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HARATUA MAY 2019 / ISSUE 91
NORTH SHORE
NATURAL GROWTH
A CLOSER CONNECTION TO NATURE IS GOOD FOR THE HEAD, GOOD FOR THE
HEART AND GOOD FOR THE LUNGS. SO WHAT ROLE DOES GREEN SPACE PLAY
IN MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING? HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO
PROTECT IT? AND WHAT’S BEING DONE TO CREATE MORE OF IT?
T
EN
EV
EE
FR
OurAuckland.nz
TO TATOU TAMAKI MAKAURAU
CONTENTS
04 18-22
MAYOR’S LETTER HUMAN NATURE CONTACT US
All aboard Why a closer connection to
nature is good for our heads, Auckland Council
06 hearts and lungs aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
THE BRIEFING 09 301 0101 (24/7)
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/
Information and inspiration contactus
from Council HQ Auckland Council, Private
Bag 92300, Auckland 1142
08-09 facebook.com/aklcouncil
IN YOUR twitter.com/aklcouncil
NEIGHBOURHOOD About OurAuckland
What’s hot and happening OurAuckland keeps you
in your area up to date with council
services, projects and
events and helps to fulfil
our legislative obligations to
keep Aucklanders informed.
We conduct regular research
to ensure OurAuckland is an
efficient way of doing this.
Te reo Māori
We’re proud to use te reo
14 Māori in OurAuckland. If
GREEN MACHINES you come across a word you
How technology is don’t know, you can learn
what it means at
helping us do important maoridictionary.co.nz
environmental work
OurAuckland
ourauckland@
16-17 aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
BIRDS AND THE BEES ourauckland.nz
How to embrace the green Subscribe to OurAuckland
10-11 space in your backyard e-newsletter at
CULTURE CLUB 24-28 ourauckland.nz/enews
A photographic tribute to WHAT’S ON Disclaimer
Auckland’s multiculturalism Festivals, shows, sport, free OurAuckland includes paid
events and more advertising, in addition to
12 Auckland Council editorial
content. While Auckland
THE BEAT GOES ON 30 Council appreciates the
Mark Roach on Auckland’s SEE HERE NOW support of advertisers in
designation as a Unesco Great shots of Auckland’s helping to pay for production
City of Music greenest spots of OurAuckland, the
inclusion of any specific
advertisement is not an
official endorsement or
NEED TO KNOW engineering firm Mott
MacDonald to turn the
Building smokefree
communities
recommendation of that
advertiser’s products or
Taking Safeswim council’s Safeswim water- In April, Auckland Council services by Auckland Council.
to the world quality monitoring system approved ‘Auahi Kore Published by Bauer Media in
Auckland Council has into a multimillion-dollar Hapori Whānui – Action for
PHOTOS: SHANE AVERY, MICHAEL ROOKE
partnership with Auckland
entered a partnership with global product. Smokefree Communities’ to Council. For advertising
develop an evidence-based, enquiries email advertising@
bauermedia.co.nz.
targeted approach to help Printed by Webstar using
high-priority communities sustainably sourced paper.
become smokefree, as
outlined in its Smokefree
Policy and Implementation
Plan approved in 2017.
3 HARATUA MAY 2019
BY THE
NUMBERS
$1.4 billion
The amount Auckland Council
has invested in acquiring and
developing public open spaces
and parks
13,272
The number of dwellings
consented in the region in the year
ending January. That month, 46
per cent of consents were houses
and 30 per cent were apartments
MAYOR'S PHOTO: JOE HOCKLEY; TREES / BRIAN LOWE; NUMBER SOURCES: AUCKLAND COUNCIL RESEARCH AND EVALUATION UNIT (RIMU) AND CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE, AUCKLAND TRANSPORT, ATEED
59.1 million
The kilometres travelled per year
by all buses in Auckland after
implementation of the New
Network, up from 44.6 million.
That’s the equivalent of
154 trips to the moon
All aboard
Over the past year, we have seen more eastern communities to education
of the positive results that investment and employment opportunities and
in our public transport network brings, helping to unlock the economic
with a record 98 million passenger potential of east Auckland. It will
trips. Each additional trip on public allow people to travel from Botany
transport means one less car adding to to Britomart in 40 minutes, cutting a
congestion on our roads. third off travel time.
Bus rapid transit patronage is up Work on the project has been
23 per cent in the past 12 months accelerated thanks to Aucklanders’
and rail patronage hit 21 million contribution through the Regional Fuel
trips in the year to March. More than Tax, which will enable around $743
5.3 million trips are taken along the million of the total cost and allow us
Northern Busway every year and it to bring forward construction times.
continues to see double-digit growth For too long, Auckland’s transport 30%
year on year. system had to accommodate growth The targeted canopy cover in the
In April, we kicked off work on a without the additional investment city under the council’s Urban
development that will be similarly needed to support it. With extra Ngahere (Forest) Strategy.
transformational for Auckland. The investment now available, the It currently sits at 18 per cent
$1.4 billion Eastern Busway project will transport projects we need are finally
deliver a dedicated, congestion-free under way.
busway between Panmure, Pakuranga 7.4 million
and Botany town centres, connecting Phil Goff, Mayor of Auckland The number of tourist guest nights
in Auckland in the year to January,
up from just over
GET CONNECTED WITH five million in 2007
OURAUCKLAND.NZ $55 million
Discover more at ourauckland.nz Cost of the new trade training
school to be built at Manukau
Get weekly updates on news and events Institute of Technology, facilitated
across Auckland at ourauckland.nz/enews by Panuku Auckland Development
Follow us on social media as part of its Manukau
regeneration programme
@aklcouncil
4 TE RETA A TE KOROMATUA / MAYOR'S LETTER
HEY, GOOD
LOOKING
At Phantom Billstickers we’re suckers for a gorgeous campaign. The team at No Ugly certainly
came up with the goods. First, they created a range of delicious wellness tonics. Then they
asked Phantom to craft a schedule that placed their clean, classy posters in the path of
consumers. No Ugly boss Aaron Taylor says Phantom provided a smart way to boost sales
around stockists in Auckland and Wellington while building the brand’s credibility. “Street
posters are part of the social fabric,” is the way he puts it. If you’ve got a brand that would look
good on posters, Phantom has over 6,500 frames nationwide to choose from.
