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Posted: 19 May 2015
Here is the footage from the ‘Good Sorts’ segment featuring Roy Clements that aired on TV1 news, Sunday 17 April.
Roy was responsible for regenerating several overgrown areas within Pourewa Valley with native bush, and also helped set up the refugee learning centre attached to Selwyn College.
Posted: 8 May 2015
Are you part of a local group that wants to run a community project within the Orakei Local Board area within the next year?
Round three of the Orakei Local Board Community Funding scheme is now open and is closing Friday 15 May at 9pm. Please ensure you submit your application before the closing time as no late applications will be accepted.
The local board recognises the vital role that community groups and organisations play in developing strong, sustainable communities and want to assist these groups and organisations to provide activities, projects, programmes, initiatives and events that make a positive contribution in the local area.
Priority will be given to groups that are from the local board area and align with the local boards priorities. The board will not fund legal costs, debt repayment or activities promoting particular political goals or religious ministry. Applicants are advised that the average grant is between $500 and $5000, however larger amounts will be considered in some cases. No retrospective grants will be awarded.
For further information and to apply for community funding please see the Auckland Council website:
Posted: 29 April 2015
A reminder to all that our $10 per household fee is due for 2015.
Our financial year runs from April 1 – March 31, so fees are due again now.
For details on how to pay and to find out what your money is used for, see our Join page.
Thank you!
Posted: 17 April 2015
St Johns Theological College is looking for housing or retirement village proposals for a 127-year lease of the 2.5ha empty field on the Eastern side of the College.
See the ‘Prime land on offer‘ article from the East and Bays Courier, 10 April 2015.
Posted: 14 April 2015
MBSJRA Transport Subcommittee Co-leader Carmel Claridge attended a guided walk in the Pourewa Valley. She learned of the fantastic work being done by local groups in restoring the native bush and the vision for walk/cycleways in the valley to connect Meadowbank/St Johns to the city and Kepa Rd. Below is her report.
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On Saturday 11th April, Roy Clements hosted a walk through the Selwyn Park/Bush area (also known as the Pourewa Valley) for the Orakei Local Board, Meadowbank & St Johns Residents Association (MBSJRA) and other interested parties.
Roy, and a number of individuals and volunteer groups (such as the Pourewa Restoration Group) have been working for over 14 years to maintain and develop this stunning piece of land – clearing rubbish and noxious weeds, restoring the native bush, planting, and creating pathways and natural corridors.
In attendance from the Orakei Local Board were Kit Parkinson and Mark Thomas. The Local Board are interested in connecting its existing walkway up the valley from the Orakei Basin and continuing the existing Council pathway that presently concludes at the Kepa Bush boundary.
The site is also of vital importance to provide access to Selwyn College & St Thomas’s Primary School from the Meadowbank / St Johns Area. If access points across the train lines are built to connect with the upcoming Eastern Path (Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes Shared Path) project, it would then be a reasonably straightforward exercise to improve on existing dirt tracks to enable pedestrian access through the Pourewa Valley up to those schools and Kohimarama Rd. The Local Board have funding to contribute to access points and it is important for the local community to continue to be involved in the decision as to where those access points are to be established.
A property of particular interest to Orakei Local Board (and the MBSJRA Transport Subcommittee) is on Gowing Drive. The property consists of 2 titles with one existing dwelling and runs down to the train tracks. It would be an ideal location for an access point.
Roy is keen to see the Pourewa Valley protected and a plan put into place to continue the invaluable work that has gone into this project. The problem of course is funding – or lack of it, to be more precise. But in the meantime it is vital the local community are made aware of this amenity and the benefits it can potentially deliver in the future.
Representatives from the Board will look at providing some signage to help raise awareness of this lovely piece of urban jungle which hopefully will lead to greater usage and appreciation by the local community.
Left – right: Carmel Claridge (MBSJRA), Roy Clements, Mark Thomas (OLB), Kit Parkinson (OLB) and Jane (Forest & Bird Society)
Posted: 27 March 2015
Housing New Zealand held a drop-in meeting on March 25 for locals to come and learn more about the Special Housing Areas (SHAs) being planned for Meadowbank.
Some photos are below.
Locals at the drop-in meeting about Meadowbank SHAs held at Meadowbank Community Centre on March 25, 2015
Architect’s impression of the development at 78-82 Tahapa Crescent – one of the three SHAs planned for Meadowbank
Overview of the houses going into SHA on the existing two sites on Puroto and Purewa Streets, Meadowbank
Posted: 22 March 2015
St Johns Theological College kindly opened their grounds to local residents on Saturday 21 March and provided a history of the area, guided tours, and Easter-themed kids activities.
A big thank you to St Johns College staff and students who meticulously planned this event, gave us the warmest of welcomes and created an informative and fun day for all.
