For our latest newsletter, please see our newsletters page. If you have local news you’d like us to share, contact us via our contact page.
Posted: 7 December 2016
We are excited to announce that the first stage of the Eastern Path (aka Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared walkway/cycleway) will be opening on Friday December 9, 2016!
Just in time for the weekend!
We’ll bring you more information when we explore the path after the opening ceremony.
Posted: 2 December 2016
Posted: 11 November 2016
We took to the streets (well the comfort of Meadowbank Mall actually) on a busy Saturday morning to meet more locals, raise awareness of our association, and ask the question ‘Are Meadowbank & St Johns Auckland’s most liveable suburbs?’
Despite the relatively small sample size, the results were interesting!
We had an even split: 50% said yes and 50% said no.
Among the things people liked were our parks, public transport access and our central location.
What didn’t people like? Read the full results here (we presented them at our meeting on November 1).
Do you agree? Let us know what you think – email us your thoughts at .
Posted: 2 November 2016
A member of our association, Richard Roxburgh, is petitioning Auckland Transport to include a bus link from the suburbs of Meadowbank & St Johns to their in-zone schools, St Thomas’s School and Selwyn College.
Richard is a parent of children at Selwyn College, and believes the new bus network (announced this year and which will go into effect in 2017) is missing a critical link to our local schools, particularly for pre- and after-school activities.
(See also: ‘Auckland residents petition for beach and school bus service‘, East and Bays Courier, November 11, 2016)
A map showing both the 708 and 729 routes are shown in the map below.
Please download the Bus Petition Form (PDF) and send back to Richard on .
Note that the information that you provide will be used specifically for the purpose of this petition to Auckland Transport. It will not be shared with any other third party.
Posted: 22 October 2016
Unfortunately, Auckland Transport has declined our request to speak at our November meeting.
However they have written a letter in response to several specific safety issues that we raised with them. The issues of concern all focus on Meadowbank Rd.
Read a full copy of the letter (PDF): Letter from Auckland Transport regarding Meadowbank Rd Issues, dated 20 October 2016.
A summary is below.
In the letter, AT says they will investigate the following issues that we raised:
In addition, the letter says that AT have declined to proceed with further investigation or plans for the below issues:
Posted: 15 October 2016
The Colin Maiden Park Master Plan (which was adopted by Orakei Local Board on 4 August 2016) shows new facilities for hockey, swimming, gymnastics and more, plus accommodation for sports teams.
Colin Maiden Park was bought by Auckland Council (following strong lobbying by Orakei Local Board) in 2013.
Last year, Auckland Council consulted the public on their preferred use of the park and which sports should be represented. (See our news article ‘How should Colin Maiden Park be used?‘) The public was presented with three scenarios: each option showed different degrees of development and amenities for new sports such as swimming and hockey, buildings and car-parking.
The Master Plan was created from public feedback (with certain amendments) from these three scenarios.
The final Colin Maiden Park Precinct Master Plan was adopted by Orakei Local Board at a meeting on 4 August 2016, and subject to funding, shows how Colin Maiden Park will be developed for sport and recreational use.
You can view the full plan at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Further to the Master Plan document, the meeting minutes and meeting agenda provide further information.
In summary, the Master Plan shows:
Click on the image to see a full-size view
Click on the image to see a full-size view. Plus here is the full list of facilities at Colin Maiden Park.
Posted: 13 October 2016
From our friends at Neighbourly, here are some useful posters to let your neighbourhood trick-or-treaters know whether they’re welcome (or not) at your house. Click to download:
Halloween free home (PDF)
Trick or treaters welcome (PDF)
Posted: 13 October 2016
Calling all artists in Meadowbank and St Johns, and the wider Orakei area… could you or someone you know create an original artwork that reflects the theme ‘Celebrate!’
This could be just the motivation you need: St Chads Church is holding a ‘Celebrate Art Competition’ where you can display (and possibly sell) your work!
Three age categories to go for, in 2D and 3D art: primary school, secondary school and adult.
Competition judging will take place at this year’s Community Christmas Event on Saturday 3 December (a date to mark in your calendars).
Posted: 27 September 2016
The annual Pourewa Valley Clean Up in Selwyn Bush took place again on Sunday 18th September.
There was almost panic at the disco at organiser Carmel Claridge’s house when the morning’s weather brought high winds and lashing rain – definitely not ideal conditions for clearing rubbish from difficult and exposed terrain. The cooler head of Meadowbank St Johns Residents’ Association Chair Tim Duguid prevailed, and after a check on the weather forecast, the decision to go ahead with the event was made.
Almost miraculously, half an hour before kick-off the skies cleared and out came the sun. Troops assembled at the carpark behind the ASB Stadium, gumboots on and spades at the ready.
We had 32 volunteers turn up to lend a helping hand. We were delighted to see some new faces turning up for this event. Special mention to Piri Enua – decked out in the best ‘work safe’ gear for the day and an absolute godsend when it came to the heavy lifting.
Over three hours our volunteers manhandled sheets of roofing iron, old mattresses, 2 rusty fridges, car wheel axels, and much much more. Two skips were provided for the event courtesy of Waste Management. One was filled with a load of scrap iron which we hope will be usefully recycled. The other took general rubbish, including over 50 sacks of waste.
Unusual items extracted from the bush included an old pedal car and a bike rack.
The event was run as part of Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean up week and gloves, rubbish sacks and promotional material were provided to assist.
Meadowbank St Johns Residents’ Association provided tea, coffee, and some of the best home baking in town (bakers Julie Robson, Linda McCarthny, and Amanda Nicholas we salute you!)
It was great to see some of our local politicians in attendance helping to do their bit to look after our treasured green spaces. Desley Simpson, our Local Board Chair and aspiring Council candidate, put in a sterling effort as did Local Board candidates David Wong and Dorthe Siggaard.
Friends of Pourewa Chair Carmel Claridge says. “The implementation of the Unitary Plan will increase demands on our recreational facilities – now more than ever, it is really important we reach out to the community to encourage them to get involved in caring for our precious parks. The Pourewa Valley and the regenerating areas of native bush it emcompasses are vital for our well-being. We must never take it for granted.”
We’d like to thank everyone who did their bit to contribute to the success of this event. Please join us again next year and bring your friends & whanau!
Volunteers Craig Reynolds, Bruce Barnett, Piri Enua with Friends of Pourewa Valley committee member Martin Heffer – Filling the 9m3 Waste Managment skip with scrap metal. Well done boys!
Julie Robson, a committee member of Friends of Pourewa Valley, with her daughter Isla enjoying the Clean Up day in Selwyn Bush
We made it into the Milestones page of the East and Bays Courier!
Posted: 27 September 2016
Following publication of the Unitary Plan last month, we compiled a dossier of background information in support of a possible appeal by Councillor Brewer to the re-zoning of the Driveway from Public Open Space (Cemetery) to Mixed Housing (Suburban).
The time period allowed for appeals is now up (other than any that may have made it to the environment court) and to our knowledge, no changes have been made to the zoning of the Driveway.
We expect many residents will be disappointed with this outcome, and notwithstanding that the Driveway is privately owned, will be keen to know what the Purewa Cemetery Trust Board (PCTB) intends.
We are considering how to best to take this matter forward, and look forward to engaging constructively with the PCTB in due course.
 Purewa Cemetery Driveway – before rezoning in Unitary Plan |
 Purewa Cemetery Driveway – after rezoning in Unitary Plan |