That should ensure a beautiful outcome.
FLORA FOR THE CONCRETE JUNGLE
0800PHANTOM.CO.NZ
OurAuckland.nz
TO TATOU TAMAKI MAKAURAU
THE BRIEFING
INFORMATION AND INSPIRATION FROM AUCKLAND COUNCIL HQ
STAYING
SAFE
The road toll last year
– 382 – was the worst
since 2009. And 2019 is
shaping up to be as bad,
with 26 people dying in
seven days in early April.
Road Safety Week
2019, which takes place
between 6-12 May, aims
to draw attention to the
carnage on our roads
and find ways to reduce
fatalities and injuries.
The theme of the
project, which coincides
with the United Nations’
IN WITH THE NEW Global Road Safety
Week, is ‘leadership for
road safety’. Organised
Over the past three years, destinations such as Following the network's by the Brake charity,
Auckland Transport has Wellsford and Hibiscus implementation, 551,000 it's an opportunity to
redesigned the public Coast. More frequent Aucklanders now live promote a road safety
transport network across all-day services mean you within 500m of a frequent campaign in your town,
all of Auckland to make can just “turn up and go” public transport stop, up company, club,
it simpler, cheaper, rather than having to plan from 215,500 before, and school or kindy.
more frequent and more your trip, and with zone in March, 10 million trips Sixty-four
accessible. And the New fares it’s often cheaper to were made on buses, trains people
Network is now live, so if get around. and ferries in the region, died in
it’s been a while since you The New Network is the highest number since crashes on
took a ride, check out the one of the key elements the 1950s. Auckland’s
changes. in achieving Auckland Visit AT.govt.nz/ roads in
You can now travel Council’s targets for public newnetwork to find out 2017 (44
by public transport transport, which include how you can make the per cent of
from Warkworth to Port doubling patronage from most of the biggest change them were
Waikato – a journey of 70 million in 2012 to 140 to public transport in the speed related).
147km – and access new million in 2022. city’s history. That’s a 78 per cent
increase since 2014.
A further 749 were
FOR THE GREATER GOOD seriously injured.
Auckland Transport is
We’ve made changes to the around fireworks, fires, working in partnership
Auckland Council Public fences and set netting; with national agencies
Safety and Nuisance Bylaw leaving or storing items in to improve road safety in
2013 and they will take public places; and nuisance the region and its Road
effect on 1 October. or unsafe behaviours. Safety 2018/28 strategy
The changes will You can read the bylaw includes spending
help to protect people and obtain copies online on a range of safety
from nuisance or unsafe at aucklandcouncil.govt. engineering projects at
behaviours and activities in nz/bylaws or at libraries high-risk locations and
MAIN PHOTO / JAY FARNWORTH
public places. or council service centres areas. It is also running
The bylaw is wide- (printing charges may behaviour-change
ranging and the changes apply). campaigns and proposing
deal with many issues, If you have concerns speed restrictions to
including using a drone; about nuisance or safety reduce road deaths and
activities in a park or civic issues in public places, serious injuries.
space or on a beach; rules phone us on 09 301 0101.
6 KAWENGA KŌRERO / NEWS
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LOCAL NEWS / NORTH SHORE
PARK IMPROVEMENTS, DOG RULES, ELECTRIC-VEHICLE CHARGING, AND BIG UPGRADE FOR BUSINESS PRECINCT
IN YOUR
NEIGHBOURHOOD
USE / EV CHARGERS EXPLORE / AUCKLAND
Two electric-vehicle PATHS (ABOVE)
chargers were installed at Looking for somewhere
Devonport Wharf car park close to home to take a
in March and are free to use stroll, run or cycle? Check
for a 12-month trial period. out the Akl Paths digital
Part of a ‘Smart City’ trial platform, which allows you
Auckland Transport is to discover more than 200
running in Devonport, the paths across the region,
chargers are available 24 including the North Shore.
hours a day. First-time users PLAY / TAMAHERE RESERVE The easy online tool lets
will need to register for a A new playground has been built within Windy Ridge’s you choose a path that
free EV charge card first. Tamahere Reserve. It features a play module suitable for suits the activity you want
Go to at.govt.nz/evchargers older children, as well as slides, a basket-swing, a see-saw, to do. Go to aklpaths.co.nz
for all you need to know. natural play elements and seating for parents. and start exploring.
COMMENT / DOG RULES
The council is aiming to
MAIN PHOTO AND DOG RULES / JAY FARNWORTH
make its dog policy and
dog management bylaw
more customer friendly
by reducing duplication
and introducing more
consistency throughout the
region. Consultation on the
proposals is open until 10
May. Visit aucklandcouncil.
govt.nz/haveyoursay to
share your feedback.
8 KAWENGA KŌRERO Ā-ROHE / LOCAL NEWS
OurAuckland.nz
TO TATOU TAMAKI MAKAURAU
FOR MO
OF YOUR LORCE
TIME TO SHINE OUR
NEWS VISITAL
AUCKLAND.N
Z
TAKAPUNA SET TO BECOME AN EVEN MORE ENTICING RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION
Work to upgrade Takapuna’s to transform Takapuna and five-storey car-park lost with the Anzac Street
Hurstmere Road into into a more attractive, building at the intersection development.
a more vibrant retail accessible and modern of Huron, Northcroft and Devonport-Takapuna
destination is set to get beachside destination,” Auburn streets. Local Board Chair George
under way shortly. says North Shore Ward As well, land made Wood says the local board
A final design concept Councillor Richard Hills. vacant by the recent will work to ensure the new
has been confirmed “One of my favourite parts demolition of a building public space meets the
following consultation of the project involves at 38 Hurstmere Road will needs of its community.
with local stakeholders. the installation of rain form part of the future “It’s important that we have
It features a layout with gardens. These will stop town square within the suitable space in Takapuna
a greater focus on people contaminated stormwater Anzac Street car park for local events, including
and pedestrians, including from the road reaching the area, helping to improve the markets,” he says.
provision of more space for beach.” the connection between Learn more about
outdoor dining and events. The other projects under Hurstmere Green and Takapuna’s town square
“This much-needed way to improve Takapuna Lake Road, while the new and car-park building
upgrade is one of a number include the development car-park facility will help projects at panuku.co.nz/
of projects under way of a new town square to replace parking spaces takapuna.
