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November 2011December 2
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Dramatic rescue in water at Stanmore BayDetails have just emerged of the heroics of a member of the public and a Rodney based police officer who in the dark of night rescued a 62 year old female from drowning. Police say that at 9.45pm on Tuesday 29 November 2011, the female was sitting in her Silver Nissan SUV on the boat ramp at Stanmore Bay on the North Shore. She was sole occupant. At the same time a member of the public Mr. Stephen Bibby, a resident of Stanmore Bay, was coming into the boat ramp on his small inflatable boat to retrieve it. Mr. Bibby saw the female occupant of the vehicle accelerate heavily into the water at an estimated speed of 40km/h. The SUV floated out into the water before it began to sink at a distance approximately 40 metres from the shoreline. Mr. Bibby went and tried desperately to get the female occupant out of the vehicle while it was sinking. He was unable to do so. He eventually used a fire extinguisher to smash the rear window of the vehicle. At this stage the vehicle was almost fully submerged. Constable Antony Hawkings arrived at the scene and he immediately swam the 40 metres to the scene to assist. The Police Officer climbed onto the roof of the vehicle and assisted Mr. Bibby to get the female occupant out of the car. Rodney Police Area Commander Inspector Scott Webb says without doubt the woman would have drowned had it not been for the courage, determination and persistence of the two rescuers. “There is no chance that the female occupant would have been strong enough to break out of the vehicle and swim to safety. Mr Bibby's actions with the assistance of Constable Hawkings meant this rescue was successful, to what could have been an absolute tragedy,” he said. The female occupant was taken to North Shore Hospital for observation and is receiving ongoing treatment. Orewa - Whangaparaoa Burglar Apprehended
A 37 year old Orewa male was arrested this morning and charged with 17 charges of burglary. The charges stem from a number of breaks to various business premises, mostly in the Orewa and Whangaparaoa CBD in the last 3 months. Most of the burglaries occurred in the early hours of the morning.
Premises included; Orewa medical centre, Manly care chemist, Advanced office products, Hickey's niche pharmacy, Wishing well restaurant, Vino per favore wine bar, Radius pharmacy, Orewa lotto store x 2, Pioneer tavern, Orewa countdown supermarket, Hayami Japanese restaurant, Emi deli café, Umi sushi bar, Orewa medical centre, Hibiscus radiology centre and Orewa veterinary centre. Mostly amounts of cash was taken from the till or cigarettes stolen. The male is appearing in the North shore District Court this afternoon and bail is opposed by Police. This is an excellent result by the Orewa and Whangaparaoa staff. This person's crime wave has been of great concern to the community and local police. The efforts to apprehend this offender by police have certainly paid off. Auckland liveability scorecard releasedAuckland Council has developed a scorecard to measure Auckland’s progress as we work towards becoming the world’s most liveable city. Len Brown released the results of the first Annual Auckland Scorecard in a speech to the Trans-Tasman Business Circle in Auckland today. “Today I have put a line in the sand,” says Len Brown. “The creation of any great city requires a clear vision and enough time to get there. The time has come to move from aspiration to implementation.” “If we are determined to meet our challenge of making this the world's most liveable city, then we must begin now,” says Len Brown. Auckland already rates very highly on a number of indices rating the world’s most liveable cities. It is fourth equal in the Mercer Quality of Living Survey; the world’s 10th most liveable city as rated by The Economist Intelligence Unit; and is 13th on the Monocle magazine Most Liveable Cities Index. Len Brown requested the creation of scorecard rating the progress of Auckland across four liveability categories covering 19 measures. They include:
The first annual scorecard shows the index has lifted by 2.4 percentage points since the creation of the supercity from a base index of 100. Progress towards becoming the world’s most liveable city has been made in 12 categories:
Auckland has slipped back in seven categories.
