In November 2021, Auckland Transport (AT) consulted on introducing a 30 km/h speed limit on the residential streets around the schools in our area.
Kids holding signs asking drivers to slow down, image from AT’s pamphlet Speed at the School Gate
The results were clear: of 123 submissions, 86 (70%) supported the proposals and 37 (30%) did not. Many people included comments in their responses: out of 176 mentions, 100 (57%) were supportive; a further 26 (15%) were partially supportive, while only 50 (28%) opposed the changes.
AT’s consultation also recorded the level of support for the individual streets. Of the 28 streets in the area, half of which are cul-de-sacs, feedback was provided on 17 streets. In line with the submissions for the overall proposal, feedback at the individual street level was very strongly in favour of the 30 km/h limit. Two of the busiest streets (Meadowbank Road and Temple St, both of which include speed tables) drew the most responses: while these were more mixed, a majority on each street was in favour of the change. Some commenters pointed out that on the longest street in the area, Meadowbank Road, the difference in time taken to drive its entire length at 30 km/h v 50 km/h (even assuming this was possible) is barely 30 seconds. Comments made on AT’s interactive map from the consultation reflect the high level of support for the changes, as the screenshot below shows.
At the time, AT also asked residents to note any other changes they would like to see in our area. This drew a total of 26 comments, almost all of which were in support of 30km/h speed limits elsewhere, notably on Gowing Drive and several of the surrounding streets and along St Johns Road / Remuera Road through the town centre.
If anything, there is even stronger support in 2025
Last month, the Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association surveyed its members to gauge the level of ongoing support for the 30 km/h speed limits. Of 143 responses, 109 expressed an opinion: 84 (77%) supported or strongly supported retaining the speed limits and 25 (23%) did not. This result is remarkably consistent with AT’s consultation more than three years earlier, and demonstrates an enduring level of support for the changes.
Why this matters
Ultimately, the streets with the 30 km/h limits don’t form any kind of through-route to other suburbs or destinations, and there are very few businesses or shops in the area – they’re residential streets.
What they do have is two primary schools, a kindergarten, a church and a retirement village. Plus the train station and several access points to the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path (at Harapaki Road, Tahapa Crescent, Mamaku Street and Manapau Street / Purewa Road) – and that transforms the area from a kind of cul-de-sac to an important through-route for many people walking and cycling.
Making the whole area a 30 km/h zone makes it safer for those people. And their numbers will only grow as we see more apartments developed, as is currently happening on Meadowbank Road and Manapau Street, and when the CRL opens in 2026, bringing large parts of the city centre within 10-15 minutes of the train station.
Reverting to 50 km/h would be a backwards step and out of line with what the community wants and needs. The community has spoken – twice – they want 30 km/h on all these streets 24/7.
What needs to happen?
Or rather, what doesn’t need to happen, is what AT is proposing, which is contrary to what the community wants.
Last week, AT announced that it proposes to remove the 30 km/h speed limits on these streets and revert to 50 km/h everywhere, except right outside the schools and only for certain times of day. And to try to manage this with new electronic signs – which our rates will have to pay for.
What’s worse, despite the Government allowing AT until 1 July to consider and make the changes, they’re trying to rush this through by 30 March. Meanwhile, the new Minister of Transport has shown a degree of pragmatism and flexibility – the safer speed limits have been retained in several locations around the country where local communities have advocated for them.
Perhaps there are other locations around Auckland where reverting to 50km/h makes sense? But not in these residential streets in Meadowbank! Whatever the Government or AT thinks, our community has been clear – in 2021 and again in 2025 – the 30km/h speed limits make sense on these streets. And they need to stay!
Orange = support 30 km/h; yellow = 40 km/h; red = 50km/h; blue = less than 30 km/h; black = other comment
In February 2024, New Zealanders faced a challenge: caps and lids could no longer be recycled through kerbside collections. But fear not—these materials are valuable resources that deserve a second life!