NORTH SHORE WARD
IN FULL SWING WARD COUNCILLORS
Several park-improvement projects are poised to get under way across Chris Darby
Kaipātiki. chris.darby@
Lysander Reserve: The new design will make better use of park space aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
and provide a more attractive and functional play area. Key elements 021 284 2888
include new paths, basketball quarter court, taniwha climber module,
shade sail, basket swing, landscaping, drinking fountain, picnic table and Richard Hills
a new wall and fencing. Works are expected to start this month and be richard.hills@
completed in late June. aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Mānuka Reserve: Work to build a new playground is set to start this 021 286 4411
month. New play elements will include a playhouse, climbing module,
birds-nest swing, slides, double-swing and honeycomb springer. The old
basketball court will be replaced with a new 3x3 half-court. The park DEVONPORT-TAKAPUNA
LOCAL BOARD
will also receive new picnic tables and seating, along with new paths,
landscaping and improved shade provision. Work is expected to be George Wood (Chair)
completed in late August. george.wood@
Beach Haven: Improvements within the reserve land surrounding the aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
09 486 8695
beach are well under way. These include the restoration and repurposing
of Frank Larking’s rowboat into an interactive play feature for children,
new beach furniture, signage, lookout platform and paths. Kaipātiki KAIPĀTIKI LOCAL BOARD
Local Board is also engaged in consultations on plans to repair and John Gillon (Chair)
improve the beach’s recreational wharf. john.gillon@
Shepherds Park: Shade sails, similar to those installed at Inwards aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Reserve and Little Shoal Bay, have been confirmed for Shepherds Park 09 484 8383
playground in Beach Haven. Installation will take place in June.
HARATUA MAY 2019 9
CULTURE 2. MAX BU, MR MASK
Tell us a little bit about your
performance. In China’s traditional
opera, people have different
CLUB
emotions, from sad to happy, so
the mask has different colours. We
show this change of emotion fast
by changing the mask.
How do you celebrate your
Auckland is one of the most diverse cities in the culture in New Zealand?
I will still continue to use the face-
world. And the Auckland International Cultural changing mask, but maybe I will
Festival sees many of the city's ethnic groups make a new mask that could have a
carving on it.
come together in literal harmony. This year’s Do you enjoy living in Auckland?
event, which featured representatives from 56 Of course. New Zealand’s all
combined. I don’t worry about a
countries, took place on 7 April, and following lot of things because people are
the Christchurch mosque attacks, it had added so friendly. There are people with
symbolism as a tangible example of Auckland’s different backgrounds and cultures,
and I have learned a lot living in
commitment to multiculturalism. Here’s what New Zealand.
some of the performers and stallholders had to
say about their own cultures and what they love 2
most about living in Auckland.
1. JESSIE TULISI,
1
SAU E SIVA POLYNESIAN
DANCE GROUP
Tell us a little bit about your
background and your culture.
I’m Niuean-Tongan. I don’t know
much about my Samoan side,
so my Samoan aunty got me
onboard [with the group] and
helped me with my passion
for dance.
How do you celebrate your
culture in Auckland?
Through dance, and spending
time with my family.
5. JEZANA RAWIRI, 6. DIANA PRIETO,
SAMĀORI COFFEE 5 COLOMBIAN DANCE GROUP
Tell us a little bit about your Tell us a little bit about your
background and your culture. background and your culture.
I’m a cross of Samoan and Māori. I was a dancer in Colombia for about
We combined the two and made it 20 years. We have a very happy and
Samāori so that we could embrace hardworking culture, and a lot of
both our cultures at the same time. parties. Every region has a different
How do you celebrate your culture rhythm. That’s why we have different
in Auckland? I do kapa haka costumes. It’s a mix between Spanish
and involve myself in the different and African descendants.
cultural worlds, just like what we do How did you get the group started?
at the Auckland International It was always my dream to have
Cultural Festival. a dance group when I moved to
What do you love about living Auckland. I missed this part of my
in Auckland? I like the different life, and through the group I have met
cultural feels, and how they can all these beautiful people from other
be together in one place. countries in South America.
10 NGĀ IWI / PEOPLEOurAuckland.nz
TO TATOU TAMAKI MAKAURAU
3 4
4. SILVIA GOMEZ-PINEDA,
NANITAS COCINA MEXICANA
Tell us a little bit about your
background and your culture.
My culture is very pre-Hispanic and
indigenous. I mix with the Spanish
but I want to bring more about
3. ALFDANIELS MABINGO, DOMINION ROAD MUSICAL the indigenous Mexican culture,
Tell us a little bit about your background and your culture. I come from the before the Spaniards conquered
Baganda people of central Uganda. That’s the largest tribe in my country. It’s my country. I’m very proud of
known for agriculture and we live by the shores of Lake Victoria, which is the my ethnicity and to show that, I
second-largest freshwater lake in the world. make genuine, handmade food,
How do you celebrate your culture and heritage? I play music. Every time I get like tortillas, steamed tamales and
an opportunity, I get friends together and share the music and dance traditions. empanadas, and lots and lots of
That’s what’s so great about the cultural festival – different cultures coming tacos – pulled-pork tacos, steak
together and creating one place to make music and more. tacos, vegan tacos, vegetarian tacos
What do you love about living in Auckland? I love the fact Auckland is diverse … I want to show and to share the
and there are pockets where that diversity crosses over. That makes it a unique knowledge about my food with
city and, so, a place I call home. Hopefully I will call it home for some good time. New Zealanders.
6 7. OLIVER BRAMAH, ETHNO NZ
Tell us a little bit about your 7
performance, your background,
and your culture. I’m an English
New Zealander. Ethno New Zealand
is a group with songs from all over
the world. People teach each other
different tunes and different parts of
their culture, then we perform those
for everyone else.
PHOTOS / MICHAEL ROOKE
What do you love about living in
Auckland? I really like the fact that
there is a wide range of cultures
around the place and that they are
able to really show their culture.
Events like the Auckland International
Cultural Festival are great because
those cultures are celebrated.
HARATUA MAY 2019 11The beat
goes on
“Music is the most democratic of the
art forms,” says Mark Roach, Recorded
Music NZ’s special projects manager.