Some photos are below.
Cookie Monster cupcakes were a hit with the kids… as were the face painting, balloon animals, painting and drawing. Thanks to St Johns College Preschool. Photo credit: Gretchen Carroll.
The magnificent chapel built in 1846. Photo credit: Carmel Claridge.
The head stone of Governor General, Sir Paul Reeves
Massive trees throughout the grounds – many with interesting stories of how their seeds travelled to New Zealand.
Fascinating tours were conducted in small groups in the beautiful grounds of St Johns Theological College.
Posted: 9 March 2015
Orakei Local Board wants to know by March 22 what dog access rules you think should be in place on several beaches and reserves in our area, including
Your feedback will be used to inform a review of dog access rules on the selected beaches and parks in the Orakei local board area.
Visit http://shapeauckland.co.nz/consultations/local-dog-access-survey/ and click on the link to Orakei to take the survey.
The survey contains more focussed questions based on information collected from a more general survey in March 2014. It should take 12 minutes to complete and closes on 22 March 2015.
Posted: 27 February 2015
Auckland Council is replacing the playgrounds at Rutherford Reserve (main entrance from Archdall St in Meadowbank) and Ruka Reserve (entrances from Ruka Lane and Taitokerau St in St Johns).
Proposed designs and equipment are shown below. Feedback is welcome – send to by Friday March 6.
Construction expected to begin in spring with completion expected in December 2015. Note that the flying fox will remain; it is just out of scope for these plans.
Download a PDF version of the Rutherford Reserve Playground Design: Rutherford layout PDF
Construction is expected to begin in August and be completed by mid-September, depending on the weather.
Download a PDF version of the Ruka Reserve playground design: Ruka layout PDF
Posted: 27 February 2015
Orakei Local Board (OLB) and Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association (MBSJRA) held an information evening on February 26 to help locals better understand Auckland Council’s Long-term Plan and 10 year budget (Household Summary and submission document pictured on right) in time for the submission deadline of 4pm, March 16. We heard from three groups:
A summary of what we heard is below.
Desley Simpson walked us through what the Long-term Plan will mean for Orakei residents. In a nutshell, despite ratepayers in Orakei ward contributing the highest rates in Auckland (estimated to be $1 billion dollars over 10 years), and rates forecast to increase by at least 6.5% on average in Orakei ward , less than 10% of those rates will be spent on projects within the ward.
The only projects in Orakei to receive funding in this Long-term Plan (i.e. until FY2020/2021) are lights at Ngapipi/Kepa Rd intersection, three sets of traffic lights on Orakei Rd at the Orakei Point development, and a ‘Meadowbank Park and Ride’.
Among the projects in Orakei Local Board’s long term plan that are not receiving funding or have funding deferred are:
–> The developer of the Orakei Point development has confirmed the traffic lights are part of the development budget, and we understand from Auckland Transport that there is no such thing as a Meadowbank Park and Ride as it is within the 10km exclusion zone for park and rides! So effectively apart from the intersection at Ngapipi/Kepa Rds, there is no spending at all budgeted for Orakei in the next ten years.
–> Make sure you include some of the other projects above in your submission!
Desley then walked us through the Transport options in the Long-term Plan. In the pictured Household Summary and submission form, Aucklanders are being asked to submit on whether they prefer one of two options: a ‘Basic Transport Network’ requiring an average of 3.5% rates rise (i.e. 6.5% in Orakei ward) or the ‘Auckland Plan Transport Network’ (see Household Summary booklet for details).
-> Key points are that ratepayers do have the right to reject both options in their submissions if they disagree with the rates increases, projects and timings (e.g. City Rail Link) outlined under each plan.
Cr Cameron Brewer talked briefly about replacing two CCOs with a new development agency. This is covered in Question 3 in the Household Summary booklet.
-> Key points to consider is whether you think the new agency, which would be run by private interests, would serve ratepayers well.
-> A higher UAGC would reduce the rates burden on Orakei ward ratepayers.
Desley Simpson presenting to Meadowbank and St Johns locals at a meeting about the Long-term Plan and 10 year budget
Mark Topham from local action group ‘RatesBusters’ presented next. RatesBusters recently formed to advocate on behalf of those who are concerned about projected rates rises, the financial management of ratepayer money by Auckland Council, and reduced investment back into local communities. They have calculated that local rates are likely to double in the next 7 years, according to the below graph:
RatesBusters have prepared a Long-term Plan submission document that advocates Council returning to core services and that rates should increase no more than the rate of inflation. If you share these views, you can join the group by emailing Mark on or Carmel on . They can send you more information and a draft submission for the Long-term Plan.
Latest updates on the Eastern Path from Auckland Transport rep Aaron Hutching:
