversations on the
    Italiano

    Photo credit: Pippa Coom

    evening of 23 September

  • The Myers Park Playspace won the Landscape category and went on to win the overall ‘Colour Master Nightingale Award’ across all categories, including entrants from Australia, at the Resene Total Colour Awards held on 23 September
  • Parking Day saw the installation of ‘parklets’ in Lorne and High Streets on 18 September
  • Salisbury Reserve: renovated playground open to the public on 25 September. Path renewal from 21 September – 2 October
  • Festival Italiano: 27 September
  • Reporting of resource consent applications, planning portfolio input, hearings and decisions in the Local Board area for the month of September is detailed in the Heritage, Urban Design and Planning section of this report

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Paul Henry Panel: 28 September 2015

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Vernon Tava

logo-paulhenryA panel with Sarah Hall on the Paul Henry Show. Drones: after a recent near-miss with a commercial jet, should operators be licenced? Should Child, Youth and Family be encouraging sterilisation? Education and contraception? Paul coins a ‘Mr Snippy’ franchise. Quick thoughts on the Rugby World Cup and the ‘Pool of Death.’

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A new Minister for Cities and the Built Environment Announced in Australia: a model for NZ?

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Vernon Tava

Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has just announced a new Federal Ministry for Cities and the Built Environment and appointed Jamie Briggs MP as the first holder of this warrant. 

He said:

We often overlook the fact that liveable cities, efficient, productive cities, the environment of cities, are economic assets. Making sure that our cities and regional centres are wonderful places to live, is an absolutely key priority of every level of Government. Because the most valuable capital in the world today is not financial capital, there’s plenty of that and it’s very mobile. The most valuable capital today is human capital. Men and women like ourselves who can choose to live anywhere. We have to ensure for our prosperity, for our future, for our competitiveness, that every level of Government works together, constructively and creatively to ensure that our cities progress.

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General Protection of Urban Trees Removed in New Zealand

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Vernon Tava
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Pōhutukawa blossoms. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

As of Friday 4th of September, due to government amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) passed in 2013, the general tree protection rules which are the only legal protection for the vast majority of trees on private ‘urban’ properties will be repealed.

General protection rules allowed Councils to nominate whole areas as protected but Penny Pirrit, Auckland Council’s General Manager of Plans & Places, says the changes to the RMA do not allow the council to re-introduce general tree protection rules:

“Through changes to the RMA over the last few years, we are unable to include any general tree protection rules on most ‘urban’ sites. Exceptions to this include notable or ‘scheduled’ trees (which are listed in the district plans), trees within reserves, any area subject to a conservation management plan or conservation management strategy, and trees within a Significant Ecological Area (SEA). These trees will continue to be protected under the Unitary Plan.”

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August 2015 Local Board Member Report

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Vernon Tava

Logo croppedPurpose

This report covers my Waitematā Local Board Activities during August 2015 as Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee; Deputy Chair of the Hearings Committee; Lead of the Parks and Open Spaces portfolio; Heritage, Urban Design and Planning portfolio holder; and, Local Board representative on the K Road Business Association.

Executive Summary

  • Feijoa Grove planting on Churchill Avenue, base of Constitution Hill on 2 August
  • Inaugural formal meeting of the Auckland Domain Committee held on 4 August
  • Alcohol Ban Review hearings held on 5 August
  • Auckland Development Committee workshop with local boards on 5 August
  • Western Park Tunamau Development Plan approved at business meeting of 11 August
  • Pioneer Women’s Centre & Ellen Melville Hall and Freyberg Square concept designs approved at business meeting of 11 August
  • The Earthquake Prone Buildings Guidance and Approaches document approved for publication at business meeting of 11 August
  • Local Dog Access Rules Review hearings held on 12 August
  • Tole Reserve playground opening ceremony on 22 August
  • Emergency building works neighbouring Symonds Street Cemetery
  • Turf Renovation at Aotea and St Patricks Squares
  • Bishop Selwyn Path in Symonds Street Cemetery renewed
  • Two new Strategic Housing Areas (SHAs) announced at 10-12 Kingdon Street, Newmarket and 99 College Hill, Ponsonby
  • Reporting of resource consent applications, planning portfolio input and decisions in the Local Board area for the month of August is at the end of this report

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The Nation Panel: 29 August 2015

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Vernon Tava

nationI appeared on a panel with Fran O’Sullivan and Deborah Morris-Travers on TV3’s The Nation.

We discussed the Serco contract at Mount Eden prison, the prospects for privatisation of public services, and the Commissioner for Childrens’ report on Child, Youth and Family.

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Paul Henry Panel: 27 August 2015

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Vernon Tava

logo-paulhenryA panel with Willie Jackson on the Paul Henry show. The Rugby World Cup liquor licensing law change. Child Youth and Family reform. Stephen Hawkings’ new theory on black holes.

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Tole Reserve Renovated Playground Opening: 22 August 2015

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Vernon Tava

This gallery contains 8 photos.

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