The Mayor says having a city that attracts and retains talent is about creating a winning formula. “We can't simply rely on being an innovative, economic powerhouse but need to couple that with sociable, supportive communities, unclogged transport options, natural spaces and people places.” The Annual Auckland Scorecard will sit alongside broader indicators documented in detail through the Auckland Plan. Centuries of scrapbooking go on show If you think the current craze of scrapbooking is a new fad – think again! Scrapbooking has been around since the 15th century and Auckland Libraries is celebrating 500 years of this fascinating hobby with a special exhibition.‘Saved memories: scrapbooks 1570-2011’ features a selection of 60 scrapbooks from the Sir George Grey Special Collections as well as private collections. Kate de Courcy, Sir George Grey Special Collections librarian and exhibition curator, says the word ‘scrap-book’ first appeared in the English language in 1825 but books with similar characteristics have been made since the 15th century. “It is fascinating to see how the practice of preparing scrapbooks has changed through the years,” she says. “What hasn't changed in 500 years is that people have continued to collect and display things that are precious to them.” Scrapbooks are compiled for different reasons, from the simplest expression of fancy or taste, to telling an individual’s life story or focussing on a particular area of interest. The display highlights a variety of materials used for pages such as paper, cloth and vellum (animal skin prepared for writing or printing), as well as the items added to scrapbooks including photos, paintings, magazine items, feathers, tickets, newspaper clippings, professional scrapbooking items, scraps and cartoons. The exhibition runs from 1 December 2011 to 3 March 2012, on level two of the Central City Library on Lorne St. Viewing times are Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm. There are free guided tours on Wednesdays at 12-1pm (until Wednesday 28 February 2012), led by Kate de Courcy. Go batty this summerDiscover the mysteries of the rainforest at dusk and the nightlife below the forest canopy on a Waitakere Ranges bat walk this summer. Park ranger Dennis Badan says Cascade Kauri is one of the few places Aucklanders have the opportunity to spot a long-tailed bat. “The quick flying antics of these nocturnal creatures can make them tricky to see, so patience and good eyesight are a must! “Dusk is the perfect time to spot a bat as they head out into the night to feed on moths, beetles and other small insects. The long-tail bat also spends every night in a different roost, transporting its young with it each night,” he says. A ranger escorts the walks, taking groups into the bush once darkness falls to search for the creatures that inhabit the forest and streams of this unique area, including glowworms, koura (freshwater crayfish) and puriri moths. Bat walks are held on Mondays and Wednesdays in January (4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23 and 25 January) and start at around 8.15pm, depending on when darkness falls. The walks start with a ranger talk at Cascade Kauri car park at the end of Falls Road, Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, and last for around two hours. Bookings are essential – contact the Arataki Visitor Centre on 09 817 0089 or the Auckland Council on 09 301 0101 to book. Numbers are limited to 25 per walk and book up fast. The cost of the walks is $5 for adults, $2 for children and $12 for a family pass, including two adults and two children. For more information about the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz RWC surpasses expectationsAuckland has surpassed its visitor expectations for Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) with a 16 per cent increase in visitors from July to October compared to last year. Statistics New Zealand’s latest International Visitor Arrivals (IVA) data shows that there were 107,000 arrivals to Auckland for the Tournament, which represents 80 per cent of all Rugby World Cup arrivals to New Zealand. For September and October alone Auckland’s visitor arrivals were up 28 per cent on the same period last year. The total number of visitors who came to New Zealand for the event was 133,200 against a forecast of 95,000 from July to the end of October. Auckland Mayor Len Brown says this is another great result for the region’s Rugby World Cup 2011 efforts. “Auckland was buzzing from all the international visitors in our city and the numbers reflect this. This is in addition to the obvious economic benefits of having 100,000 plus visitors in the city over a two month period,” he says. “I hope that many of our visitors will act as offshore ambassadors, sharing our success with the world and encouraging new and return trips to the region." As predicted during September and October Auckland welcomed visitors for the event from the traditional Rugby loving countries of Australia (39,437), UK and Ireland (17,563), France (9,867) and South Africa (6,286). There were also 7,356 vistiors from the USA and Argentina. Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Manager Tourism, Jason Hill, says the influx of visitors resulted in great sales of tourism activities through Auckland’s i-SITE Visitor Information Centres. “Throughout the Tournament Auckland’s total combined i-SITE sales spiked, with a 42 per cent increase in sales on the same period last year,” says Mr Hill. Auckland’s three temporary campervan sites at Westhaven Marina, Alexandra Park and the Waitemata Rugby Club also proved to be a hit, with 5,000 plus nights booked by Rugby-mad visitors. Mr Hill says the hard work paid off and the reputation benefits will endure. “The sales results through the i-SITEs were great, but it was the feedback from visitors that really stood out,” Results from a preliminary visitor survey during the Tournament overwhelmingly showed that visitors felt that Rugby World Cup 2011 in Auckland was a successful event, with 92 per cent of respondents in agreement. “This impact of word of mouth referrals combined with the positive offshore media exposure will bode well for driving increased visitation,” he says. ATEED was established by the Auckland Council to improve New Zealand’s economic prosperity by helping lead the successful transformation of Auckland’s economy. Total eclipse of the moonNew Zealanders