Healthy Tairāwhiti « Caddie in Council 2010-2013

GISCOSS Candidates Survey

21 09 2010

Here are the results of the Gisborne East Coast Council of Social Services – Questions for DHB & GDC Candidates…

1. Do you think Gisborne District Council should continue to facilitate the process for desired community-wide social, economic, environmental and cultural outcomes even if it was not a requirement in legislation?

Name of Candidate	Response
Andy Cranston	Yes – Definitely. Though we may be in partnerships or collaborations for this purpose.
Clive Bibby	Yes
Allan Hall	Yes
Anne Pardoe	Yes
Brian Wilson	Yes
Manu Caddie	Yes – it’s a no-brainer… GDC is the only district-wide, public institution that can coordinate these aspirations, if GDC does not do this then no other organisation is going to and we will have a much more fragmented community as a result.
Murray Palmer	Yes
Owen Lloyd	Yes
Rehette Stoltz	Yes
Steve Scragg	Yes – so long as it was only to facilitate and coordinate
Tina Karaitiana	Yes – it seems a shame that a Council would require legislation being the Local Government Act to do so. Communities work best when we consider all of the things that impact on people’s lives, and not just rubbish, roads and rates. All of these areas do not stand alone, they are all inter-related and are each in their own right critically important to our identity and our ability to create a community that is progressive. In a nutshell, we will never meet the needs and do our job as councillors’ justice if we don’t know what outcomes the community want us to achieve.
Don Blakeney	No comment
Larry Foster	Yes
Nona Aston	Yes Definately

2. Which Community Organisations have you had active involvement with in the past five years?

Name of Candidate	Response
Andy Cranston	Council Committees: Community Development, Wastewater Management, Civil Defence and Environmental and Policy. Volunteered on to Youth Transition Service which I chair. Youth Voice Heart of Gisborne Arts and Culture Advisory Panel Gisborne Boardriders Club (Executive member) Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti (Trustee) Wainui Community Group I attend virtually all the community consultation meetings in the city ward Affordable housing is an area of interest Also in the past have been a Board of Trustee member for Awapuni School and Lytton High School
Clive Bibby	Tolaga Bay save the Wharf Trust Dr Paratene Ngata Coastguard Rescue Boat – Tolaga Bay Tolaga Bay Foreshore Development Trust
Allan Hall	Citizens Advice Bureau Holy Trinity Church Rotary
Anne Pardoe	Chamber of Commerce (past president) Rotarian Gisborne West Rotary QUEST Charitable Trust (Foundation Trustee) SPCA
Brian Wilson	YMCA Tairawhiti Youth Voice CPHAC/DSAC health board committee Healthy Homes Retrofit steering committee
Manu Caddie	Waikirikiri School, Board of Trustees (Chairperson) Gisborne Cycling Advisory Group (Chairperson) Tairawhiti Housing Advisory Group (Convenor) · Presbyterian Support East Coast (Board Member) Whanau Ora (Tairawhiti Regional Advisory Group Member) Te Ora Hou Te Tairawhiti Trust (Trustee) Gisborne Council of Social Services (Executive Member) Tairawhiti Men Against Violence (Foundation Member) Gisborne Chamber of Commerce (Executive Member) · Rongo-i-te-Kai Marae (Treasurer) · Te Puna Reo o Puhi Kaiti (Whanau Committee Member) · Te Toka o Te Kokonga Te Kohanga Reo (Whanau Committee Member) · Council for International Development (National Board Member) Tairawhiti Youth Workers Collective (Chairperson) National Youth Workers Network Aotearoa (National Working Party Member
Murray Palmer	Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka Inc. Te Rakato Marae Tairawhiti Environment Centre Whakaki Lake Trust Te Penu Marae Transition Tairawhiti
Owen Lloyd	Truancy BOT Lytton and Whatatutu GISCOSS NZCOSS Social Services ITO YOTS Te Kupenga net Trust Tairawhiti District Police Advisory Group Trustee of Mangatu marae Arts in Public Places.
Rehette Stoltz	Whataupoko Playcentre Montessori Pre-School Sunshine Service Central Baptist Church
Steve Scragg	East Coast Hawke’s bay Conservation Board New Zealand Fish and Game Council
Tina Karaitiana	Tairawhiti Men Against Violence Women’s Institute Maori Women’s Welfare League Women’s Refuge Te Whare Whaia Matauranga Eastland Helicopter Trust Super Grans Gisborne Budgeting Services
Don Blakeney	Ngati Porou Uawa FM Whanau Whanui Kohanga Reo Te Aho o te Kura Pounamu (correspondence) NZ Film Commission Tolaga Bay Area School Gisborne Netball Association Uawa FM Netball Club Tokomaru Bay Netball Club Uawa Rugby Club Uawa Boardriders Club 48Hour Film Festival Dancing with the Pa’s Anaura Bay Youth Anaura Association Charitable Trust (Chairperson) Public Health Nutrition Ltd Sport Eastland Cre8tive Tairawhiti Tolaga Bay Area School Netball Club
Larry Foster	Heart of Gisborne Gisborne Port Company
Nona Aston	Te Whanau Aroha Positive Aging Te Kupenga Cancer Society GISCOSS Problem Gambling Kaumatua Group Road Action Committee Safe Tairawhiti Housing Action Group E Tu Elgin Aikinson and Taruheru Crescent Mangapapa Residents Rotary Gisborne Sister Cities keep Gisborne Beautiful City Safe Youth Council YTS Chair Health Camp School now Age Concern

