Mayoral Diary July 2019 - Matamata-Piako District Council
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Mayoral Diary
July 2019
Monday Regional Transport Committee meeting
1 July A full agenda covering:
2021 Government Policy Statement on Land Transport - Report to
provide information on the development of the 2021 Government Policy
Statement on Land Transport.
Regional Road Safety Monitor report - Report to update on road safety
issues and trends on regional progress towards the actions outlined in
national and regional road safety strategies.
Draft Regional Speed Management Plan (Stage 1) - Report to provide
an update on regional speed management and seek endorsement of
the draft Regional Speed Management Plan (Stage 1) for circulation to
territorial authorities, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and
key stakeholders in the region as a platform for further discussion to
accelerate speed management and implementation.
Transport Choices report. Report to update the committee on progress
towards a regional cycle network and other regional and sub-regional
cycling projects.
Transport Planning and Projects report - Report to update on current
regional transport plans and projects as at 13 June 2019.
Waikato Stock Truck Effluent Disposal Programme - Report to provide
the committee with information on the progress towards the
implementation of new stock truck effluent facilities in the Waikato
Region.
Regional Transport Issues Forum - Report to provide the committee
with an opportunity to raise and discuss regionally significant transport
issues in an open forum.
Walton Villas
Jason Dawson and his senior management team from Hamilton & Waikato
Tourism visited Villa Walton and they saw it as an opportunity to invite me
along given Council’s partnership to the Tourism network.
The Villas are very excited about a commitment to hosting international media
and travel agent famils at Villa Walton.
Given the impending cycle trial into Diane Drummond the CEO of the Hauraki
Rail Trial was also invited to catch up and discuss progress on the trail.
Citizenship Ceremony
Fifteen new citizens were welcomed into our district at a very colourful event
held in our Te Aroha Boardroom, welcome to you all!
Tuesday Opening of New World refurbishment
2 July I was invited by owners Matthew and Sheree Hart to the relaunch and ribbon
cutting of their new look New World Store in Matamata, which has undergone
a major eight month long refurbishment.
This family business contributes in a big way to our community, by financial
sponsorship, coaching and administration to sport, and involvement on
community groups such as Menz Shed and the new two-court facility working
party.
MP Tim Van der Molen, Jan and the Hart family
Meeting re business opportunity
I met with a resident to discuss a tourism proposition within the MPDC district.
Their initial feasibilities and discussions look promising. We discussed
alignment with Council's long-term plans, the objectives of the Te Aroha PGF
Tourism Feasibility Study and other planning aspects that may affect the
project.
Meeting re Te Aroha CBD
Two Te Aroha residents requested a meeting to discuss the empty shops and
other points of note within the Te Aroha main Street. We talked about the PGF
feasibility study being undertaken and how that might look for our CBD.
Waharoa School visit
I visited the primary school at Waharoa - Te Kura o Waharoa - and met with
their new principal to discuss community environment. We discussed
opportunities to partner with community and government facilities and
playground opportunities for the locals of Waharoa.
Wednesday Speech competition judging
3 July I was invited by St Joseph’s School in Morrinsville to be a guest judge at the
school’s annual speech competitions.
We were treated to an afternoon of very high quality speeches on a wide
variety of topics!
Congratulations to all the winners, we might see you around the boardroom
table in the future!!
Overall winners (left to right) Ezra Arnephy, Bailee Horan and Rita Bhandari with Mayor Jan and
past principal Denise Plummer
Morrinsville ATC
In 1979, the Morrinsville ATC 31st squadron was founded. They held a supper
at their unit HQ to commemorate the occasion. Next year they will be
recognising the 40 years with a formal celebration. I was delighted to attend
and support their founding day celebration evening.
Friday Conference call
5 July Members of the PGF Governance Groups held a call with the consultant
leading the feasibility study to discuss the proposed draft document to be used
for consultation
Volunteer youth awards
This year the awards were held at the Kaimai Cheese Cafe in Waharoa. The
VYA were honoured to host and hear from guest speaker Brad Smeele, a
former wakeboard world champ, who was left quadriplegic following an
accident while performing a wakeboarding trick. He shared his journey of
resilience and renewed passion for life.
New in 2019 was the Mayoral Wildcard award, the major award of the evening.
This was won by 15-year-old Mia Bowers from Morrinsville.