will get a rare opportunity to observe a total lunar eclipse in their skies in the very early morning of Sunday December 11. The eclipse will begin just after 12:30am and be visible from all of New Zealand, where the skies are clear. The period of total eclipse lasts for less than an hour, from just after 3am to just before 4am. Observatories around the country will be hosting special events to allow the public to observe this phenomenon through powerful telescopes. In Auckland a large crowd is expected to gather at Stardome Observatory & Planetarium where the public are invited to participate in viewing the event between 12am and 6am for a gold coin donation. In a lunar eclipse the Moon is obscured as it passes through the Earth’s shadow. There are actually two shadows, called the umbra and the penumbra. The umbra is a smaller circle of dark shadow caused by the Earth blocking all the light from the Sun to the Moon. Only a partial eclipse can be seen when the Moon is in the penumbra. • 12:33am – First contact with penumbra (part shadow begins to creep across the Moon) • 1:46am – First contact with umbra (full shadow begins to cross the Moon) • 3:06am – Total eclipse starts (Moon in full dark shadow) • 3:32am – Mid-Eclipse • 3:57am – Total eclipse ends (lighter penumbral shadow only is across the Moon) • 5:18am – Final contact with umbra (full light begins to cross the Moon again) • 5:30am – Moon sets in NZ at this time Stardome Astronomy Educator David Britten says, “The eclipsed Moon is likely to appear copper coloured to us. This is caused by a scattering of sunlight as it passes through the thin ring of the Earth’s atmosphere, removing the blue light and passing mainly the red, some of which weakly illuminates the Moon. You will need a clear eastern horizon to be able to see this eclipse. Over water would be ideal, and the further north you are located the better.” The last lunar eclipse able to be observed in New Zealand was a total lunar eclipse in June of this year, but New Zealanders were only able to watch the first half of the eclipse before the Moon set for us. There are no total lunar eclipses in 2012. However, New Zealand is privy to prime viewing of two major celestial events next year: the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun on 6 June, and a solar eclipse on 14 November. This eclipse of the Moon on 11 December will be visible to the naked eye, but astronomical societies around the country will be hosting viewings and the public are encouraged to take part in these. The future of raw drinking milkThe future of raw drinking milk sales from the farm gate has Federated Farmers stepping back into the fresh milk issue. The Federation believes farmers and consumers should have the option of selling and buying raw drinking milk from the farm gate. “What we’re consulting members on is the legal means to sell raw milk from the farm gate. Not that we want to compete with the supermarkets,” says Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson. “Why on earth would we when you can buy two litres of fresh milk cheaper at Karori New World than at Coles in Sydney? Perhaps some have realised consumers aren’t being ripped off; let’s face it milk has fallen off the electoral radar. “What we’re talking to our members about is the old ‘five litre rule’ for selling unpasteurised or raw milk from the farm gate. These rules are long in the tooth and come from a time when pasteurised milk in rural areas was hard to get and fridges were a luxury item. “Federated Farmers believes farmers and consumers should have the ability to sell and buy raw drinking milk. It’s why we need members to complete our online survey to give us the data we need. There are several options going forward and we need their help to form the right view. “One option is to enforce requirements for a registered Risk Management Programme (RMP) on farm gate sales of raw drinking milk. That’s unattractive at the smaller sales end of a spectrum. Even the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) believes the cost involved with an RMP would see an end to most farm gate sales. “MAF's preferred option is audited self-management, which would see farms granted an exemption to an RMP. In return, participating farms would have to meet certain animal health and hygiene requirements. MAF is also proposing a daily sales limit of 120 litres and six litres per customer. “Going down that road would mean greater standards around storage, transportation and a paper trail to ensure compliance. A paper trail would also help in case the worst happened. “Farmers would also have to assume legal liability for what they sell but buyers would be subject to caveat emptor; ‘let the buyer beware’. “Members would have received the survey electronically. If not, they can to ring 0800 327 646 (0800 FARMING) or email policy advisor, Ann Thompson, at athompson@fedfarm.org.nz. “The survey will give us some vital information to inform MAF about what’s really happening. Farmers and Federated Farmers can then help MAF write workable rules and policy that will shape the sale of raw milk at the farm gate,” Mr Leferink concluded. Annual testing of swim sports startsSummer water quality tests to indicate how safe Northland’s most popular beaches, rivers and lakes are for swimming will begin next week. The Northland Regional Council has been monitoring bacterial levels at popular swimming spots over summer for more than a decade. John Ballinger, the council’s Environmental Monitoring Officer – State of the Environment and Compliance, says this year’s programme will begin on Monday November 28 and will run until the end of March next year. “The programme monitors bacterial levels at beaches, lakes and rivers most often used for swimming, water sports and similar forms of recreation.” He says hundreds of samples will be taken from 47 coastal and 12 freshwater sites across the region this year. Results will be posted online every Friday at www.nrc.govt.nz/swimming allowing people to make informed decisions about where they swim. Mr Ballinger says this year’s programme will contain about 30 percent fewer sites than last year. “Sites have been removed for a variety of reasons, including a number which are permanently recording good water quality, or which are no longer as popular as they once were. “ He says a number of spots which have consistently recorded poor results in recent years have also been