3. Do you support the idea of a bylaw requiring a Warrant of Fitness (to ensure basic health and safety requirements are met) before any property is rented in the District?

Name of Candidate	Response
Andy Cranston	Yes – I am often horrified by the standard of many rental properties. Renting property is a partnership with responsibilities sides and often a higher standard by the landlord will be met with a higher standard of upkeep by the tenant. Unfortunately many landlords do not seriously assess and meet their responsibility and are coming up well short. It is a shame that a bylaw would be a requirement but a sad reality that sometimes the right thing needs to be enforced.
Clive Bibby	Yes
Allan Hall	No
Anne Pardoe	Yes – This is a residential tenancies act
Brian Wilson	Yes – In principal but would need to see the ramifications first of doing so
Manu Caddie	Yes – I have been promoting the idea through the Tairawhiti Housing Advisory Group
Murray Palmer	Yes – but note possibilities for work in lieu of rent where house safe etc
Owen Lloyd	Yes
Rehette Stoltz	Yes
Steve Scragg	No – I see this as a role of the Department of Building and Housing and the Health Department.
Tina Karaitiana	Yes – on the basis that the proposal is not beaucracy gone bad and not another strategy to generate huge amounts of revenue from landlords. My support is on the basis that healthy housing is a basic fundamental of good health and that we need to support standards that could increase the living conditions for the most vulnerable in our community. We lead many of the worst health statistics in the country and we need to think wider about how we can work collaboratively to address this. These are not good statistics that boost the image of our community. Those landlords who rent out safe, clean and healthy homes will have nothing to worry about.
Don Blakeney	No comment
Larry Foster	No
Nona Aston	Yes I would the problem would be the practical vetting of it

4. Would you support a proposal to require a permit to consume alcohol consumption in public places?

Names of Candidates	Responses
Andy Cranston	Yes – It is generally not necessary or desirable to consume alcohol in public places. It would be fantastic if alcohol consumption was partaken in a responsible and considerate manner, but that is very often not the case. Should an event or initiative be planned where consumption of alcohol was deemed to be appropriate then I believe the controls around meeting permit conditions would offer an appropriate enforcement tool.
Clive Bibby	Yes
Allan Hall	Yes
Anne Pardoe	Yes
Brian Wilson	Yes – again I would support some extra controls on alcohol consumption but would need to see the pros and cons of doing so
Manu Caddie	Yes – especially around parks, reserves and beaches
Murray Palmer	Yes – if that was the consensus of health providers etc
Owen Lloyd	Yes
Rehette Stoltz	Yes
Steve Scragg	No – not with out further information on its implementation
Tina Karaitiana	No – when we think about what we are trying to address when we put restrictions on drinking in public places it is to generally address drunkenness, violence, damage to property and harm to people, even perceived feelings of being unsafe. The people that are likely to get a permit are unlikely to be offenders in any of these categories and the offenders unlikely to get a permit, so a waste of time and paper. There are already laws available to the police to address this type of behaviour and drinking in public places is currently under Sale of Liquor Act review so direction on this issue would be lead nationally and not at a local level. However liquor bans can be used at a local level to address problem areas or to protect areas that alcohol shouldn’t be publicly consumed at, ie children’s playgrounds.
Don Blakeney	No Comment
Larry Foster	No
Nona Aston	Yes definitely again it is the practical vetting. I would rather see a by law saying which places it was allowed.