The Caps & Lids Recycling Programme, which launched in September 2024, aims to divert as many metal and plastic caps and lids from landfills as possible. Here’s what you can recycle:
Metal caps and lids:
Crown caps (bottle caps)
Jar lids
Ring pull caps
Metal screw-top caps
Aluminum lids
Food tin lids
Wire from sparkling drink bottles
Plastic caps and lids:
Flip-top/hinged caps
Milk bottle caps
Ice cream container lids
Yoghurt and dip lids (please exclude peel-off film)
Supplement bottle lids
Household cleaning product lids
Shampoo and cosmetic lids
For more information about the Caps & Lids Recycling Scheme, visithere.
Recycling Food & Beverage Cartons
We’re also excited to offer a collection point for Food & Beverage Cartons (aka Tetra Pak cartons) — those cartons that hold your favorite juice, UHT milk, and Up & Go drinks. Proper recycling of these cartons also helps to reduce waste.
To find out more about Food & Beverage Cartons recycling scheme, check outthis link.
Where to drop off your items
You can drop off your clean lids, caps, and food & beverage cartons at St Chads Church Monday to Friday between 9am and 3pm. We’re currently trialing this collection point to make recycling easier for everyone in our community.
What else do I need to know?
For this scheme to work we need everyone to play their part and make sure that all items are well washed, clean and dry. It’s also important to sort the lids, caps and tetra paks carefully when you drop them off. And please don’t put anything other than these items in the bins.
Let’s work together to reduce waste and make a positive impact on our environment.
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive. This whakatauki talks to community, to collaboration and a strengths-based approach. It acknowledges that everybody has something to offer, a piece of the puzzle, and by working together we can all flourish.
Thank you for being a part of our community’s journey toward sustainability!
And thank you to…
A special thank you goes to St Chads Church for generously serving as our collection point, and to the Residents Association for facilitating the transport of these items (by e-bike) to the Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub.
In short…the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) is out…the Gowing Drive connection to Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai (Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path) didn’t get any funding this round which means its been delayed…again. The community still really, really, really wants it to happen.
The Residents Association will continue to advocate for this vital link for the community. In the meantime if you, your whanau and friends want safe and quick access across the Pourewa Valley to and from Selwyn College, St Thomas School, to the city and the waterfront and to ease congestion on St Johns and Kohi Rd, then email Simeon Brown () who along with being the Minister of Transport also happens to be the Minister for Auckland, and tell him to do better for Tamaki Makaurau and what the Gowing Drive connection would mean for you.
The slightly longer version….recently we called on the community to submit to the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) in support of the Gowing Drive connection to Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai (Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path), one of our committee even stood on the shared path and encouraged people to submit. And the support from the community was overwhelming.
We haven’t been told the exact numbers, but we understand there was a significant number of responses in support of the connection received from Meadowbank and other local communities.
Disappointingly following the announcement of the RLTP, Auckland Transport have provided the following update on the Gowing Drive connection:
‘It is likely the Gowing Drive project will be put on hold as the push is to complete Stage 4 of the GI to Tamaki Drive cycleway.
There will be no additional central government money for walking/cycling this year other than committed projects which includes GI-Tamaki Stage 4B. This project is out to tender for construction, and we anticipate starting later this calendar year (subject to final full confirmation of Waka Kotahi funding and that the tendered price falls within the funding envelope).
The Gowing Drive project costs are associated with creating the underpass, installing the associated drainage, and making the adjacent embankment stable. This makes it unaffordable in the current funding climate with no regional fuel tax being collected and the Government Policy Statement (GPS) direction which make it harder to gain co-funding for walking/cycling infrastructure as this scores low in the government’s prioritisation method.
However, the current funding challenge for Auckland pre-dates the current GPS because large sums are set aside for new trains, ferry electrification and opening of CRL for the next 2-3 years. As the funding situation eases, we hope to start to deliver projects like Gowing Drive that have been on hold.’
A local resident sent Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown a very compelling evidence based email to ask the government to allocate funding for the Gowing Drive connection and received this reply:
With reference to Simeon Brown’s email, we believe the Gowing Drive connection:
Aligns with Government Policy Statement priorities and direction
Provides clear benefit for increasing safety
Demonstrates volumes of pedestrians & cyclists
In addition, the fact that hundreds of school children cross the valley each day, twice a day over 200 days of the year and currently only have an arterial route to walk along guarantees a captive audience of eager users desperate for a safe and quicker way to get to school that isn’t in their parents car.