The winners of the 2019 Youth Awards were as follows:
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY - Matthew Liddle
ENTREPRENEUR AND INNOVATION - Timothy Hampton
EMPLOYEE AWARD - Sarah Billings
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT AWARD - Brodie Spearpoint
ARTS AND MUSIC - Damon Taylder
CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION - Makoha Nightingale-Pene
MAYORAL WILDCARD AWARD - Mia Bowers
Jan and some of the VYA with guest speaker Brad Smeele
Sunday 6 to LGNZ Conference – Wellington
Tuesday
7 July This year the annual conference was held in Wellington with a packed three
days of meetings, presentations and recognising excellence. We had a core
group meeting for Mayors Taskforce for Jobs on Saturday with the LGNZ
board meeting early Sunday morning. The Annual General Meeting followed
on Sunday afternoon.
Gisborne District Council topped the table of winners in the Local Government
New Zealand (LGNZ) EXCELLENCE Awards, taking home overall honours in
an outstanding field.
The EXCELLENCE Awards, now in their sixth year, recognise and celebrate
excellent performance by local councils to promote and grow the well-being of
their communities. Winners were announced at the Fulton Hogan conference
dinner and EXCELLENCE Awards function in Wellington on Monday 8 July.
Gisborne’s innovative Tupapa – Our Stand Our Story project, a bilingual,
multimedia experience which connects local culture to the local environment,
won the Fulton Hogan LOCAL EXCELLENCE Award. This project was also
highly commended in the Creative New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for
Cultural Well-being section.
Wellington City Council won two of the award categories. Its ambitious and
successful Wellington Waterfront project won the MartinJenkins
EXCELLENCE Award for Economic Wellbeing; and its popular Visa Wellington
on a Plate festival won the Creative New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for
Cultural Well-being.
Rounding out the award winners were Palmerston North City Council and
Taranaki Regional Council. Palmerston North’s Festival of Cultures won the
EXCELLENCE Award for Social Well-being; and Taranaki Regional Council
won the Air New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for Environmental Well-being
for its large-scale Riparian Management Programme.
Hurunui District Council’s Taking the Plunge – The story of HDC and the
Waiau Pool, the post-earthquake rebuild of its local pool; and Napier City
Council’s new Andersen Park Playground project were both highly
commended in the EXCELLENCE Award for Social Well-being category.
Waitaki District Council was highly commended in the MartinJenkins
EXCELLENCE Award for Economic Well-being category for H20OurHealth –
Waitaki Water for Connected Communities, its project to build a pipeline for the
supply safe and reliable drinking water.
LGNZ President Dave Cull said: “Our judges commended all the finalists in the
awards and said there were more high quality entries in the LGNZ
EXCELLENCE Awards this year than ever before.
“Overall the judges felt the strongest entries demonstrated strong leadership
and proven results over long periods of time, and particularly noted those with
a strong strategic vision and a focus on delivery. The winners and highly
commended entries are exceptional projects which are having a profound
effect on the well-being of their communities.”
LGNZ also honoured two extraordinary contributors to local government,
outgoing West Auckland councillor Penny Hulse and Opotiki Mayor John
Forbes with the Te Tari Taiwhenua Internal Affairs EXCELLENCE Award for
Outstanding Contribution to Local Government.
The EXCELLENCE Award for Outstanding Contribution to Local Government
recognises one or more individuals who have made an outstanding
contribution to local government and was awarded by LGNZ’s National
Council.
The LGNZ National Council said “both award recipients are champions for
their regions and outstanding leaders who have made a tremendous
contribution to the sector”.
The winners and finalists in the category awards for councils incorporate best
practice criteria from LGNZ’s CouncilMARKTM excellence programme, which is
designed to improve the public’s knowledge of the work councils are doing in
their communities and to support individual councils to further improve the
service and value they provide.