5. Do you support the proposal for Tairawhiti Youth Voice to have a non-voting seat on Gisborne District Council?

Name of Candidate	Response
Andy Cranston	Undecided – As a member of Youth Voice committee I absolutely want to say yes but there are some very practical issues to be worked through first. This of course would set a precedent to dozens of other organisations to have a seat and the council process could very quickly become compromised and unwieldy. This initiative is a great tool for our Youth though with regards to learning and mentoring and it is definitely worth further consideration. As a start point I would be trialling a non voting seat on the Community Development Committee.
Clive Bibby	No
Allan Hall	Yes
Anne Pardoe	No
Brian Wilson	Yes – as I am one of the ones promoting this idea
Manu Caddie	Yes – this is an excellent proposal and would require some ongoing support from GDC staff and local youth workers
Murray Palmer	Yes
Owen Lloyd	Yes
Rehette Stoltz	Yes
Steve Scragg	Yes – but would rather see a Tairawhiti youth council, we need to grow, develop our future community leaders
Tina Karaitiana	Yes – I believe that youth voice is critically important for our district. However I’m unsure whether a non-voting seat is the most effective way or only way to achieve this. What I do know is that we have a high youth population, they are our districts future and we need to get it right. I would need to speak with TYV to see how they think the relationship between Council and TYV could work best but I am in support of TYV and the young people who give their time to make our community a better place. We definitely need to utilise their skills more and the fresh perspective that they can bring not just to youth issues but to community issues in general.
Don Blakeney	Yes
Larry Foster	Yes
Nona Aston	Yes definitely

6. Overall do you think GDC is effective in involving people affected in decisions that affect them?

Name of Candidate	Response
Andy Cranston	Yes – GDC has been putting a lot of effort into consultation and really trying to find a way. There are frequent community meetings which are strategically placed throughout the region to enable high level participation. Management have continued to work with staff to enhance their customer service levels. I believe as councillors we have huge responsibilities in this area and should be available and participate at every opportunity. Our vote is on behalf and it is absolutely appropriate that we understand the community views on all manner of issues. We must be available and participate with all affected persons to have the ability to make any decisions on their behalf.
Clive Bibby	Yes
Allan Hall	Yes
Anne Pardoe	Yes
Brian Wilson	Yes – Council has got a lot better at doing this in the last couple of years but still needs to work on clever ways to more involve the community.
Manu Caddie	No – but there have been some real improvements since the new CEO has been in the job and new managers for Engineering & Works and Community Planning & Development.
Murray Palmer	No – not always – but very variable
Owen Lloyd	No
Rehette Stoltz	Yes
Steve Scragg	No
Tina Karaitiana	No – but I appreciate that often council is stuck in a hard place, with very limited resources, limited room for negotiations and many competing priorities however we can do better and we need to acknowledge the skills, ideas and local knowledge that our communities and subsectors of the community have. And to be honest, Council is more likely to get it right when we fully understand how these decisions that we make will affect people in our community. It’s far easier to consult properly and make well informed decisions than to be going back to redress poorly informed decisions, not to mention the cost of doing a job more than once.
Don Blakeney	No
Larry Foster	Yes
Nona Aston	Yes I think it is now on the right track . There is still a lot of work to be done but the staff have been really good and need support to get it better.

7. How confident are you that GDC has effectively implemented the Disability Strategy?

Name of Candidate	Response
Andy Cranston	Confident – The strategy has been ratified and is a work in progress. I believe awareness is growing and there is a lot more appreciation of the purpose and need for such a strategy.
Clive Bibby	Confident
Allan Hall	Confident
Anne Pardoe	Confident
Brian Wilson	Confident – at least that is what feedback I am getting from this sector. However the area that has not been dealt with sufficiently so far is the access of people with mobility scooters and other disabled people crossing roads especially at intersections and round a bouts.
Manu Caddie	Confident – there have been a number of practical actions taking such as installing ramps and fixing the crossings near roundabouts, kneeling buses, larger more obvious mobility parking spaces in the CBD, etc. but much more work needs to be done including a pedestrian crossing on Childers Rd near the CBD, responding to the needs of residents with disabilities in rural areas and an audit of Council facilities in relation to the needs of children and young people with disabilities
Murray Palmer	Not Sure
Owen Lloyd	Not Confident
Rehette Stoltz	Not Sure
Steve Scragg	Confident/ Not Sure
Tina Karaitiana	As a new prospect I am unable to answer this question, the best people to answer it are the disabled community, their families and workers in the sector, they would see daily the differences that this strategy may have made to their lives and if I was elected, I would be sure to involve this sector of the community in all stages of the strategy, making changes as we need to along the way so that they are able to participate as fully as possible in our community
Don Blakeney	Not Confident
Larry Foster	Confident
Nona Aston	Confident we can keep it up together

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Categories : Healthy Tairāwhiti, Positive Leadership, Empowered Tairāwhiti, Social Development, Local Governance, Relationships, Our Children & Youth, Our Elders, Our Families, Employment, Safe Tairāwhiti

Profile & Priorities

14 09 2010

Te Poho-o-Rawiri, Waitangi Day, 2010

I am standing for Council because I want to encourage much more public participation in discussions and decisions about the future for our communities. Diversity around the council table is important so the district leadership truly reflects the people they serve and we all move ahead together.

