Alexandra Bonham Board Member Report (originally published April 2021)

This report covers my Waitematā Local Board Activities from 1 March to 19 April 2020. My roles include: Planning and Heritage portfolio (lead); Culture, Arts and Events portfolio (second); Domain Committee member; liaison for the Karangahape Road Business Association and Herne Bay Residents Group. The WLB is also advocating for climate change action, better water management and greater protections of the Hauraki Gulf.

It is our position to create a well-functioning urban form that provides amenity and pleasure to residents. Community spaces are highly valued. The board authorised that Albert Park Cottage have a cardax system installed to make it available for community use. There has been interest from the Ellen Melville Centre, Plunkett and from the university to activate this space. It may be that this can fill the gap for recreation provision for children and young people. There are many rooms in the cottage which can be used for different purposes. The cardax system will allow it to be used at different times of day. As more pressure is put on spaces this may provide a great community asset for various people. It is currently being used for an art exhibition. I wonder whether part of the space could be used as a toy library/ play activation space for all ages. I look forward to hearing future activation plans. For those interested in using the space, do contact the Ellen Melville Centre and register your interest.

Street trees and green space are also particularly valued. As we get close to planting season I am chasing up with council staff for planting plans. These were promised for December. I am concerned that one of two things are happening. A low prioritisation for planting trees, or that the restructures are putting undue pressure on staff. There is a moment when staff cuts make it very difficult to ensure service delivery. Either way, I will continue to push for the prioritisation of maintaining and planting trees on work programmes. The cutting down of pines and substantial tracts of native understorey in Western Springs Forest is extremely distressing for many members of the community who feel every thud as the tall trees come down. We have been assured by extremely able people that within the next decade or two there will be little evidence of the felling that is happening now and that the ecology will restore itself. Other extremely able have advised to leave the forest alone to ensure it retains its special ecological area qualities. Proceeding here was a highly contested decision of the board. The advantage as presented to us is that people will be able to re-enter the forest sooner rather than later. Universities have been contacted to do research on the restoration project so as to inform future urban forest regeneration. Anything that can be learned from this process to inform future projects should be learned.

I noted the conversations around the homeless in Karangahape Road in my March report. It is important to note the situation and the response is complex, dynamic and has a number of strands. As the borders reopen the situation on the streets will no doubt change again. Zest hostel is no longer providing accommodation for MSD clients. It should also be noted that those profiting the most from drug dealing and crime are not the homeless. It is also the case that many people on the streets begging and hanging out are also possibly not homeless. And yet there are also genuinely homeless people out there and many at risk of homelessness. Lifewise and Kainga Ora are doing great work to sustain tenancies and to support people back into housing. For those waiting their turn, there is a need for things to do. There may be a need for more outreach at different times of day. There is a need for more funding for addiction and mental health. The korero raised the issue that poverty is not seen as a driver for mental health issues. This may be debatable. It certainly exacerbates distress. One driving question has been who do you call for help when someone is having a mental health episode at 4am. Council, government and other agencies are looking at how this issue can be addressed too. It may be that there is a greater role for the Maori Wardens or more funding for outreach is required. Maori organisation AMTK is working with Unitec to scope out what sort of activities and support are desired by the current homeless community.