“It underpins absolutely everything.
Everyone’s got a piece of music they
love in them somewhere – even
the most hardened heart.” And we 1
celebrate it in Auckland all year round
with our diverse and lively music
scene. This uniqueness and vibrancy
was recognised internationally in
November 2017 when Auckland was
designated a Unesco City of Music. So,
with New Zealand Music Month taking
place in May, we talk to Roach about
why it was selected, what it means to
Aucklanders, and how music can make 3
our region more liveable.
1. Laneway Festival
OurAuckland: Tell us what it means 2 2. Mark Roach
to be a Unesco City of Music. 3. Matariki Festival: Te Korakora on Federal
Mark Roach: Unesco Creative Cities is
a global network that started in 2004
and has grown to 180 cities in seven with other cities, and send more music OA Do you see Māori music
different fields. Dunedin, for example, out into the world. Locally, there’s a spreading internationally?
is a City of Literature. The concept is lot of work to be done, particularly MR The global networking of Māori
to make cities more liveable, and you around grassroots venues – making music is an action we’re going to
do that through culture. This music them more accessible, for example. develop. I’d love to get collaborations
designation [31 cities have it] gives going, putting Māori music together
Auckland a vehicle to get everyone OA What will you be doing to with a brass band in Belgium, for
around the table – council, music ensure these goals are met? example, just to see what happens.
organisations and others – to talk MR There are four action areas: a I know from my travels Māori music
about what we can achieve together. live music taskforce, the economic is our calling card. Acts like Moana
MAIN PHOTO / TODD EYRE PHOTOGRAPHY LTD MARK ROACH / RAYMOND SAGAPOLUTELE
evaluation of the sector, promotional Maniapoto were a huge success. Te reo
OA Why does Auckland have such a marketing – which will include projects is just so unique; it really separates us
strong music sector? like a video series of Aucklanders telling from the rest of the world.
MR Partly, it’s heritage. The industry us what music means to them – and
has coalesced here and has had a really the heritage development, like music OA How would you describe the
strong pathway – from the ’50s, when trails and music tours of the city. music scene in Auckland?
Bill Sevesi was doing gigs in the Orange MR It’s really vibrant and diverse.
Ballroom, through to reggae in the ’80s OA What’s the benefit of being There’s this amazing new generation
and the hip-hop explosion in the ’90s. a City of Music to the average of musicians coming through who just
We’ve had these powerful movements, Aucklander? blow you away, like Missy, Lexxa and
and every generation stands on the MR It will give the public far more Miss June. When I started in music, I
shoulders of that heritage. awareness of how powerful Auckland felt like I was just groping around in
actually is in this space. Day to day, I the dark. A lot of musicians these days
OA What are the main strategy would hope there are more gigs to see. seem to come out fully formed.
goals of this designation? We’re looking at how we can put more
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
MR The strategy has two parts: local music into public spaces. And it should
AUCKLANDCITYOFMUSIC.NZ AND CHECK
and international. Internationally, hopefully provide a breeding ground OUT THE ‘MADE IN AUCKLAND’ PLAYLIST
we are looking mainly at how we can for the next generation to make music ON SPOTIFY TO HEAR A SELECTION OF
strengthen our global networks, talk their careers. CITY SOUNDS.
12 NGĀ IWI / PEOPLECELEBRATE HOMEGROWN TALENT WITH FOUR GIGS IN AUCKLAND MUSEUM’S STUNNING GRAND FOYER WED 1 MAY Finn Andrews & Reb Fountain MON 6 MAY Mara TK & Hollie Smith MON 13 MAY Holly Arrowsmith & Alae MON 20 MAY Warren Maxwell 6.30PM FREE, bookings essential aucklandmuseum.com
Matt Montgomery says the council is
spearheading new green technology
natural environment,” he says.
Other council initiatives aimed at
using tech-assisted data collection
to improve Auckland’s environment
include the Bio Tree App, which
allows council officers to record
information about the location and
condition of important trees around
the region using their phones, and the
internationally acclaimed Safeswim
programme, which uses sensors to
assess water quality across Auckland.
Tech also plays an important role in
automating physical, time-consuming
environmental work, Montgomery
says. He cites a system the council is
developing for the pest traps it sets
in remote areas across Auckland. The
system alerts the council when traps
have been sprung.
“It takes us a lot of time to check
those traps and we have a limited
amount of time before animals start
Green machines
to unnecessarily suffer,” he says. “This
will allow us to cover much greater
areas and do more trapping because
we go only to those traps that we
Some of Auckland’s most important environmental work is being know have animals in them.”
guided by technology. Hayden Donnell looks at how it is helping to Montgomery says the council can
make the region’s sustainability initiatives more effective and efficient. also play a role in spearheading new
green technology. For example, all of
the results and data from the Farms
About two weeks ago, an unusual “Technology allows us to do more and Food for the Future programme
collection of people gathered in a with less and to be better informed will be made available to private-
modern office at Wynyard Quarter with what we’re doing; to monitor sector farms across the region.
on Auckland’s waterfront. There were better and make sure that the “Farmers’ livelihoods are directly
10 farmers, 20 agriculture-industry interventions we’re taking are the dependent on the productivity of the
professionals, 20 sustainability right interventions, and that we’re farm. We’re lucky in that we can take
specialists, 10 academics and 10 doing it in the most cost-effective a bit of risk that others can’t.”
people from the tech industry. They’d way possible.” The promise of new technology
been brought together to brainstorm The scheme devised by the is exciting, and it will make future
at Auckland Council’s innovation hub, 70-strong group at Wynyard Quarter sustainability initiatives easier. But
Hatchbox. Their purpose: to develop went into effect in Auckland recently. he warns against the temptation to
a scheme to transform farming in the Dubbed Farms and Food for the view it through a utopian lens. In the
region through the use of technology. Future, it has seen the council install end, it can only inform us, and make
When people think of government large numbers of sensors in its working some tasks easier. We still have to do
and community efforts to improve farms, monitoring everything from soil the real work of saving the world and
the environment, some form of quality to cow growth. making our city a better place, he says.
physical labour often springs to Montgomery says the sensors will “Technology won’t save us. It is us
mind. It could be tree planting, help the council to create a “digital who will save us. But technology can
pest trapping or rubbish collection. twin” of the farms, which it will use be an enabler. We have to integrate
But Auckland Council’s Head of to measure the effects of different technology into what we do.”