I moved to Gisborne with my wife Natasha Koia in 1998 to provide care for her elderly grandparents. We still live with her grandmother and now have our own family with two young children.

I have a degree in communication design, a post-graduate teaching qualification and have worked as a graphic designer, teacher, researcher and community organiser. My research and project management business was established in 2004 with local, national and international clients including the Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Education and The World Bank. I currently hold governance roles with the Board of Trustees for Waikirikiri School and Presbyterian Support East Coast, and I served three years on the board of the NZ Council for International Development.

More information about my priorities, track record and a list of respected locals who endorse my election are available at: www.manu.org.nz

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Question 1. Rates

Our region currently has huge infrastructure, transport and energy costs, low incomes and limited employment options. I would support Council appointment of a skilled advocate to influence central government so that any impact of national regulations are fully understood and compensated for by central government not ratepayers.

GDC needs to get much smarter at securing external resourcing for major projects. We need much more sophisticated negotiation skills to make the case for private and public investment in local infrastructure.

We should establish a ‘50,000 Taskforce’ with the goal of reaching this population by 2020. Design and implement an aggressive national and international marketing campaign to attract world class talent to relocate to the region bringing expertise and increased earnings.

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Question 2. Infrastructure

Cycling and walking needs to be made much easier and safer than it is at present.

We need to urgently establish alternatives to more logging trucks in the city. We need the companies benefitting to pay for the constant road upgrades required.

The rail needs a rescue plan in place by April – based on a robust study of the options not rushed reports.

We need ultra-fast free broadband to every home by 2012.

We need a bylaw requiring all rental homes to pass a Warrant of Fitness to reduce the negative health, education, financial and social outcomes from substandard housing.

The community needs to think about and decide how we best support local businesses and how much big box retail we want in our town. We should take a different development path to places like Tauranga.

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Question 3. Council involvement with economic and community development

The sobering social and economic issues in our region are not just statistics – they have faces and names as friends, family and neighbours.

Council doesn’t need to lead economic development but needs to ensure it is smart and takes into account potential impacts on social, environmental and cultural wellbeing. Similarly council doesn’t need to lead community development but needs to work with residents and other stakeholders to ensure communities lead their own development.

Local authorities should have a key role in coordinating central government funding coming into our region for social and economic development to make sure it is lined up with local priorities. I will encourage council support for residents groups at neighbourhood and village level to determine local priorities and development plans.

Question 4. Council provision of facilities and events for young people

Council doesn’t need to provide these directly, but should work with young people, community organisations and businesses to develop more opportunities for young people. This could include computer clubhouses, homework centres, all ages music venues, business incubators, community gardens, and sports and recreation facilities.

Young people are full citizens and Council should provide a non-voting seat for the Tairawhiti Youth Council around the Council table and on all committees.

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Question 5. Biggest environmental problems

Significant challenges facing the district include farm and beach erosion, waterway sedimentation, agro-chemical pollution, minerals exploration, native habitat destruction, increased risk from extreme weather and our dependence on oil-based energy.

However one of the most important issues is the need to secure a collective commitment to adjust our lifestyles to ensure future generations are also able to enjoy the abundance we have been blessed with.

Council should lead by example – using more solar energy, providing loans paid off by rates for solar water heating, switching to hybrid vehicles, using bicycles around the CBD and planting vegetables in public gardens.

Council should facilitate more environmental education and community action and establish a regional Environmental Forum with statutory agencies, businesses and non-government organisations to identify, plan and monitor action to address priority environmental issues.

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Categories : Community Outcomes, Connected Tairāwhiti, Cultural Capital, Educated Tairāwhiti, Employment, Empowered Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Local Governance, Local Issues, Our Children & Youth, Our Elders, Our Families, Positive Leadership, Prosperous Tairāwhiti, Regional Economy, Regional Infrastructure, Relationships, Safe Tairāwhiti, Social Development, Sustainable Tairāwhiti, Tangata Whenua, Vibrant Tairāwhiti

GISCOSS Survey

8 09 2010

Gisborne East Coast Council of Social Services sent a questionnaire to all GDC candidates – these are my responses to their questions:

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(a) YES – it’s a no-brainer… GDC is the only district-wide, public institution that can coordinate these aspirations, if GDC does not do this then no other organisation is going to and we will have a much more fragmented community as a result.

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2. Which community organisations have you had active involvement with in the past five years?

