Committee supports Māori names across Tāmaki Makaurau

Committee supports Māori names across Tāmaki Makaurau

The Environment and Community Committee today endorsed the Māori naming of parks and places across Tāmaki Makaurau.

This initiative forms part of the wider Te Kete Rukuruku programme, which involves the collection and telling of unique stories of Tāmaki Makaurau.

“It is fitting that during Te Wiki o te reo Māori, we have confirmed our commitment to increase the visibility and use of te reo across the Auckland region, by identifying new Māori names and their stories to be added to some of our parks and places,” says Environment and Community Committee Chair Councillor Penny Hulse.

The programme is a partnership between Auckland Council and the 19 mana whenua of Tāmaki Makaurau, and responds to feedback from mana whenua about the current naming practices, and to the Auckland Council Māori language policy adopted in 2016.

“We are honoured to be working with mana whenua to showcase these names and learn more about our rich Māori history; some of which have been long lost over many years, says Councillor Hulse.

“Currently, only nine per cent of Auckland Council parks and places have Māori names, and this programme aims to significantly increase that and provides a platform to reclaim and celebrate our Māori identity.”

The scope of the Māori naming programme is the naming, renaming or dual naming of parks and places throughout Tāmaki Makaurau. It recognises the rich layer of existing Māori names that can be reclaimed or contemporary names selected.

“This programme will enable Māori to see and hear their language being used in their community, and provides an opportunity for all Aucklanders, and particularly our tamariki, to learn te reo, Māori history and values that are relevant to places throughout Tāmaki Makaurau," she says.

Cr Hulse recognised the leadership of local boards already on this journey, with 11 local boards currently participating in the programme. Those that have not joined will have the opportunity to consider this again in 2019. The 11 participating local boards are: Manurewa, Albert-Eden, Puketāpapa, Whau, Henderson-Massey, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Hibiscus and Bays, Kaipātiki, Papakura and Waitākere Ranges.

The committee also endorsed, in principle, the inclusion of regional parks and cemeteries to Te Kete Rukuruku programme, and a proposed implementation plan will be presented in the second half of 2019.

The following is a digest of decisions made. The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting was also webcast on the council’s website and items are available on demand.

Other items presented at the meeting:

Item 9: Submission on proposed phase out of plastic shopping bags

The government is currently consulting on the proposed mandatory phase-out of single-use plastic shopping bags.

Today, the committee endorsed the Auckland Council’s submission, and appointed Councillor Penny Hulse to speak to the submission if the opportunity presents itself.

Key points of the submission include:

• That Auckland Council supports option one in the consultation document – a total and mandatory ban. The inappropriate consumption use and discarding of plastic bags has significant impacts on Auckland’s natural environment and our waste collection systems.
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• The ban should apply to all retailers who distribute single-use plastic bags, rather than just the larger retailers. An incomplete ban will dilute the effectiveness of this behaviour change intervention on consumers.
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• Support for the current proposed definition that a single use plastic bag is one that includes handles, and is sold or distributed for the purposes of carrying sold goods
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• Support for the proposed six-month phase-out timeframe.
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Read more on OurAuckland.

Item 10: Proposal to expand and broaden the regional Mobile Library

Access Service

The committee approved the expansion of the regional Mobile Library and Access Service.

Since amalgamation, the Mobile Library Access Service has largely remained unchanged, is underutilised and delivers less impact than it should.

The expansion programme is designed to have a more positive impact on a greater number of Aucklanders who need it most and / or have challenges accessing the Auckland Libraries’ service. There will also be a focus on quality over frequency.

Key changes to the service include:

• Increase to a team of 11 staff, operating 5 vehicles (up from a team of 4, operating 4 vehicles)
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• Operating 7 days a week, with the aim to reach more Aucklanders ‘when and where they are’, including at more local and regional events.
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• Special focus on children and young people, older Aucklanders and isolated communities (both socially isolated and geographically isolated)
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o Reducing / eliminating poorly supported urban residential stops
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o Providing greater levels of service to older Aucklanders at rest homes, pensioner housing, retirement villages and the like
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• Better reflect a modern library service with increased digital capability and additional staffing to allow for the delivery of impactful programmes, rather than being ‘book delivery vehicles’.
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• Introduction of Te Reo speaking Māori Mobile librarian, a Rural Librarian to support volunteers, and a Housebound Access Co-ordinator to recruit and manager volunteers to help provide access to those customers unable to leave home.
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A transition to the new service is proposed to begin on 1 October 2018 and adopted in full upon the delivery of the second new vehicle which is likely to be mid-November 2018.

Item 11: Reserve Revocation Report - Properties Cleared for Disposal

The committee agreed to submit a request to the Minister of Conservation to uplift the reserve status of the following properties, that have been cleared for disposal:

• Adj 155 Bombay Road, Bombay is a local purpose reserve of approximately 465 sq m. It was cleared for disposal by the Finance and Performance Committee on 24 October 2017 (FIN/2017/145).
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• 22R Clyde Road, Ōtara is an irregular-shaped vacant section of approximately 328 sq m. It was cleared for sale by the Finance and Performance Committee on 17 April 2018 (FIN/2018/60).
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• 66R Hallberry Road, Māngere is a rectangular vacant section of approximately 551 sq m. It was cleared for sale by the Finance and Performance Committee on 17 April 2018 (FIN/2018/60).
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• 9 Matama Road, Glen Eden is a narrow strip of approximately 80 sq m. It was cleared for sale by the Finance and Performance Committee on 12 December 2017 (FIN/2017/204).
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Item 12: ICLEI conference - Cr Wayne Walker

Councillor Wayne Walker presented to the committee on his recent trip to Montreal for the International Council for Local Environment Issues conference.

Item 14: Land acquisition for St Mary's Bay and Masefield Beach improvement project

The committee was provided with an update on the St Mary’s Bay and Masefield Beach water quality improvement project.

The project is transformative, and the first to be delivered under the Western Isthmus Water Quality Improvement Programme, funded from the new water quality improvement targeted rate.

The project will significantly reduce wastewater contamination of these beaches and replace existing aged and failed assets. It will result in increased outcomes for both public health and public amenity, and is a step towards restoring the mauri of the harbour.

It will reduce the number of typical annual overflow events in Masefield Beach from 107 to 0, and in St Mary’s Bay from 99 to two.

Auckland Council has lodged a notified construction resource consent, which is supported by mana whenua.

A hearings process will begin on 18 September, with a decision expected by mid-October. Community consultation has been thorough, and is ongoing, to resolve concerns.

Construction is due to start early 2019, with completion in late 2020. The land acquisition for this project was discussed in the confidential section of this meeting.

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