We have warned about the very expensive nature of ‘licence to occupy’ type retirement villages several times.

In essence they are property renting businesses and while some, such as Ryman, are run ethically, there are others which are most definitely not.

This 8-minute clip which began last night’s episode of Fair Go reiterates our warnings.

The council wanted a gentler and more easily maintained alternative to the existing gravel ramp for the access path which is about opposite the Tutere Gallery in the beach domain.

The new pathway is almost twice as long as the previous path, thereby reducing the gradient and making the beach more accessible for some users.

The first pic is by the distributor for Replas of Australia in New Zealand, Metal Art, which shows the recycled plastic panels which cover most of it.

The second pic shows Eva on the upper part of the path.

Further to the previous post, these privately owned botanic gardens begun a century ago and covering 55 acres (22 hectares) are quite amazing and a must-visit for any (aspiring) professional gardener.  For the amateur gardener they provide high enjoyment and a source of inspiration.

They are outside the provincial capital of Victoria,  which is about three hours via a ferry trip from Seattle.

Specialty theme areas include a Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and a Mediterranean Garden. Website

It’s hard to do justice to the experience with photos, but here are just a few of those we took in June.

This park is just beyond the south bank of the Waikanae River so is highly relevent to Waikanae people.

A media statement by two of the four Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board members, Bernie Randall and Guy Burns, on the KCDC’s intended $40 million spend-up is below.

This drew the public ire of the mayor.  But you can also express your views on what should happen to the land (we’ve already stated that a long term development of a botanical garden is one good idea) — the Council’s webpage on how to do so is here.

The deadline for comments is 9 August.

Community Board members Guy Burns and Bernie Randall are concerned about the likely cost of $40 million dollars to ratepayers for developing Otaraua Park and are calling for it to be peer reviewed.

The proposal is astonishing. A new rail station or platform, a bridge over the railway line, 3 amphitheatres, a multi-purpose hub, various specialist surfaces for multi sports events. The list is unending.

Otaraua Park is blocked by a river and railway line. The current access is unsuitable for heavy usage. The ratepayers will end bearing the cost.

The park grounds are boggy and require extensive drainage works. A stream meanders in the photo while alone and palely loitering, stands a Kiwiloo guarding this forlorn strip of land.

You the community decide. What do you think?

It seems the vandal in this case was the municipality.  More

In NZ the equivalent, Arbor Day, is marked on 5 June which is World Environment Day.

In Kapiti, protection rules for native trees were substantially relaxed in 2015 in part due to the unfortunate backlash over the prosecution of the Standens in 2014.

We have commented often about the importance of trees to the urban environment and the attitude of a certain local property businessman who doesn’t like them, and has taken advantage of the tree protection relaxation on his properties.

Across the Tasman, however, council tree protection rules are tough and can apply not just to natives, but all trees.

An extract from the City of Sydney website is below.

A pertinent blog post dealing with the situation in Sydney’s Inner West is here

Before you prune or remove a tree from your residential or business property, you must apply for permission from the City of Sydney. Depending on the tree species, condition of the tree or the type of pruning required, some exemptions may apply.

Our tree management controls aim to protect individual trees and the city’s urban forest.

All trees (except heritage trees)

To remove or prune a tree that is protected under the Sydney Development Control Plan 2012 but is not a heritage tree, you will need to apply for a permit.

Heritage items

If the tree you want to remove is a heritage item included on the heritage trees list, you will need development consent.

If the works are minor, are for pruning, or are to maintain the heritage item and it will not affect its heritage significance or the heritage conservation area, and it is not included on the heritage trees list, you will need to apply for a permit.

Please note, if a site inspection shows removing or substantially pruning the tree is not minor works, development consent will be required.

In reference to the article on water by Cr Elliott on the KC News site and the response by Local Government CEO Malcolm Alexander referred to in yesterday’s post.

”Mr Alexander says Councillor Elliott appears to misunderstand the funding issue: “A core part of the localism project is a review of local government funding mechanisms. A localism approach could never be funded by a rates-based funding model.”

”Mr Alexander says LGNZ will be polling councils shortly to ascertain their positions on regulation and aggregation. This response will assist LGNZ to develop a final position.

“Regarding the privatisation of water assets, the Government has made it very clear that  public ownership of water assets will continue.”

This is where partnership discussions begin in Treaty Claim Negotiations which will not begin until the Waitangi Tribunal has written their final report and recommendations, which will take a year or two.

After my last post, a lot of chaos occurred.  The Marae trustees objected to the Waikanae Senior Citizens venue being used, Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai Marae and Charitable Trust forced the cancellation of the July 2018 Hearing.

Judge Carin Fox with the Waitangi Tribunal Judicial Table was not impressed.  They were notified if they didn’t sort their issues out, Te Atiawa Treaty Claim Hearings would be cancelled.  They would have to wait until after Raukawa finished theirs in a couple of years.  This prompted a change of attitude: the first week will now occur at El Rancho on 20 August 2018.  The Powhiri at the Marae, site visits then El Rancho.  The second week will be in October at El Rancho, the third in February 2019.

Tuturu Ngātiawa ki Kapiti WAI 1018 & Airport WAI 609

Puketapu will give evidence on the last two days in February 2019 in a secure venue due to ongoing “Lateral Violence” towards WAI 1018 & 609.

As witnessed and recorded in Tribunal Judiciary Conferences for 10 years by Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, we are NOT the same people.  Our whakapapa is only Ngātiawa, we are not Ngati Toa or Raukawa.