Waikirikiri School, Board of Trustees (Chairperson)
Gisborne Cycling Advisory Group (Chairperson)
Tairawhiti Housing Advisory Group (Convenor)
Presbyterian Support East Coast (Board Member)
Whanau Ora (Tairawhiti Regional Advisory Group Member)
Te Ora Hou Te Tairawhiti Trust (Trustee)
Gisborne Council of Social Services (Executive Member)
Tairawhiti Men Against Violence (Foundation Member)
Gisborne Chamber of Commerce (Executive Member)
Rongo-i-te-Kai Marae (Treasurer)
Te Puna Reo o Puhi Kaiti (Whanau Committee Member)
Te Toka o Te Kokonga Te Kohanga Reo (Whanau Committee Member)
Council for International Development (National Board Member)
Tairawhiti Youth Workers Collective (Chairperson)
National Youth Workers Network Aotearoa (National Working Party Member)

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3. Do you support the idea of a bylaw requiring a Warrant of Fitness (to ensure basic health and safety requirements are met) before any property is rented in the District?

(a) YES – I have been promoting the idea through the Tairawhiti Housing Advisory Group

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4. Would you support a proposal to require a permit to consume alcohol consumption in public places?

(a) YES – especially around parks, reserves and beaches

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5. Do you support the proposal for Tairawhiti Youth Voice to have a non-voting seat on Gisborne District Council?

(a) YES – this is an excellent proposal and would require some ongoing support from GDC staff and local youth workers.

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6. Overall do you think GDC is effective in involving people affected in decisions that affect them?

(b) NO – but there have been some real improvements since the new CEO has been in the job and new managers for Engineering & Works and Community Planning & Development.

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7. How confident are you that GDC has effectively implemented the Disability Strategy?

(b) CONFIDENT – there have been a number of practical actions taken over the past few years such as installing ramps and fixing the crossings near roundabouts, kneeling buses, larger more obvious mobility parking spaces in the CBD, etc. but much more work needs to be done including a pedestrian crossing on Childers Rd near the CBD, responding to the needs of residents with disabilities in rural areas and an audit of Council facilities in relation to the needs of children and young people with disabilities.

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Categories : Connected Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Empowered Tairāwhiti, Social Development, Our Children & Youth, Our Elders, Our Families, Safe Tairāwhiti

Wainui/Okitu Issues

7 09 2010

Wainui Beach Erosion - accelerated by subdivision stormwater?

Wainui/Okitu Residents & Ratepayers Association Inc. (www.wainuibeach.org.nz) sent a set of very good questions to all city ward candidates to respond to – below are my responses.

This community has had a difficult time dealing with GDC over the years and a lot of goodwill has been lost – I hope it is starting to be rebuilt and that a new Council can make a much better effort to listen and respond in supportive ways to the wisdom and priorities of neighbourhoods, villages and communities.

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1. Wainui/Okitu has been noted for its existing special character. What do you think of Wainui/Okitu’s unique character, and what would you do, as a Councillor, to enhance, nurture and protect this asset?

As a Councillor I would support the development and ongoing monitoring and review of medium and long term community plans for Wainui/Okitu and Makarori that would be determined through a participatory, consensus-building process by the residents of these communities with support from GDC staff and other stakeholders including DOC, NZTA, local hapu, local business owners, etc.

I have been working with Jennie Harre-Hindmarsh, as a representative of the Wainui/Okitu Residents and Ratepayers Association Inc., and GDC staff on the development of a set of Guidelines for Public Engagement processes for GDC. The current Council rejected the need for such a project but senior GDC staff and communities around the region recognise the importance of making significant improvements in the way Council works with residents and stakeholders so the project is continuing. Having a clear set of Guidelines that are developed with the input of interested residents and ratepayers can provide a valuable mechanism for citizens to hold staff accountable to as we collectively seek to enhance, nurture and protect the areas we live in.

Wainui/Okitu has a unique set of challenges including pressures on land and waterways from higher density housing and farmland converting to residential properties, coastal erosion, increased logging trucks travelling through the community, large fluctuations in property prices and rates, and a history of being treated badly by GDC and other agencies like NZTA – all issues that I would be keen to learn more about and help residents find sustainable solutions for.

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2. What are your views on development in Wainui/Okitu? High Rises? Infill Housing? Section Sizes?

I would be keen to hear more about local residents and landowners views are on future development. I know the development up Lysnar Rd has been controversial and unpopular amongst many Okitu locals. As mentioned above I think there needs to be much more local control over development plans, the ability for residents to retain the special character of their community and the ability for residents to be assured the benefits of any new development outweigh the cost to their local environment, social, cultural and economic wellbeing.

I grew up in Tauranga and have witnessed the transformation of Ocean Beach at Mount Maunganui, and in fact, all around Tauranga habour and beach coastline in a very short space of time. Many public recreation and water access points are now shut off from locals. At the Mount there are horrendous high rise apartments that have turned a sleepy strip of holiday bachs into a playground for the very wealthy after they pulled down an iconic hotel and hundreds of humble holiday homes. A few individuals with significant influence in local government made a lot of money out of those changes. I doubt this is the kind of direction Wainui/Okitu residents are keen to see your community go in.