removed, as in most cases tests showed they had been contaminated by ducks or gulls and there was little the council could do to prevent that. In those cases, it made more sense to allocate the staff resources elsewhere and erect permanent signs to inform the public of the issue and risk, rather than continuing to test for a known issue. In a number of other cases where tests showed sites had been contaminated by livestock, the council was working with nearby landowners to try to manage the issue. Mr Ballinger says the summer samples will be given one of three grades depending on the number of bacteria they contain: ‘Green’ (safe to swim), ‘Amber’ (elevated levels of bacteria) or ‘Red’ (unsafe for swimming). As well as being posted on the regional council’s website, results will also be forwarded weekly to district councils, the Northland District Health Board and other interested parties. Mr Ballinger says the health board (DHB) and district councils are also informed of any results showing elevated bacterial levels within 24 hours. “It then becomes the responsibility of the DHB and the appropriate district council to take action. This can include further site investigations to establish the source of contamination, public warnings not to swim or gather shellfish or erection of permanent warning signs at the worst sites.” Mr Ballinger says the majority of the popular spots the regional council monitors are safe for swimming most of the time, however, Northland’s high rainfall and hilly terrain meant many could be temporarily contaminated by run-off from the land for several days after heavy rain. People wanting to check water quality at their favourite spot can visit the council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz/swimming or freephone 0800 002 004 for more information. However, he says there are four simple things to use as a good rule of thumb to judge water quality:
Friday deadline for election enrolmentAnyone not yet enrolled to vote has just a few days left to get on the roll to ensure their vote counts on Election Day, Saturday 26 November. “Time hasn’t run out to enrol just yet – but it will shortly!” says the Electoral Enrolment Centre’s Murray Wicks. “The last chance to enrol is Friday 25 November. You cannot enrol on Election Day.” Enrolment levels across the country have improved, with 92.6% of eligible voters now on the roll. But there are still 240,000 eligible voters who are not enrolled or ready to vote on Election Day. “The countdown to Election Day is almost complete. Anyone who hasn’t taken action and enrolled can’t leave it any longer. They must get an enrolment form, fill it in and get it back to us by Friday 25 November. “To make sure your enrolment form reaches us in time the easiest thing to do is pick one up at a PostShop and fill it in and hand it to the staff there and then. It only takes a minute,” says Murray Wicks. You can also get an enrolment form by Freetexting your name and address to 3676 or by calling 0800 36 76 56 or from www.elections.org.nz . “There are still people in all our communities who haven’t heeded the message to enrol for this year’s election. Your vote matters, but it will only count if you are enrolled. Enrol today.” More information about enrolling and voting is available from www.elections.org.nz Rates remission system approvedAuckland Council's Strategy and Finance Committee has voted for a remissions system to assist ratepayers who may face big increases as a result of the introduction of the new system next year. The committee wrapped up three days of discussions today on budgets and policies, including transition to the new rating system, for inclusion in the draft Long-term Plan (2012-2022). It has proposed the remission of all rates over the following limits:
“We know that the new rates system will result in some significant changes for some ratepayers and transitioning it in this way will reduce the impact of those increases,” says Committee Chair Penny Webster. “Administratively it is also much simpler for both council systems and for ratepayers.” The application of the policy will mean an adjustment in the rates requirement which will be spread across other ratepayers. “It will mean that the rest of the ratepayers will pay more than they would have before the remission was taken in to account.” The Mayor says amalgamation and the move to a single rating system based on capital value is something out of Auckland's control. "Auckland Council is determined to ensure the introduction of the single rating system is fair and balanced. We have to ensure that the system is affordable for all Aucklanders and that is why the remission system is so important." The number of properties expected to be eligible for a remission in the first year is 173,000 for residential, 5,800 business and farm/lifestyle 3,800. This is expected to decrease considerably over the next few years. The council’s governing body will meet on November 30 to adopt a draft LTP which will then be audited. In February 2012 councillors will adopt the draft LTP, which will then be published for public consultation. This is when Aucklanders will be able to have their say on the priorities identified. The council will adopt the Long-term Plan (2012-22) in June 2012. Council collects opinions on rubbish
Public consultation has started today on Auckland Council‘s draft plan for managing rubbish in the region. The council is asking Aucklanders to consider how the region can reduce its waste even further. Local films return to NorthlandRegionally themed films reach the Far North when the New Zealand Film Archive travel to present a programme of local historic material from their collections. This November a selection of locally themed films from the Film Archive vaults are heading Northland way. Curated by Diane McAllen, introduced by Film Archive Kairangahau Lawrence Wharerau, and accompanied by local pianists, evening screenings will be presented in Whangarei, Dargaville and Kaitaia. These Northland screenings are a compilation of short films, showcasing stories that focus respectively on Whangarei, Dargaville and Kaitaia. The Dargaville screening is being undertaken as part of an ongoing fundraising effort for the re-establishment of a cinema in Dargaville, a proposed 62-seat cinema to be built in the former library located within the former Municipal Chambers and War Memorial Hall complex. An amazing record of what has