Innovation, Matt Montgomery, farming practices in precise and
REBEKAH ROBINSON
says technological solutions, often granular detail. MATT MONTGOMERY WILL JOIN SPEAKERS
designed in collaboration with other “It’s figuring out how we manage IN THE 2019 INNOVATION SHOWCASE ON 20
MAY, PART OF THE TRIPARTITE ECONOMIC
organisations, are an increasingly the farm as a holistic system so that ALLIANCE MEETING BETWEEN AUCKLAND,
important part of the council’s efforts we can balance it being a green space, LOS ANGELES AND GUANGZHOU, AND OF
to preserve the city’s environment. a productive farm and a key part of the TECHWEEK19 (20-26 MAY).
14 NGĀ IWI / PEOPLESPONSORED CONTENT
was astounding – employees and HR
loved it,” Linnell says. “Within the
first three months of operation, we’d
raised more than $3000 for local
charities.” She is now expanding Park
Angel to include companies in high-
density areas and cities with the goal
of raising $250,000 for charities over
the next 12 months.
With well-being on the top of
the political agenda this year, this is
the perfect time for companies to
take steps to look after their staff.
In Auckland alone, nearly 400,000
workers commute without access to
a company car park. More companies
are offering flexible working hours,
putting demand for flexible car
parking in big cities at an all-time
high.
The Park Angel service is easy to
use. Companies simply register their
details online, select the charities
they would like to support and set a
fee that staff are charged for using
Park Angel helps the spare park. They also need to
upload a car-park map, which Park
Angel can create if there isn’t one.
fill empty spaces,
The company is then issued with
a login to give to staff. Employees
who have a car park can go online
to record their absence, and those
and charity coffers looking for a car park can search the
system to see if there are any spaces
available.
Once car and park make that
A prize-winning web-based service is enabling employers happy connection, the driver can go
to make best use of staff car parks and, at the same time, to the secure payment gateway and
raise money for worthy causes. choose the charity they would like
to support. The service is aligned
with five charities: CureKids, New
While more and more people are car-parking solution that enables Zealand Hospice, the SPCA, The
using public transport in Auckland, companies to help their staff. Using Hunger Project and Voice of Hope,
many still need to take a car to work, the internet, staff can book their but companies can also nominate five
whether it’s for visiting clients or company’s unused car parks, and they charities of their own.
racing to childcare or school pick- donate a small fee to a charity of Only staff with an email address
ups. But only a few have access to a their choice for the convenience. linked to the company can access
company car park. Those who don’t Businesses get the advantage of the secure web portal, so there are
are often faced with high prices at making the lives of their staff easier no issues with security or strangers
parking buildings or a long walk to and helping a worthy cause. There’s roaming the car park.
the office. also the drawcard of an increase in Park Angel’s inspired concept saw
Meanwhile, those precious productivity, as workers don’t need it win the People’s Choice prize at the
company car parks frequently sit to fret about where they’ve parked, 2018 NEXT magazine Her Own Boss
empty while the “owner” is away at dash out to feed hungry meters, or Awards. If empty parks are beckoning
work meetings or on annual leave. peek out the window to spot parking at your office, Park Angel can provide
It’s a lose-lose situation, but thanks wardens. a simple way to make a difference.
to a new web-based service, it’s now The service’s founder, Elaine
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO
possible to make better use of that Linnell, successfully launched REGISTER, VISIT WWW.PARKANGEL.CO.NZ,
precious inner-city real estate. the concept when she worked at EMAIL ADMIN@PARKANGEL.CO.NZ
Park Angel is a new, award-winning Sovereign in 2016. “The feedback OR CALL 09-392 7275.The birds
WEEDING AND PLANTING
It’s not just about getting rid of the
predators, says Butland. “We support
groups doing a lot of things, not
& the bees
just predator removal. There’s weed
and restoration work, initiatives
to plant native species and build
plant nurseries.” There were around
400 conservation groups doing
community work in Auckland when
the pest-free programme started in
The songs of the kōkako, bellbird and other 2017; now there are more than 2000.
native taonga may ring out stronger in “What we want to see is
Auckland’s forests as the council’s new pest- regenerative gardening practices,”
says Sarah Smuts-Kennedy,
control programme starts to make headway. founder of For the Love
Aiming to make the region pest free by 2050, of Bees, a project trying
the initiative wants the help of locals to protect to make Auckland as
bee-friendly as possible.
and encourage biodiversity across Auckland – Knowing how to safely
and as Sam Button reports, you can do it in get rid of irritating weeds such
your own backyard. as nightshade and wild ginger is an
important starting point. “One thing
we can do is get chemicals out of the
ecosystem: stop using insecticides,
pesticides, fungicides and herbicides,”
says Smuts-Kennedy. “If you have
TRAPPING high-powered traps. In fact, we’ve pests in your garden, you don’t
Rats, stoats and possums kill heard great stories of secondary have strong microbial soil – and the
approximately 25 million native birds school students building their own best way to get that is to have 8-15
nationwide each year. Trapping is traps for their communities.” Once different types of plants in close
a great way to control these pests you’ve sourced them, lay them where
and starting is as simple as laying a the chew cards were bitten. To help
few devices in your yard. First, you’ll new starters, the Department of
need to identify which predators Conservation is hosting trapping
you have. Chew cards are great for workshops from April through to June.
this and can be bought online (for And there are always community
instance, at predatorfreenz.org). trapping groups looking for more help
Finding suitable traps should be easy if you want to take out a few more
enough, says Auckland Council’s predators.
Pest-Free Auckland Project Director,
Brett Butland. “For average home use
you don’t necessarily need the more
proximity to each other.” This helps
microbes to capture carbon and build
healthy soil – in turn helping to grow
plants and feed pollinators. For the
ILLUSTRATIONS / PIPPA FAY; GETTY IMASGES / STEVE PHILP
most part, weeds can be thrown into
green waste or even used in compost.
The council’s efforts couple
eradication with regeneration, too.