My uncle John Minogue bought a small house at 52 Douglas St in the 1970s and built another house on the property a decade or so later. I don’t think it looks too bad but I’m not sure Wainui/Okitu people would want to see any smaller sections than that example. Again, I think the important thing is that local residents reach agreement on what you can live with and that should become the plan governing development in your community until there is consensus to change it one way or another.

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3. What would you do as a Councillor to encourage the development of the cycleway from Wainui to the city?

I will continue my involvement with the Cycling Advisory Group that I was part of establishing last year and my subsequent involvement on the Gisborne Cycle and Walkway Trust that I have recently been invited to be the Council representative for (a bit premature but I accepted on the condition I am elected!). The latter group has worked hard for many years to see the Wainui cycleway established and we need to step up the campaign to make NZTA funding for this cycleway an election issue for Anne Tolley now! The change in public policy this year by the National-led coalition government was a disgrace as the funds tagged for the Wainui cycleway were diverted to “roads of national significance” in the major centres including the ‘holiday highway’ north of Auckland. The trucking lobby are significant donors to the National Party and have had a big influence on public investment in roading. We need to join with other cycling advocacy organisations around the country and groups like the Campaign For Better Transport to make cycleways much more of a priority for roading funds. More cycling in the city has to be good for everyone (other than the multinational oil companies). We need much more strategic and vocal leadership on this issue and we need it now.

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4. What do you know about the effects of subdivision water runoff to the beach. What is your position on this?

I am aware there are significant concerns about the volume of water flowing from the new Sponge Bay development into the Wainui Stream. My understanding is that the official GDC view is that the rate of flow is no more than it was before the subdivision was installed because the size of the pipes restrict the rate. Pictures I have seen suggest there is a significant increase in volume and while the rate may be the primary determinant on erosion, if there was erosion anyway then increased volume, regardless of rate, will accelerate the erosion. Now there are concerns about the new subdivisions on the hills above Wainui/Okitu and up Lysnar Rd.

I have received copies of the Environment & Policy Sub-Committee agenda and minutes for the past few years and read some of the staff reports on efforts to “naturally protect” the stormwater runoff from the Sandy Cove development in the “Schools” carpark on Wairere Rd. I have had a look at the carpark and ponding process after recent rain – it looks to me like it is probably eliminating erosion that would otherwise have occurred, but I would be interested in how well residents feel it is working. I agree with local submitters on the proposal that developers should definitely have to contribute to the costs associated with this kind of work if it is to prevent environmental damage attributable to their business activity of property subdivision.

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5. Are you in favour of Wainui/Okitu being a ward in its own right and having its own Councillor?

Generally I am a fan of local wards. I would support taking Wainui/Okitu out of the city ward and establishing a ward that incorporates something like Makarori, Okitu, Wainui, Sponge Bay, Wheatstone Rd and the new subdivisions on the hills above Wainui/Okitu as I would support at least two wards (or Councillors) for Kaiti/Tamarau. If this did not happen I would support the establishment of a formal Community Board for Wainui/Okitu that has its own budget to manage on behalf of its community. I also support a reduction in the number of District Councillors to 8-10 in total instead of the 15 we currently have (including the Mayor).

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6. This Association was formed to collaborate with the GDC and inform the Wainui Residents and Ratepayers on issues affecting them. Would you support our Association in this role. If so, in what way?

I helped establish Ka Pai Kaiti ten years ago, this group has similar aims and objectives for Kaiti as your Association does for Wainui/Okitu. I have been disappointed with the lack of mutually meaningful engagement between GDC and Ka Pai Kaiti, while I think we have been able to significantly influence GDC thinking and some priorities, it has been much harder than it need to have been if Councillors had a different attitude to their governance role. My political philosophy requires elected local government officials to not just ‘represent’ their constituents and to make decisions on behalf of everyone else, but to actively involve people affected by decisions in deliberation on the issues and in the decision-making process itself.

I think Gisborne has the potential to be an international leader in participatory local government and I would like to see residents associations for every geographic community that chooses to identify itself and establish a group to coordinate and communicate within the community and with external stakeholders including local authorities.

I would see GDC providing proactive and strategic support for the establishment, growth and maturing of residents collectives and associations as a priority issue for my time in office if I was elected. New technology provides many opportunities for developments such as participatory budgeting, e-democracy and community asset mapping. I would advocate for GDC to seek significant external investment from central government, philanthropic foundations and private business to accelerate our progress toward a far more participatory model of local governance, community development and resource management.