changed, this selection of shorts shows Northland from Whangarei to Kaitaia as seen through three main perspectives: the local, the holiday-maker and the official government publicity office. Highlights include the harvesting and processing of strawberries in 1927, activities on the water, street parades, gum digging and dairy farming. As well as nationwide screenings, The Film Archive also provides regional access to its collections through the medianet digital network, located at museums, art galleries and public libraries through-out the country. “Through medianet, visitors and researchers have hundreds of videos from the collection available at their fingertips. Just "point and click" to view full quality full length feature films, documentaries, home movies, short films, advertisements, music videos - there is something there for everyone, and its free!" says Film Archive project developer Diane McAllen. “We're thrilled to have a medinet site partner at Whangarei District Library. This is a resource that we are building and adding to over time, in direct response to the feedback from the community. The content has been selected to appeal to a wide range of users, whether their interest is in New Zealand film culture, history, local history, literature, the arts, popular culture or Maoritanga." says Diane. "People who live in the Whangarei District have come from a wide range of backgrounds, and we have tried to reflect this variety in our selection of content." The Film Archive will be loading more content of specific interest to Northland communities on to the Whangarei Library medianet, including: amateur footage of the 1953 Waipu Centennial Celebrations; Waitangi celebrations from the thirties through to the seventies; the 1948 Whangarei Popular Girl Contest; footage of activities in community halls; documentaries about local industries such as cement, glasswork, timber, gas and dairy farming; and holiday home movies of campsites and baches up and down the coast. The New Zealand Film Archive staff will be onsite at the medianet station in the Whangarei Library from 11am-1.30pm on Tuesday 29 November to show you through medianet and answer any questions about accessing the collections. Northland medianet presentations and evening screening details are as follows: MEDIANET ONSITE PUBLIC PRESENTATION
Public meeting on oil spill preparednessNorthlanders are being invited to a public meeting in Whangarei later this month to hear what preparations the region has in place to deal with marine oil spills. The Northland Regional Council is organising the 5.30pm Tuesday 29 November meeting in the wake of increased public interest in oil spills - and the threats to coastal areas - following the recent Rena container ship grounding off Tauranga. The roughly-hour long meeting – which will include time for public questions – will see information on oil spill preparations provided by both the regional council’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Tony Phipps, and the council’s Regional Harbourmaster, Jim Lyle. Mr Phipps says Northland has long been considered one of the parts of New Zealand considered most at risk of a medium to large (50 tonne-plus) oil spill because it’s home to the Marsden Pt oil refinery and a large volume of commercial shipping also passes through its waters. He says while an international disaster on the scale of the Rena would obviously need to be led by outside agencies like Maritime New Zealand, Northland is well-placed to handle smaller spills and boasts almost 60 trained oil spill responders, some of the best in New Zealand. That expertise has been called on by those responding to the Rena and to some of the larger international oil spills in recent years, including the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Adventurer off Australia’s Sunshine Coast. Mr Phipps says as well as a detailed and regularly-updated Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan, Northland has also worked proactively over a number of years to implement protocols and safety measures designed to better protect the region’s environment from oil spills. These included the Dynamic Under Keel Clearance System, which uses a network of special equipment at the entrance to Whangarei Harbour to detect whether it is safe for larger vessels to enter, especially during rough weather or difficult tidal conditions. Mr Phipps says the council was also instrumental in ensuring the Poor Knights Islands had in 2004 become the first spot in the world to be formally protected by a ‘Mandatory Area to be Avoided’ international designation banning large ships from travelling too close to them. From December 2004 all transiting ships more than 45-metres long have legally had to stay at least five nautical miles (9.26km) to the east (outside) of the Poor Knights Islands. The regional council had been pushing for that designation – which applies to the area between Cape Brett and Bream Head - since a significant spill near the islands in 1999. Mr Phipps says Northland is also home to a large stockpile of Maritime New Zealand oil spill recovery equipment – including a purpose-built $200,000-plus, 8.2-metre oil recovery vessel 'Taranui', based at Marsden Point. The council maintains the equipment on behalf of MNZ and holds regular training exercises to make sure the right people and equipment can be put into action quickly. It also has Memoranda of Understanding with the New Zealand Refining Company, Northport, NorthTugz and the Department of Conservation covering the joint use of resources, plant, equipment and staff to tackle oil spills as required. Mr Phipps says he is hoping as many people as possible will attend the public meeting, which will be held at Whangarei’s Capitaine Bougainville Theatre, Forum North. Road toll: record low for year to SeptemberTransport Minister Steven Joyce says while it is pleasing to see the road toll continue to come down, there are still far too many preventable deaths on New Zealand roads. The Minister has today released the latest quarterly road toll report showing that the toll at the end of September stood at 208, compared with 278 at the end of September last year. The toll for the 12 months to the end of September was 305, compared to 357 in the same period a year earlier. Mr Joyce says a range of factors will have contributed to the lower toll in the first nine months of the year, including ongoing safety improvements, enforcement changes, legislative changes and petrol prices. “Of particular interest, there has been a big drop in deaths of motorcyclists and passengers, down 46 in the first three quarters of 2011. Motorcyclists are a group the government has targeted in the Safer Journeys road safety strategy because they are disproportionately represented in the road toll. “Quarterly reporting means we can monitor medium-term trends and look for patterns of improvement as well as problem areas in our efforts to reduce death and injury on New Zealand roads. “Because we’ve now seen a reasonably sustained improvement in the road toll over the last year, I have asked officials from the Ministry of Transport to start analysing the quantifiable reasons behind these reductions to see what lessons can be learnt and ensure we continue on this path.” Mr Joyce says fewer crashes means lives are being saved and injuries prevented. The Minister has also released the annual Ministry of Transport report, Motor Vehicle Crashes in New Zealand 2010, which records the causes of crashes. In the 2010 calendar year, 375 people died on New Zealand roads and 14,031 were injured. The report shows:
“Through our Safer Journeys road safety strategy and action plan we are targeting all these areas. We have made major changes – introducing a zero limit for young drivers and repeat offenders, increasing penalties for dangerous driving offences including drink driving causing death, and enabling the use of alcohol interlocks in vehicles for repeat offenders,” says Mr Joyce. “But the government and the Police can only do so much. Personal responsibility is very important and drivers must play their part by being focused on the job at hand when they are behind the wheel.” Both reports are available on the Ministry of Transport website: www.transport.govt.nz Planning on a sea-level rise of XPlanning on a sea-level rise of X is the title of NIWA principal scientist Dr Rob Bell’s paper at the New Zealand Coastal Society Annual Conference in Nelson this week. Dr Bell is a keynote speaker at the event. “It’s a play on words," he says. "There is no single number to plan for.” The upper range of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections for a sea-level rise of 0.5 - 0.8 metres by the 2090s is seen as more likely now. “But rises of more than a metre can’t be ruled out, and should at least be considered,” says Dr Bell. In New Zealand, 65 percent of our communities and major infrastructure are within 5km of the sea. Twelve of New Zealand’s 15 largest towns and cities are coastal: Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier-Hastings, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill - home to 64 percent of the total New Zealand population. Auckland’s downtown area, Wellington’s CBD, and the airports of Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, and Invercagill are also very close to the sea. There has been unprecedented development of our New Zealand coastal areas, where housing, along with tourism and its associated facilities such as roads, have resulted in a dramatic rise in potential risk from storm-tide inundation, coastal erosion or wave overtopping. This, says Dr Bell, will be put to the test as sea-level rise and climate change effects progressively increase our exposure to these coastal hazards. Dr Bell's view is that the uncertainty in nailing down the rate of sea-level rise or future impact on wave heights or storms can largely be circumvented by having a range of flexible approaches to planning and engineering design. “A lot can be achieved by mainstreaming adaption to climate change into everyday council processes and scheduling of asset upgrades. For example, when councils are upgrading footpaths and roads, they should consider elevating the levels while they do it, and installing larger replacement stormwater pipes, when opportunities arise. Dr Bell looks at a variety of complementary approaches to adapting to climate change. “The key is to get councils and infrastructure operators, such as engineers and planners, planning ahead, rather than waiting for more scientific certainty,” he says. For future proofing and planning, NIWA advocates a risk-based approach, asking “what’s at stake” in terms of exposure to coastal hazards and sea-level rise. The higher the stakes, the more precaution should be applied. For example, a new coastal suburb should be designed with much higher sea levels in mind at the outset. Local community plans for responding to sea-level rise and development can also be done in stages, taking into account the amount of sea-level rise the community can withstand, and then focusing on what should be done at the next stage. Timing of staged plans can initially be based on a credible rate of sea-level rise, but plans can be advanced or delayed depending on results from monitoring of local sealevels. This avoids the need to decide, at the outset, what sea-level rise value to allow for. A similar adaptive approach is being used in planning staged upgrades to the Thames River storm-surge barrier in London, where the stakes are incredibly high. The approach has also been used in planning the upgrade of the low Waterview causeway – part of Auckland’s northwestern motorway – considering the merits and costs of staging increases in height or undertaking works in one go. Dr Bell says we also need to treat greenfield developments separately from the legacy of existing coastal development. New suburbs or coastal resorts are built to last, and given that the sea level is expected to keep rising for at least the next century, it is prudent to factor in a sizeable safety margin for sea-level rise and changes in coastal erosion or inundation. The 2010 New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement backs up this precautionary approach, requiring that new developments avoid risks from coastal hazards and climate change. As the 1996 IPCC Working Group III report stated, “The challenge is not to find the best policy today for the next 100 years, but to select a prudent strategy and to adjust it over time in the light of new information.” The New Zealand Coastal Society (NZCS) is a technical group affiliated to the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ). Kaipara defends wastewater decisionKaipara District Council says it is taking the concerns expressed by the ratepayers of Mangawhai seriously. A number of concerns have