Its Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy
You can do your bit is aiming to have an average of 30
to stop predators per cent tree cover across the region,
like rats, possums and more than 750,000 trees have
and stoats killing
native birds by laying been planted by the council since
traps on your own 2017. These trees are a lifeline for our
property or joining native birds and insects, providing
trapping groups. habitat, improving air qualityOurAuckland.nz
TO TATOU TAMAKI MAKAURAU
A CROSS SECTION THROUGH A POLLINATOR PALACE HOW TO BUILD
POLLINATOR
PALACE LAYERS
1 2 3 1. Flat rock for butterflies
and lizards to bask in sun
2. Shallow terracotta
plant tray filled with clean
water set into wooden
4 log (for stability) for birds,
butterflies and lizards
3. Optional tree branch to
provide perching site for
birds and butterflies
5 4. Holes drilled 18mm
wide x 90mm long in
underside of untreated
6 7 8 6 piece of wood for wētā 5.
Layers of hessian or palm
fibre netting for insects
6. Lengths of untreated
timber with different-
sized holes drilled in sides
for insects and solitary
9 bees 7. Hay or straw to
6 6 provide refuge for small
and burrowing insects 8.
Broken pieces of terracotta
pots and different-sized
tree branches and/
or pine cones for slugs
10 11 12 and insects 9. Rows of
untreated timber slats,
13 with 30mm gaps between
each piece 10. Terracotta
drainpipe for frogs
and lizards 11. Piles of
14 different-sized stones and
rocks for lizards, slaters
and slugs 12. Different-
sized bamboo canes for
solitary bees 13. Pieces of
old carpet for slaters and
other damp-loving insects
14. Two or three layers
of onduline separated by
10mm dowel for lizards.
and removing carbon from the CREATING “Take a look at an aerial view of
atmosphere. Since one out of every three suburbia with the squares and shapes
Building backyard nurseries can mouthfuls of food is made possible of backyards,” says Butland. “If each
help with this, says Butland. “Growing by pollination, consider building of those attracted birds with habitats,
shrubs and trees in the backyard pollinator-friendly spots in your provided shade and had healthy
is not as difficult as people might garden. Upside-down pot plants, rock soil, we would start to get a mosaic
imagine. From a family perspective it piles, log piles, nectar-rich flowers of connected corridors that our
could be quite fun: plant your seeds that bloom at different times or invertebrates like wētā or our native
in bags or pots to begin with, watch even a ‘pollinator palace’ – a birds could start moving between.
them germinate and then plant construction of wooden pallets, This is a classic example of the power
them in the garden when dead logs with drilled holes, of the collective. If everyone does
they’re ready. Then you get to broken bits of terracotta their part, the aggregate difference it
a point where those shrubs pots, hay and straw – makes is huge.”
and trees start to flower all give bees and other IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE, CHECK
and fruit, and the birds will pollinators a safe home to OUT AUCKLANDCOUNCIL.GOVT.NZ/
start coming back.” raise their larvae. PESTFREEAUCKLANDHUMAN
NATURE
An increasing body of evidence suggests that a closer
connection to nature is good for our heads, our hearts
and our lungs. But as Auckland grows, our precious
green spaces and trees are increasingly under threat.
Elly Strang looks at the many benefits of green spaces
and the many organisations trying to protect them.
HEADS Simon Kingham has studied the
Humans have long believed that effects of public and private green
being in or around nature has healing spaces on physical health. The research
properties. But the idea was previously analysed the activities of 12,500
more intuitive than evidential – a New Zealanders, including 2500
warm glow rather than hard science. Aucklanders, and found they were less
Now, with large-scale public-health likely to be overweight or suffer from
problems such as obesity and obesity if they lived close to a park.
depression being linked to a rise in “Globally, nearly every study I’ve
technology, a disconnect from the read says the more green space you’ve
outdoors and more time spent inside, got near where you live, the better
researchers are showing renewed your health is,” Kingham says. “Park
interest in the topic, and studies from creation and planting in existing public
around the world are finding that spaces may serve as low-cost disease-
those who live close to green spaces prevention options.” 1
enjoy positive impacts on both their In its 10-year budget released last
physical and mental wellbeing. year, Auckland Council boosted funding
A new Danish study has found that for parks, open spaces and community
when children grow up with green facilities to $3.7 billion, with $1.4 billion cent, while targeting areas where
space around them, they have 55 per set aside for acquiring and developing cover is scarce, such as parts of south
cent less risk of developing a range of public open spaces and parks. This was Auckland, so that all local board areas
mental-health problems later in life. ahead of infrastructure as the single have at least 15 per cent cover.
Researchers from Aarhus University biggest increase within the budget. Councillor Penny Hulse, chair of the
found that the more greenery a Kingham says another finding of his council’s Environment and Community
person is exposed to up to the age team’s study was that people in lower- Committee, says Auckland’s rapid
of 10, the lower the risk of 16 mental socio-economic areas tended to have urban growth has swallowed up native
disorders, including anxiety and less access to good-quality green spaces. bush and open spaces.
depression, even when controlling for “All green space is not the same.” “It hasn’t always been the norm to
factors such as socio-economics and This is why Auckland Council’s replant trees in areas that have been
urbanisation. Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy is developed since the 1980s,” she says.
“Our findings affirm that vital to the health of the city. It aims “With higher-density housing we’ve
integrating natural environments to address the unequal distribution of lost a lot of urban trees, as people
into urban planning is a promising trees across the region and increase haven’t always valued them as much
PHOTO 1 & 2 / SHANE AVERY
approach to improve mental health the benefits of a green city for all. as they should.”
and reduce the rising global burden It also aims to undo some of the Hulse says so-called “leafy
of psychiatric disorders,” the study’s damage done by urbanisation, rising suburbs” have fantastic tree cover,
authors say. inequality and climate change. The but the urban canopy is not evenly
Closer to home, a team led by plan is to increase Auckland’s average distributed across Auckland. In some
University of Canterbury professor tree-canopy cover from 18 to 30 per neighbourhoods, streetscape planting
18 HE WHAKAARO, HE KŌRERO / IDEAS AND INFORMATIONOurAuckland.nz
TO TATOU TAMAKI MAKAURAU
2
3
1. Experiencing nature can have a positive
impact on health 2. At Auckland Zoo
3. A Conscious Kids participant
– where trees are planted along the Hulse says local boards are to take my grandkids back there and
roadside – is also lacking. organising planting in areas that show them the trees when they’re 30,
“The amalgamation of Auckland’s have been degraded, and Mayor Phil 40, 50 metres high. People get a thrill
former councils means we get to look Goff’s Million Trees programme is a out of that and know we’re undoing
across the whole region to see where great example of a planting project some of the damage done; they see it
those gaps are,” she says. “Among the making big strides. Under the scheme, as a way they can make a difference.”