There are a wide range of options for increasing residents influence on Council, the challenge for GDC will be to ensure that the capacity and capability of residents groups is built as consistently as possible over the next 5-10 years so that we develop good processes within our neighbourhoods and villages and share learning and resources between communities in the district. To this end I have been working with Ka Pai Kaiti and representatives from other resident groups from Wainui/Okitu, Elgin, Ruatorea and Mangapapa, and GDC staff, on the idea of a 1-2 day symposium in October that will include presentations from innovative and inspiring community-led development from other centres including neighbourhoods in Whanganui, Hastings and the Bay of Plenty. I have been suggesting for some time that the residents associations in our district cooperate more and this is just one example of what I hope will be many opportunities for civil society and residents groups in Gisborne to support each other and present a strong, coherent voice to Council staff and Councillors.

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Categories : Empowered Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Local Governance, Positive Leadership, Regional Infrastructure, Sustainable Tairāwhiti

Government misses the mark on alcohol law reforms

24 08 2010

A local youth advocate is disappointed with government plans to focus on youth access to alcohol and says unless the Government implement the recommendations of the Law Commission in total there will be no change in the statistics around alcohol and the damage excess use causes.

“It is no use scapegoating young people”, says Manu Caddie, Trustee for Te Ora Hou Te Tairawhiti Trust that works with young people who have problems with alcohol and drugs. Mr Caddie contributed to Gisborne District Council’s submission on alcohol law reform last year and participated in a national meeting between Maori community leaders and the Law Commission to discuss the options they were considering putting to government.

“When we met with the Law Commission to discuss their ideas we told Sir Geoffrey Palmer that young people need to stop drinking as heavily as they do, but merely targeting laws against them will not work” said Mr Caddie, the government obviously haven’t taken heed of this message that was passed on by the Law Commission and as a result our binge-drinking culture will no doubt continue.”

Mr Caddie says Public Health guidelines known as the Ottowa Charter, have been implemented internationally for the last 25 years and show that unless the whole community is targeted very little change occurs in behaviour. Getting drunk and smoking cigarettes are seen as a hallmark of adult behaviour.

“Adults are smoking less because of our excellent public health laws and education in this area. If we want young people to decrease their alcohol use then adults have to do the same. Children and young people learn from the examples given to them by adults.”

The Law Commission recommended that if the government is to control the damage caused by excess alcohol drinking then they need to make it less available by curtailing when and where it is sold, and by increasing the price.

“If we are going to reduce the demand for alcohol then we must curtail its promotion through marketing and advertising and provide much more effective education programmes and access to treatment services for those who are having problems with the amount they drink and can no longer control it.”

92% of people with alcohol problems are aged over 20 years but the reform package focuses on people under the age of 20. “Some of the measures are good and we need to address youth attitudes to alcohol but the reforms miss the bulk of Law Commission calls for increasing excise tax, limiting advertising and lowering the blood alcohol levels for driving which would clearly have made the biggest difference.

We hear much about “whole of Government” approaches. Let’s take a “whole of Community” approach to the binge drinking culture we have developed in Gisborne today, and make our community a healthier and happier place to live.

ENDS

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Categories : Healthy Tairāwhiti, Social Development, Relationships, Our Children & Youth, Our Families, Educated Tairāwhiti, Safe Tairāwhiti

Rental Housing WOF basics…

23 08 2010

The housing fitness standard (that could be a WOF for rentals) comprises a set of nine conditions and amenity requirements deemed to be the minimum necessary for a dwelling house to be fit for human habitation:
1. Have a suitably located lavatory for the exclusive use of the tenants
2. Have a bath and shower and wash hand basin with hot and cold water
3. Have satisfactory facilities for the preparation and cooking of food, including a sink with hot and cold water
4. Have an adequate supply of wholesome water
5. Have an effective system for the drainage of foul waste and surface water.
6. Have an adequate provision for lighting heating and ventilation
7. Be free from dampness prejudicial to the health of tenants.
8. Be free from serious disrepair.
9. Be structurally sound.

Ref: Decent_Housing_Standards – Kevin Reilly

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Categories : Prosperous Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Regional Infrastructure, Our Children & Youth, Our Elders, Our Families, Safe Tairāwhiti

WOF for rental properties?

21 08 2010

Gisborne housing advocates are welcoming news that University of Otago researchers have developed a housing quality index that could be used as a Warrant of Fitness before any property is rented to tenants.

“We have been talking about ways to ensure every rental property in Gisborne is safe and not contributing to health problems for tenants, particularly the elderly and children” said Manu Caddie, Convenor of the Tairawhiti Housing Advisory Group.