been expressed that the decision to extend the scope of the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme was not an authorised decision of Council. A Council media release says this is not the case. The release states that Council made the decision to extend the scope of the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme nearly trebling its potential capability. This decision resulted in a corresponding increase in cost to Council. At a Council meeting held on 25 October 2006 Council agreed to extend the scope of the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme. The cost of the scheme at that point was projected to be $58 million. Increasing the scope meant an increase in the number of possible connections from approximately 1,220 to 3,300 with the potential to extend capacity even further when the need arose. Acting chief executive John Burt says Council is undertaking two reviews of the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme and has asked staff to undertake a comprehensive examination to find the information needed to verify answers to the questions posed by all stakeholders. "Firstly, it is proceeding with the independent review of the EcoCare rating matters sought by ratepayer representatives from Mangawhai, including the Mangawhai Ratepayers and Residents Association," he says. "Secondly, Council staff are also undertaking a review of the whole EcoCare Project from inception to completion. This comprehensive review will cover the project and related issues (including capital and operating costs, financing and funding, project management and associated Council decisions). "The period under review is from inception to date. It will also consider implications of the scheme going forward for the 10 years of the Long Term Plan and for the 40 year estimated life of the Mangawhai Wastewater Treatment Plant. The review will include supporting documentation where applicable, and once finished will be considered by Council prior to release. "Council believes that it is important to take the time to do the reviews properly and to avoid ad hoc responses that can be taken out of context, potentially giving a misleading or false impression. The issues are of importance to a wide variety of stakeholders and consideration needs to be given to everyone’s needs." Auckland evaluates RWCA comprehensive evaluation of all parts of Auckland’s Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) programme is underway and results will be made public over the coming months. RWC 2011 Auckland Management Committee Chair Doug McKay says the bulk of the evaluation was planned by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Ltd (ATEED) before the Tournament and involves multiple stakeholders. “With a major event of this scale it is accepted best practice to conduct a thorough evaluation and that was always the intention with Rugby World Cup 2011,” McKay says. “Ratepayers have invested significantly in this event and it is essential that a robust process is undertaken so that everybody is clear on what the impacts of that investment are. “Without wishing to pre-empt the outcome of the evaluation, it is clear from our own preliminary results and other information in the public domain, that the perception of RWC 2011 in Auckland is of an extremely successful event. “The evaluation will help us quantify the success for Auckland and help us to replicate the successful elements and make improvements in the future.” McKay says the evaluation will cover everything from economic returns to bricks and mortar legacies and public perception. But while the overall evaluation will focus on the legacies for Auckland from RWC 2011, all projects delivered by Auckland Council and its CCOs will be reviewed. “It’s about identifying all the lessons that can been learned from this event and taking them forward to apply to future major events.” The core of the evaluation will focus on programmes delivered by Auckland Council and its CCOs but it will also include the role of external agencies such as utilities, central government agencies and the match and training venues. Results of the evaluation programme will be released progressively with a wrap up report due for delivery in December. The economic impacts are not expected to be known until early 2012. Awards honour Graeme Dingle Graeme Dingle (ONZM, MBE), of Leigh, is the Supreme Winner of the 2011 Outdoor Excellence Awards.The supreme award recognises dedication, commitment and significant contribution to outdoor recreation and outdoor education in New Zealand. Graeme was an easy choice to receive what is the highest accolade of the Outdoor Excellence Awards. Graeme has lived a life of contribution to outdoor recreation and outdoor education as well as being an accomplished adventurer himself. Graeme was the first to climb all the European North Faces in one season, and the first to traverse New Zealand’s Southern Alps in winter. He’s been involved in numerous Himalayan expeditions and spent two years circumnavigating the Arctic. He has guided thousands of people on a variety of outdoor adventures He is an author of many books on adventure and has received the Montana New Zealand Book Award for Best Biography. But what Graeme was most recognised for in receiving this award was his commitment to the wellbeing of New Zealand’s young people through the development of the Outdoor Pursuits Centre in the Central North Island in 1973 and co-founding the Foundation for Youth Development, which was started in 2004. Graeme Dingle was presented with the award surrounded by many of his peers and those that had been influenced to work in this field through his inspiration. Other winners announced at this event were:
Pictured: Graeme Dingle receives his award from Sparc representative Deb Hurdle. Labour policy backs TVNZ 7The Labour Broadcasting Policy released this morning is great news for NZ television viewers, lobby group Save TVNZ 7 said today. "The current government and TVNZ have torpedoed New Zealand public broadcasting leaving it at third world levels by closing TVNZ 6 and discontinuing TVNZ 7 funding after June 2012. "This policy to combine Radio NZ and TVNZ 7 under an umbrella public service broadcaster could be the beginning of a new era in broadcasting," says Myles Thomas, founder of the Save TVNZ 7 campaign. "A single, comprehensive source for quality news, current affairs, information and brainy entertainment. Kiwis love public service broadcasting - Radio National is an institution and our top radio station. TVNZ 7 rates extremely well for only a three-year old channel. Even with no publicity or listings, it still has more viewers than Maori TV and Sky." Mr Thomas says this policy will keep NZ in step with every other developed nation – although still at a basic level. Australia doesn’t provide just one public service television channel but five – SBS has two and ABC has three TV channels along with many radio stations and online presence. "NZ really needs some alternative to the commercial ratings-driven TV that is now ubiquitous – even TV One is as commercial as other channels. There needs to be some balance in the type of programmes we can view. Under current Government policy the charter has been scrapped and our national broadcaster has to return such a substantial dividend there is no room for non-commercial TV. "New Zealanders deserve better than to be the only developed country in the world with no public service TV. "TVNZ 7 programming is smart, informative and entertaining – and the ratings show that we want this. This comprehensive and well thought out Labour broadcasting policy is a lifeline for public service TV in New Zealand, the thousands of Kiwis who watch TVNZ 7 now, and the potential millions of Kiwis who would watch it in the future." Save TVNZ 7 has 2700 Facebook fans and has collected almost 4000 verified signatures on its online petition. Mr Thomas says New Zealanders who support public service TV can sign the Save TVNZ 7 online petition at www.savetvnz7.co.nz and visit the Facebook page by searching Save TVNZ 7. Auckland Plan submissions inMore than 2500 submissions have been received for the Auckland Plan and its supporting plans. Provisional totals are:
The Mayor says the enthusiasm with which Aucklanders have engaged with the process is fantastic. “It has always been about us collectively articulating our vision for Auckland. It is my responsibility to give a strong lead in this, but the input and wisdom of Aucklanders is essential,” says Len Brown. “There is no doubt that the Rugby World Cup and the completion of projects like Wynyard Quarter, the Art Gallery, shared spaces and Auckland Zoo’s Te Wao Nui meant Aucklanders began to recognise the city’s potential and encouraged them to engage in the consultation process.” The 10 most popular topics included:
Two thirds of company submitters want to be heard and 25 per cent of personal submitters. Following the public hearings – which start on 14 November and include marae, Pacific Island and key stakeholder hearings – the draft Auckland Plan will be finalised in December and adopted in February, 2012. Govt urges fireworks safelyKiwis are being urged to take extra care while enjoying fireworks this Guy Fawkes. “I want people to enjoy Guy Fawkes and fireworks but to do so responsibly to avoid injury, damage to property and harm to animals. I particularly want to encourage people to attend professional public displays that carry the least risk,” Environment and ACC Minister Nick Smith said. “If people are using fireworks at home I urge them to follow instructions carefully, always have a bucket of water close at hand, make sure children are supervised and keep pets inside. “Four years ago the Government tightened the laws for fireworks in response to concerns from the Police, Fire Service and the SPCA. The sales period was limited to the four days before 5 November, the legal purchase age was raised to 18 and noise was limited to 90 decibels. “These tighter rules have resulted in ACC injury claims from fireworks dropping 40% from 461 to 275. That is welcomed but 275 injuries are still too many. “The volume of fireworks imported this year of 1135 tonnes is similar to the 1116 tonnes in 2010. This indicates that authorities can expect a similar level of fireworks being used this weekend as last year. “The Government will be monitoring this year’s Guy Fawkes and incidents carefully. We want people to be able to enjoy the festivities but minimise the risks of fire, injury and danger to pets. Any noticeable increase in harm and irresponsible behaviour will result in regulations being further tightened.” Busy on the beach at MangawhaiMangawhai Heads volunteer lifeguards had a very busy weekend on the beach with a number of incidents occuring on both days. With an improvement in weather and swell conditions over the weekend beach goer numbers were up and lifeguards were kept busy. On Saturday lifeguards were alerted of a Mayday call from a distressed boat to the north of the patrolled lifeguard area approximately half way between Bream Tail and the end of Mangawhai Beach. A team of lifeguards responded in an IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) and the Sea Rider (ocean going rescue vessel) was also dispatched. Lifeguards located the distressed vessel and found all 6 of its occupants up on the rocks . Lifeguards then took four people in IRB out to Searider which then returned them to shore safely. The Searider returned and lifeguards were able to tow the boat off the rocks and back thought the bar to the boat ramp. There were no injuries. Lifeguard Nick Dobrowolski said that those on board were extremely fortunate and that it was good to see they were all wearing life jackets. On Sunday morning (11.20am) lifeguards helped locate a 14 yr old boy after after his mother raised the alarm. Shortly after the search for the missing boy took place a 9 year old girl came up to the surf club complaining of lower back pains. After lying her down on a spinal board, and realising that she had altered feeling in her left leg and right arm, lifeguards decided to treat as a suspected spinal injury. The patient was then secured and her neck was stabilized. An ambulance was called from Bream Bay. Also a bystander off the beach, who was an off duty paramedic, came and assisted lifeguards with monitoring until the ambulance arrived. After conducting their survey, ambulance staff said it was unlikely she had broken her back and they she may have pinched a nerve. They took her to Whangarei Hospital for checks. Club Captain Richard Kannemeyer was very happy with the outcome and was pleased to see MHVLS Lifeguards prepared for the variety of incidents that occurred. Key safety messages for the community to take away from this are :
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