The Residents Association will continue to advocate for this vital link for the community. In the meantime if you, your whanau and friends want safe and quick access across the Pourewa Valley to and from Selwyn College, St Thomas School, to the city and the waterfront and to ease congestion on St Johns and Kohi Rd, then email Simeon Brown () who also happens to be the Minister for Auckland and tell him to do better for Tamaki Makaurau. Bonus points if you add in some key points that show the Gowing Drive connection aligns with key points in Simeon’s email (see bullet points above).
Update June 2024. The Draft Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-2034 sets out the land transport objectives, policies and measures for the Auckland region over the next 10 years. It includes the land transport activities of Auckland Transport, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail and other agencies.
The Regional Land Transport Plan is both a plan and a bid for funding from the Government.
Our area has 3 projects as part of the Draft Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-2034; the Gowing Drive connection, stage 4 of Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive and Glen Innes links.
Auckland currently has more proposed transport projects than the agencies can afford. The Gowing Drive connection needs support from the Regional Land Transport Plan to go ahead. So its time for a bit more advocacy. And of course you can show your support for stage 4 of Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive and Glen Innes links too.
Here is the submission form. Unfortunately there isn’t a specific place to advocate for specific projects but you can note in the last section your support for the Gowing Drive connection and that you would like it to have a bump up the ranking. You could also note;
This connection should have been planned into the initial design
You would like this connection delivered as soon as possible
Hundreds of school children will use this connection to get to school safely.
The only other way for kids to get to school is much longer and along a busy road that is in fact an arterial route
Selwyn College school buses are overcrowded which Auckland Transport acknowledges but arent in a position to do anything about
Desley Simpson, Deputy Mayor and local Ward councillor, is also suggesting emailing Transport Minister Simeon Brown in one of her recent Facebook posts.
Update 31 October 2023. A representative from the Meadowbank St Johns Residents Association presented to the Auckland Transport Board.
Charmaine Vaughan Meadowbank St Johns Residents Association, Sarah Powrie Deputy Chair Orakei Local Board and Scott Milne Chair Orakei Local Board
Update 15 August 2023. Thanks to everyone that completed a submission in support of the Gowing Drive connection. Submissions to the Ōrākei Local Board Have your say are now closed.
A representative from the Meadowbank St Johns Residents Association presented to the Ōrākei Local Board business meeting on Thursday 17 August.
Members of the community at the Orakei Local Board meeting to support the Gowing Drive connection
We have some news on the long-awaited Gowing Drive link to Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai (Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path).
But first some background – the Gowing Drive link will give local residents and students safe and quick access across the Pourewa Valley to and from Selwyn College, St Thomas School and the waterfront. It attracted a massive amount of community support and advocacy over the years, and was selected by the Ōrākei Local Board as their flagship project, and later was backed by Council’s Governing Body. This was a massive win for our suburbs and the wider area.
The link couldn’t be delivered as part of the main Te Ara ki Uta ki Ta project, so Auckland Transport set up a separate project called the “Meadowbank to Kohimarama Connections Project”.
Auckland Transport’s most recent update, from April 2023 notes that the project could “take the opportunity of KiwiRail’s closing the Eastern Line temporarily for upgrades, which would allow the construction of the underpass beneath the Eastern Line, from August to October 2023.”
So what’s happening? Well there’s good news… a property on Gowing Drive was purchased to enable access, and we understand the link has been planned and consented, and much of the design work has been done.
And, yes, there’s bad news… we’ve just heard that the Gowing Drive link has been put “on hold due to budget constraints. Construction funding is not available at this time… the construction timeframe is not known.”
So our children will continue to not have safe and direct access to schools, we won’t have direct access to the shared path for commuting and recreation and hundreds of car trips wont be taken off the road reducing congestion and car emissions because this project has been put on hold…or worse.
It makes sense to complete the work on the tunnel that is part of this connection while the Eastern train line isn’t running due to the Kiwirail work happening at the moment.
So please join the Residents Association and many others in speaking up for to show your support for the Gowing Drive connection by completing the Ōrākei Local Board Have Your Say.