lowest on the canopy cover statistics 648,000 trees were planted around Hulse says planting more trees now
are places like Ōtara and Papatoetoe. Auckland in the first two planting is crucial to combat growing inequity
We’d like to make them as leafy as seasons, and the millionth tree is being as the climate gets warmer.
the suburbs in Waitematā, not just planted in Tōtara Park on 14 June. “Climate change is talked about
because it’s beautiful, but because it’s Auckland Council collaborates with a as an inequity magnifier. In other
better for communities.” range of groups on the plantings, from words, the people most vulnerable
The Urban Ngahere Strategy schools, to community groups, to to climate change are those at the
is underpinned by a three-pillar prison inmates. challenging end of the social scale,
framework: knowing, growing and “We’re getting huge numbers and if you look at where the least
protecting. This involves tracking the of volunteers for planting,” Goff tree cover is, it’s the vulnerable areas.
size, health, condition and distribution says. “They’re not as fast as the Internationally, it’s been shown that
of trees around Auckland and professionals we use, but they’re there communities who live in areas where
increasing the number to boost the and ready. It’s all about what you there are lots of trees are able to
benefits and address inequity, while want to leave as a legacy. I went and adapt to warmth more easily, so let’s
also protecting existing trees. planted 50 native trees, and I’m going address those two things together.”
HARATUA MAY 2019 19HEARTS
It’s not just the council leading the
way on promoting the importance
of green spaces. Citywide, there has
been a huge push from community
groups to better protect nature
and expand our connection to it by
increasing awareness, restoring native
trees and improving biodiversity.
One group teaching these skills
from the ground up is Conscious
Kids. It was founded in 2015 out of a
desire to have a more conscious and
holistic form of education for children
aged five to 13, with a mission to
plant “little seeds for the future” and
reconnect them with the outdoors.
It now runs programmes in Western 4
Springs, Devonport, Blockhouse Bay
and further afield.
Co-founder Maria Mariotti says
learning through nature promotes
cognitive and physical development,
grows social and emotional skills and
can have a hugely positive impact on a
child’s health and sense of wellbeing.
“It has been proven by many
researchers that unstructured,
frequent childhood play in informal
outdoor settings engenders deep
conservation values – more so than
any other factor,” Mariotti says. “It
is human nature to want to protect 5
what we love, so to make conservation
efforts endure, we must emotionally 4. Beside Tōtara Park bike track, Manukau
connect children with nature. They 5. Friends at Underwood Park, Mt Roskill 6
are our future and the future of this 6. Even a fallen tree can be a beautiful thing
beautiful endangered planet.”
Another group making a difference
is Trees That Count. It counts the What we plan to do this year is lead people healing nature and nature
number of trees being grown campaigns to help inspire that kind of healing people.
nationally, while also encouraging behaviour. That doesn’t mean all of “Everyone wants to make their
more plantings through its that has to come as money through our own backyard look great – they don’t
marketplace, which allows individuals, marketplace; it could be New Zealanders want to have rats or noxious weeds,
businesses or families to fund or create their own new traditions, where and they would love tūī and kererū
gift native trees. These are matched they plant a tree at home.” at the end of their driveway – so they
with planters on Trees That Count’s Trees That Count is a partner in the work on their own backyard, and
marketplace throughout the country. council’s Million Trees programme their neighbour does too,” he says. “It
PHOTO 4 & 6 / SHANE AVERY; PHOTO 5 / JAY FARNWORTH
In Auckland, it has recorded more than and Seyfort says that this year, it’ll be becomes a community, and then that
1.4 million trees planted. hosting an event for families during steps up to our ideal model, which
Melanie Seyfort, head of Matariki where anyone with a new is a living neighbourhood, where
marketing and partnerships, says baby can plant a tree in their honour. A households are joining together to
the organisation’s goal is to see 200 similar campaign in 2018 saw around do teamwork on private land, parks,
million native trees planted in the 11,000 trees donated. creeks, and all the stuff that doesn’t
next 10 years. It also wants to create a Another community group, fall into their boundary line.”
culture where planting or gifting native Gecko Trust, offers encouragement, Corbett points to a neighbourhood
trees becomes a Kiwi way to celebrate advice and resources to help people in South Titirangi where about six
or commemorate occasions. and communities create healthy households increased the quality of
“At Christmas, I think there were environments. General Manager Tim their own green spaces alongside a
almost 30,000 native trees gifted. Corbett says its purpose is all about facilitator appointed by Gecko Trust.
20 HE WHAKAARO, HE KŌRERO / IDEAS AND INFORMATIONOurAuckland.nz
TO TATOU TAMAKI MAKAURAU
cortisol levels and is proven to have
positive effects. TRIM AND PROPER
Auckland Zoo is one of the city’s
most impressive green spaces and Under the Auckland Unitary
is also promoting the environment’s Plan, most trees over 4m tall
effect on wellbeing and passing this on park land and road reserves
wisdom on to visitors. From July, it will are protected, and thousands of
be making more of an effort to tell notable trees on both private and
visitors about the work it does that public land are also protected
may go unheard of, such as helping for their heritage, botanical and
the Department of Conservation cultural significance.
(DOC) protect New Zealand’s wildlife, The council contracts firms
teaching conservation education with teams of arborists who
to schoolkids and supporting assess trees’ health, size and
conservation projects. maintenance requirements on
It recently teamed up with DOC average once every eight years.
and the Mental Health Foundation Those that show poor health
to collaborate on the Healthy Nature or structure or are potentially
Healthy People programme, which is unsafe are often removed under
all about promoting and strengthening urgency, while others that are in
the connection between health, declining health are often cared
wellbeing and nature. for and monitored.