Originally in 1950, the Marae was registered as a meeting place for Ngātiawa, Ngati Toa and Raukawa with the Maori Land Court.   In 1989 Matui Solomon of Ngati Toa renamed Marae Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, as Maori Affairs would not fund them under Ngatiawa.

The majority of Ngātiawa did not get notified or given the right to vote on the name change. The issues that are well known in the community stems from the predominantly Ngati Toa and Raukawa domination of the administration of Marae and Charitable Trust. Also, you have the Marae v Charitable Trust internal issues.

Tuturu Ngātiawa withdrew from the chaos in 2012 continued researching and preparing our WAI 1018 claim filed in 2002.  Accepted by the Tribunal as claimants, Tribunal and Crown Forest Rental Trust Researchers conceded the only historical-evidence-based documentation they could find was Ngātiawa.

For generations, 147 years, we have been ridiculed by Toa and Raukawa with “you Ngatiawa rode in on Ngati Toa horse” in 2018 Ngati Toa and Raukawa want to “jump on Ngatiawa horse.” AUE/whatever!

Our position

Ngātiawa will not go into “Direct Negotiations” after hearings are complete: Na!
Ngātiawa will not be blackmailed or bullied by OTS or Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai Marae & Charitable Trust to go into “Direct Negotiations”: Na!

We do not accept the “Mandated Iwi” as they are responsible for withholding the fact the Atiawa ki Whakarongotai Asset Holding Company did not receive the “Fisheries Settlement” in 2005.

The settlement went to an individual sole director’s bank account. Also, Mandate Iwi according to Ombudsman Report: “registered members were naive to believe they were beneficiaries of the Atiawa ki Whakarongotai Charitable Trust.”

Those who have knowledge of Treaty Claim Negotiations and legislation will comprehend why there will be no bribe accepted from OTS by Ngātiawa – Na!
Tuturu Ngātiawa will wait for the Waitangi Tribunal Report and Recommendations before discussions occur.

Nga Mihi,
Apihaka Tamati/Pirikawau Mack of Ngaatiawa Ki Kapiti te Takutai

“Our next concert on Sunday 29 July features the Klara Kollektiv from Sweden, a trio of clarinet, violin and cello which includes New Zealanders Anna McGregor (clarinet) and violinist Manu Berkeljon. This talented ensemble is touring New Zealand for Chamber Music New Zealand and their Waikanae programme will include music by Brahms, Franck, Khachaturian and New Zealander Anthony Ritchie.”

2.30 pm at Waikanae Memorial Hall as usual.

(from the Waikanae Music Society FB page)

by Wallace Trickett

Sue and I lived here back then and our retired neighbour was a very strange character indeed.  He used to tell everyone he was a former CIA officer, and he went around taking photos of children….  So one day the elder children bricked up his letterbox as a joke.

But the highlight came one day after he had swept up all the autumn leaves from his driveway. Across the road a little girl had a bad accident; her mother rang emergency services: they responded and we saw at least 6 police cars arrive! Well over-the-top and word got around. The Westpac rescue helicopter was summoned to take her to hospital with her mother.

The Police obviously did not realise we lived in a cul-de-sac and one car would have been sufficient to stop traffic. So there we were looking like a scene from a Hollywood action movie!

The photo shows the helicopter arriving with three of the four police cars outside our house, the others were around the corner. The little girl and her mother soon left for Wellington where she made a good recovery (hot water scalding) and everyone left as if nothing had happened.

The best part, though: our neighbour had all his leaves returned to him plus a lot more via the downdraft from the helicopter!

Our ‘CIA agent’ neighbour — ha ha — was afternoon napping throughout the whole action, the biggest thing to happen in the street and he slept through it!

In response to the article by Cr Elliott on the issue of water services privatisation on the KC News website, Local Government NZ’s CEO Malcolm Alexander was invited by Mayor Guru to comment and his piece is here.

It also covers local government funding, but as the cost of water — and its quality — is an even bigger issue in Kapiti, that part of the article is below — and reproduced verbatim: exactly what “Mandatory aggregation is not consistent with aggregation.” means, we know not.

Mr Alexander says the Government is in the middle of a review of Three Waters regulatory settings and service delivery models following the Havelock North Inquiry.
“LGNZ is currently liaising with the Government through a Reference Group and is providing advice and a sounding board to officials as they develop high level policy options which will be considered later this year. Our involvement in this process does not signify support for some of the options being considered. Indeed it is part of a strategy to ensure as best we can that unsound options are rejected early.”
Mr Alexander says LGNZ has said publicly that it supports changes that will deliver demonstrably safe drinking water.
“A key failure of the past was an inadequate enforcement regime. LGNZ agrees with the Inquiry that a more credible enforcement regime is required and on this basis an independent drinking water regulator (this role would move from the Ministry of Health) appears to have merit,” he says.
The Inquiry recommended also that council waters service delivery be aggregated into large delivery units. LGNZ’s present position is to oppose mandatory aggregation. LGNZ presently considers that once the regulatory outcomes are specified, councils should be free to decide how best they wish to achieve those outcomes (this approach is consistent with localism). Mandatory aggregation is not consistent with aggregation.
Mr Alexander says LGNZ will be polling councils shortly to ascertain their positions on regulation and aggregation. This response will assist LGNZ to develop a final position.
“Regarding the privatisation of water assets, the Government has made it very clear that continued public ownership of water assets will continue.”