LGNZ EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2019
Winners
Fulton Hogan LOCAL EXCELLENCE Award: Gisborne District Council,
Tupapa – Our Stand Our Story
MartinJenkins EXCELLENCE Award for Economic Wellbeing:
Wellington City Council, Wellington Waterfront
Creative New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for Cultural Well-being:
Wellington City Council,
Wellington on a Plate festival
EXCELLENCE Award for Social Well-being: Palmerston North City
Council, Festival of Cultures
Air New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for Environmental Well-being:
Taranaki District Council, Riparian Management Programme
Highly commended
EXCELLENCE Award for Social Well-being: Hurunui District Council,
Taking the Plunge – the story of HDC and the Waiau Pool; and Napier
City Counci, new Andersen Park Playground
MartinJenkins EXCELLENCE Award for Economic Well-being: Waitaki
District Council, H20OurHealth – Waitaki Water for Connected
Communities
Individual awards
Te Tari Taiwhenua Internal Affairs EXCELLENCE Award for
Outstanding Contribution to Local Government: Penny Hulse (West
Auckland councillor); John Forbes (Opotiki Mayor)
Our delegates Mayor Jan Barnes, Councillor James Sainsbury, Deputy Mayor
James & Jane Thomas with Whakatane Councillor Russell Orr
Wednesday Council Meeting
10 July Hitting the ground running after returning from Conference, items on the
agenda included:
Parking Analysis for Matamata, Plan Change 52 – Tatua Development
Concept Plan, Herd of Cows, Waikato Plan Leadership Committee – Minutes
of meeting 20 May and the Mayoral Diary. Staff also lead workshops on:
Annual Customer Survey, Road Naming Policy – Iwi Input, Waharoa
Aerodrome Crown Land and future Council meeting dates. We also watched
an LGNZ Webinar on local government and funding and financing.
At the conclusion of the meeting and workshop I touched base with council
staff on a variety of topics.
Thursday Meetings with Councillors
11 July As part of the CEO annual performance review I meet one on one with our
elected members to discuss their views on the last 12 months on all things
council related.
Saturday Site blessing – Hinerangi Cres
13 July Even though it rained we all had warm hearts and wonderful korero with our
developers Ian Paton, Ngati Hinerangi representatives and Rex and I.
Sunday Community planting day
14 July Over the past year industry, council, individuals, iwi and others have been
working together on a project to connect the native plants and community
along the Waitoa. This project is called “Connecting the Waitoa”.
A “Connecting the Waitoa planting days” was held at the McIntyre’s family at
Ngarua Blueberries. Thank you to the family for kindly opening their place up
to host these community planting days. The first took place on 14 July with a
follow up to be held on 21 July.
It was wonderful to see a good number of volunteers there working together to
restore our native plants along the Waitoa River.
Well done Judy Tinsdall and team.
Monday Tourism meeting
15 July Rachael Singh (Council’s Events and Promotions Coordinator) and I met with
Hamilton Waikato Tourism and other vested tourist operators within our district
to discuss an idea and requests put forward by an investor in the Waikato
Region.
Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Tourism Forum
MBIE held a Tourism Forum at the Silver Fern Farms Event Centre in Te
Aroha for regional leaders and stakeholders who have a role in shaping the
future development and success of regional tourism destinations.
We discussed The New Zealand - Aotearoa Government Tourism Strategy
and Destination Management and Planning Insights and Guidance.
There was good representation from across the region.
Meeting with Te Aroha business owners
I met with Robin and Glenys who are the owners of the Te Aroha Motel to
discuss opportunities and potential in light of the provincial growth fund and the
likelihood the outlook will include increasing capacity for tourist and visitors.
Tuesday NZTA meeting
16 July I met with Ross I’Anson, Acting Director of Regional Relationships to talk about
hot spots in our district. I put him in my smart car and drove him around to
show him some of the areas of concern. Avenue Rd/SH 26 in Morrinsville and
Hinuera at Chooky’s corner were two areas we discussed. Firth St Matamata
and Te Aroha’s Coulter Bridge are on our list of priorities.Wednesday Meeting with Anaru and Hine Thompson
17 July I met with Anaru, Kingmaker who lives in our district. We discussed working
together and Ngati Haua’s priorities.
CE Review Committee meeting
The annual performance review of council’s CE was undertaken. Our
independent consultant Graeme Dick assisted council in delivering a robust
process.
Monday Provincial Growth Fund governance group meetings
22 July Work is coming along well for the two governance groups with our consultants
working closely with our group chairs and members.
A range of information on our PGF projects can be found on Council’s website
at https://www.mpdc.govt.nz/news-a-events/provincial-growth-fund
Civil Defence audit
Members of the Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management (MCDEM)
conducted an audit of our council including one on one interviews with regards
to Civil Defence. Their findings will be reported back to council in the future.