“DoC has recently identified the zoo Meanwhile, energy company
as a key partner for the movement, Vector has a programme called
as we already reach so many people Vector Urban Forest under which
and promote the health and social it plants two native trees for
benefits of connecting with nature and every tree it cuts down to protect
wildlife,” says Auckland Zoo Head of Auckland’s power lines. The goal is
Marketing and Communications Jooles to raise awareness of the need to
Clements. keep trees well clear of the lines,
He says the zoo can act as a place as well as to encourage people to
of entertainment and fun for people choose the right species to plant.
to enjoy, while at the same time “We are aiming to
increasing environmental awareness, encourage Aucklanders to
optimism and empathy. help us contribute positively
“A good zoo should be entertaining. to regenerating Auckland’s
That’s the first step to building ecosystems and increasing
empathy and that is the foundation canopy cover across the city,”
for conservation action,” he says. “As Vector Chief Networks Officer
Now, the community has about 300 long as entertainment isn’t at the Andre Botha says. This is
households involved and is on the expense of animal welfare, we’re all for especially important considering
brink of becoming self-sustaining and it. Just because we are a science-based the company’s climate modelling
self-led, while also having enough organisation doesn’t mean you can’t predicts a significant increase
confidence to start lobbying the have fun when you visit us.” in the number of hours when
council for participants' needs. winds will exceed 70km/h, which
Corbett says if you want a LUNGS means damage to the lines
community to be healthy, getting Not only do green spaces allow us to network will be likely.
together and working on common unwind and rebalance, but they can Vector launched the Urban
projects is one of the best things also help combat common problems Forest programme last year by
you can do. “It improves social faced in urbanised areas, such as poor planting 16,000 trees, shrubs
health and connections between air quality and soil erosion. and grasses in Puhinui Reserve in
neighbours and perceptions of Soil erosion can cause infrastructure two days; more than 500 people
safety. Elderly people die from damage by blocking roads, drains and attended.
loneliness with intensification and, waterways, but planting trees helps to Its 2019 planting day is on 12
ironically, the closer our sections get counteract this by protecting soil from June from 9.30am until 3pm at
to each other, the less we interact the impact of rain, vaporising large Tōtara Park, and all are welcome.
with each other.” amounts of water and binding it to No experience is necessary, and
He says Japanese and British GPs sloping land with their roots. Vector will provide everything
are even prescribing “nature bathing” Cities are also renowned for needed for planting, and lunch.
for mental health as it reduces producing higher greenhouse-gas
HARATUA MAY 2019 21emissions, but trees absorb carbon
dioxide and other potentially
harmful gasses and release oxygen.
It’s estimated one large tree has
the ability to supply a day’s worth
of oxygen for four people. Trees can
also cool the air, land and water by
offering shade and moisture. As the
planet warms, this is significant,
because the temperature in urban
areas often runs many degrees
warmer than areas with heavy tree
cover. This is why our green spaces
need protecting, and the ecosystems
they operate within need to be 7
nurtured, too.
David Irwin, creative director of
integrated design studio Isthmus,
says the health of our environment
should be the baseline for any urban
design or architecture work within a
city. “Our land needs to be healthy to
allow us to be healthy. We can’t live
the lifestyle we want if we can’t swim
in our water or live in our cities. Out 9
of everyone, it’s Māori who are saying
it very clearly: the environment is the 7. Kopupaka Reserve at Westgate
bottom line, the requirement.” 8 8 & 9. The natural beauty of trees
Westgate’s Kopupaka Reserve was moderates the impact of development
named World Landscape of the Year
in 2016 due to work on rebuilding
a coastal edge that was considered dirty to do it and there’s a sense like the Million Trees programme are
“space left over after planning” when of ownership and education that creating opportunities for people to
a new motorway was built. Isthmus reinstates those values.” get involved with plantings. There’s
used green infrastructure to recreate Getting the community also significant work being done
the stormwater reserve, improve its reconnected with nature is across Auckland to reduce the spread
waterways and create higher-quality significant, considering a recent of kauri dieback.
green spaces for wildlife. report by the council found that Councillor Hulse says what you
Isthmus has also been contracted much of the tree loss in Auckland is can plant depends on the size of
by Panuku Development Auckland to happening on private land. It tracked your garden. The Auckland Botanic
work on its Northcote Masterplan. tree loss in the Waitematā Local Gardens have experts who can give
Over the next five years, 364 Board area over the decade to 2016 advice on what types and plants will
Housing New Zealand properties and found that 61.23ha of trees – at work best in different areas – visit
from the 1950s and 1960s will be least 12,879 – had been removed. their website to find out more.
replaced by up to 1200 modern There was no evidence of an “I’d also say of those trees that
homes. This means increased increased rate of canopy loss, but might be annoying you: think about
housing density, which calls for the authors of the report described how they contribute to the wider
closer attention to the creation and it as “death by a thousand cuts” community; think a bit about how
maintenance of high-quality green because more than 90 per cent of they contribute to link the Waitākere
PHOTO 7 / ISTHMUS; PHOTOS 8 & 9 / SHANE AVERY
spaces – something Isthmus plans to the clearances were very small, yet Ranges with the Hauraki Gulf and
achieve by creating an urban park or accounted for almost two-thirds of how they form bird corridors; just
“shared backyard” that will link Lake the removals. A significant chunk of think a little bit wider than just your
Road to the town centre. this clearing occurred on privately own property.”
Irwin says the way to get people owned land in suburbs such as Understanding the role green
more engaged in the care of Freemans Bay, Grey Lynn, Parnell, spaces play in our own wellbeing
ecosystems around them is to give Ponsonby and Western Springs. and the health of the city means
local communities a key role in the Groups like Gecko Trust and Trees that while Auckland’s population is
design and decision-making process. That Count are organising community predicted to hit two million within
“It’s the way forward for Auckland. action at a grassroots level to the decade, it can still have a bright
They’re empowered to get their hands counteract this loss, while initiatives green future.
22 HE WHAKAARO, HE KŌRERO / IDEAS AND INFORMATIONhas its own website (again)! Food Restaurants Cheap Eats Drinks Bars Cafes Arts Theatre Music Film TV Contemporary Art Books Society People Schools Business Politics Power Crime Auckland City Life Events Sport Property Travel Urban Design Transport Top 50 Bars Cafes Cheap Eats 50 Under $50 Wine Restaurant of the Year metromag.co.nz @metromagnz
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