If your aren’t familiar with the have your process here are some tips;
You can jump straight to the ‘activity area 4: our places’ in the have your say document and tell them why and which focus area is most important to you…the Gowing Drive connection.
No need to complete anything else other than provide your email and select that you are in the Ōrākei Local Board area.
When you tell them why its important to you, you can mention (in your own words preferably);
– getting the tunnel installed while the railway line is shut makes sense.
– this project has had overwhelming community support from across the region.
– it provides a safe direct route for walking and cycling – from Meadowbank and St Johns to/from schools and the waterfront and to/from the train station.
– substitutes 100s of car journeys cutting emission and congestion, which is exactly what we need to combat climate change.
– include a personal story about what the Gowing Drive connection will mean to you.
Bonus points if you can encourage other people to have their say and if you have a local organisation or connections to one please get in touch with if you would like to provide a letter of support to the Ōrākei Local Board.
The Have Your Say consultation closes on 14 August so please don’t delay in completing it as it only takes a couple of minutes. And please encourage others to as well.
The above application was heard by Auckland Council Hearing Commissioners on 14th & 15th
December 2021. After consideration of the processing officers’ report and the evidence of the
applicant and submitters, the commissioners have resolved that this application be granted with
conditions.
For your reference a copy of the decision of the Hearing Commissioners is here RC 79 College Rd – Decision signed 31 March and will be
forwarded to every person who made a submission. It outlines the basis for the decision and any
associated conditions. A copy of the decision and plans will be uploaded on the Council website
under ‘Meetings and Agendas – Hearings’.
If you have any queries, please contact Jennifer Chivers by email and quote the application number BUN60340161-LUC60360142 and SUB60340163
After a very disruptive year we were finally able to hold our Neighbour’s Day on 5th Dec, just before end of 2020! The highlight of the day was a poetry walk with Art Nahil, our local poet. During a one-hour walkabout, he spoke about how Waiatarua Reserve inspired his current book. Art’s book Waiatarura: Reflection of an Urban Wetland is under publication and will be available for sale soon – we will keep you posted. Everyone enjoyed the walk and has a new appreciation for this local gem. Here are some photos and videos of the day:
Our last meeting of 2020 was held on the 8th of December. As well as enjoying the company of our residents we enjoyed hearing one of Art Nahill’s poems about the Waiatarua Reserve black swans.
There was good news from Councillor Desley Simpson and OLB Chair Scott Milne about the local links for the shared path.
We also presented Eugenia Aon with our Photography Competition People’s Choice award for this photo:
The Auckland Council Emergency Budget, created to take into account a half-billion dollar revenue hit from COVID-19, was passed on Thursday 16 July 2020:
500 Council jobs will go
Rates will increase on average of 3.5%
Council will need to sell $224 million of assets in the next eight months.
The rise in rates has promoted numerous queries and Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore has issued this response to rate rise criticism Rates Response Deputy Mayor 202007.
Finally … Section 2 of the GI to Tamaki Dr Shared Path Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai is underway with the first sod getting turned on 31 July 2020. For details of the construction plan see the AT Press Release.
Ōrākei Local Board and Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association would like to invite you to join our 2020 Neighbours Day celebration – date to be advised.
We are organising great activities, including; photo competition, photo exhibition, historic photo treasure hunting, community heritage walks, food and drink, and of course, prizes for the best photos.
Here are few hints to help you with the photo competition:
Wildlife & Green Spaces – subjects could be animals, small creatures, birds or wildflowers and plants among local reserves and parks. Focussing on a subject with green or open space in the background would make the image more interesting.
People & Everyday Life – photos of people that we see and relate to everyday – teachers, shoppers in the mall, delivery people, work colleagues, family and friends – each going on with their daily routine, perhaps someone of special interest to the photographer.
Buildings & Architecture – look for old, new, unusual or especially architecturally designed buildings, perhaps of historical or community value.
Historic Photo Treasure Hunt – look for buildings no longer existing or ones that have been restored or extended – e.g. houses, shop buildings, churches, schools.
Participate in one or all the activities, meet your neighbours and be in to win a prize too.