Tuesday Presentation
23 July A local chef at one of our restaurants’ in our district recently achieved her
chef’s qualification. I presented the papers to Karli at her team meeting at
Redoubt in Matamata. Congratulations Karli on your hard work!
I was impressed with Kelly and Jacobs’s team building meeting and how they
are getting the best out of their staff. Well done on your incentivising. We are
proud of the Redoubt both in Matamata and Morrinsville.
Presenting Karli with her papers
Council Exec team meeting
I met with CEO Don McLeod and his executive team to be updated on projects
and topics of note around the district.
Always gives me confidence to have these in depth meetings with our
executive.Thursday Corporate and Operations meeting
24 July The agenda items for this meeting included discussion around:
Tourism infrastructure funding proposal for Wairere falls toilets, request for
special assessment – B&B on Tower Road Matamata, Sanitary Services
Assessment of Public Toilets and Cemeteries, Sensitive Expenditure Policy,
Health and Safety Report – June 2019, Smokefree Outdoor policy, Sport
Waikato Quarterly Report, CCO Monitoring – WRAL – final statement of intent
CEO Report and then moving into a workshop on Own your own property
Meeting with Civil Defence Emergency Management Auditors
An audit of all councils throughout the Waikato region is being conducted.
Auditors from the Ministry of Civil Defence emergency Management (MCDM)
and an independent auditor talked to staff, executive and elected members
with regard to Civil Defence
Meeting with Graham Shortland at Wallace Gallery
I met with Graham to wish him well on his retirement and to thank him for his
dedication and support of all things for Morrinsville and the Matamata-Piako
District. Graham you have been a great ambassador.
Herd of Cows? Unveiling of new art
Eight new bovine beauties joined the herd at an unveiling at Wallace Gallery in
Morrinsville. There is one more cow to be unveiled making a total of 60!
The newest additions are:
Tour to Cow sponsored by Kaimai Cyclists and Morrinsville Wheelers
Fontessa sponsored by Fonterra
Like No Udder sponsored by Chapman Dairy and Don Chapman Waikato
Buildette sponsored by Placemakers
Moo...ney Cow sponsored by Christian and Rose Boubee
Lydia Kow sponsored by Morrinsville Golf Club
Emoogency Paramedic Cow sponsored by St Johns Ambulance
Officer Winston Knighton, Mayor Jan and officer Lyall Randell representing the Morrinsville
Police and their new cow
Thursday Volunteer Youth Ambassadors (VYA)
25 July Our VYA group held a meeting and debrief from the awards night to discuss
what went well and to note what could be done differently going forward. The
awards night was a great success and I thanked all those involved for their
time and effort.
Waharoa Aerodrome Meeting
Items on this meeting held at the Matamata-Piako Civic and Memorial Centre
were: Waharoa Aerodrome – Adjoining Crown Land, Waharoa (Matamata)
Aerodrome Reserve Management Plan, Provincial Growth Update – with
Consultant Martin Butler in attendance, 2019 Local Election Matters, DistrictPlan update, Annual Plan and Associated Documents update, Marae Entrance
way and Parking and workshops on the Provincial Growth Fund and funding
with Mary Wilson.
Meeting for new proposal.
I met with Mariana (ex Wintec) and Kim Linklater (Wintec) to discuss a way
forward with our polytech and future opportunities for Morrinsville in a hub type
environment.
Friday Meeting with NZ Police
26 July Rod Carpinter is back within our district after being seconded to Hamilton on
specialist projects. Rod is an invaluable resource for our district and I am
pleased to be working with him again for the betterment of our communites.
Tom Grant Drive AGM
The Annual General Meeting was held at Railside by the Green. Well done to
Bruce and Di Romley for an excellent year’s work. Thank you to MPDC staff
member Bryan Turner for working so well in partnership with our community
groups.
Chris Smith – Neighbourhood Support Waikato
Chris has been active around the district holding public meetings with a view of
establishing neighbourhood support in our various towns. A group has been
formed in Te Aroha and he is working to get one running in Matamata.
Chris and I met where he outlined his progress to date and future plans.
Site visit
I met marae representatives on site at Waharoa along with council staff and a
draughtsman to discuss plans for the marae entrance way.
The complete plan must be done for the whole of the marae before funding
can be granted for the entrance.
We will continue to work with Ngati Haua to help progress safety issues at their
entrance.You can also read