The housing quality index is a comprehensive check-list which trained people can use to grade and report on a property’s attributes and defects from the ground up. While the check-list is not widely used yet, researcher Dr Michael Keall said it could be that, in the future, homeowners could commission such a report for tenants.

The index, the first of its kind in New Zealand, has been developed over the past five years by He Kainga Organa Housing and Health Research Programme staff, including Dr Keall, at the university’s Wellington campus.

Dr Keall is recognised as a world expert on measuring the health impacts of homes and said work on the index was done in collaboration with the Building Research Association of New Zealand (Branz) and based on a similar check-list produced in the UK.

At 42 pages, it was “quite comprehensive” but Mr Caddie suggested that it could be administered for less than the cost of one week’s rent.

“It will be a long time before something like this becomes law, but if there was enough support locally it may be possible to introduce a by-law requiring landlords to provide prospective tenants with an independent assessment based on the new index” said Mr Caddie.

Mr Caddie is standing for the City Ward of Gisborne District Council in upcoming elections and says if elected he would seek Council support to investigate the likely costs and benefits of administering such a system.

“I have been a landlord and I know how easy it is to lose money on rental properties, but I am also aware of some shocking rentals and at present there is nothing that requires landlords to ensure minimum safety and health standards are adhered to.”

Mr Caddie believes such a system would help property owners ensure the value of their assets was maintained and having an independent assessment before renting could be useful when there are disputes over damage allegedly caused by tenants.

- – - – - -

References:

http://sustainablecities.org.nz/members/michael-keall

www.healthyhousing.org.nz

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Categories : Prosperous Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Social Development, Our Children & Youth, Our Elders, Our Families, Safe Tairāwhiti

Future of Housing in Gisborne

10 08 2010

Our house at 21 Cambridge Tce when we bought it in 2004.

Housing advocates in Gisborne are welcoming government plans to encourage more community owned social housing and plan to share their reaction to the recently released Housing Shareholders Advisory Group report with East Coast MP Anne Tolley at a meeting on Friday.

“If the Minister of Housing is serious about ensuring every person and family has access to affordable, healthy and appropriate housing then we need the kind of innovation and resources that communities can offer and not just the state” said Manu Caddie.

Mr Caddie is the Convenor of Tairawhiti Housing Advisory Group (THAG), a network of community groups, government agencies, businesses and individuals with an interest in regional housing issues.

“What we don’t want to see is government offloading its housing responsibilities onto communities that are not prepared for the challenges of housing provision. We desperately need a regional housing plan that identifies the most pressing issues and how those needs can be addressed with a mix of public, private and philanthropic investment. Then we need to look at building the capacity and business plans for one or more organisations to meet the needs.”

Mr Caddie said he was disappointed to receive a letter from Minister of Housing, Phil Heatley, which said Housing NZ should not be helping regions to identify housing needs in local communities.

“If the Minister wants social housing providers to ‘step up’, there will have to be a period of Housing NZ supporting local infrastructure to develop” said Mr Caddie.

Last week the meeting of Tairawhiti Housing Advisory Group discussed plans to establish a social housing trust that could provide emergency accommodation to people made homeless or otherwise forced to live in substandard housing. Without any resourcing to establish such an entity it would be difficult to ensure it is sustainable in the long run.

“It’s easy to say sell off Council’s pensioner flats to a housing trust but developing expertise to manage social housing will take some time and expertise.”

“Housing Cooperatives are very popular in the United Kingdom and the United States, if individual home ownership is not an option for some people then becoming shareholders in a group of properties can foster skills and a change in attitude as co-owners take more responsibility for our own housing needs.”

Mr Caddie said housing advocacy is also a big need in the Gisborne region and that would be another key role for a social housing trust.

“We are currently looking into the viability of local or national legislation that would require every rental property to pass a simple Warrant of Fitness before it can be let.”

Some Gisborne families rent unsafe, unhealthy homes and have few, if any, alternatives.

“The majority of landlords are decent, generous people, but a few refuse to repair run down properties – that can cause a lot of misery and leads to other problems for vulnerable individuals and families.”

THAG discussed Housing NZ waiting lists at its meeting and agreed that compared to larger centres Gisborne has relatively low waiting lists, some of this is because family connections mean there may be more sharing of space available and in remote rural areas housing needs often remain unnoticed by officials.

Another issue THAG is looking into is the possibility of putting a social benefit weighting on state house sales which were also flagged in the Housing Shareholders Advisory Group report.

The THAG meeting discussed a situation last month where a community group tendered for a state house in an unpopular street with the intention of establishing a computer clubhouse, homework centre and neighbourhood meeting space. The tender was won by a private investor who plans to rent out the property.

“It’s stupid that current policy means Housing NZ cannot consider the value a community centre would have added to a neighbourhood desperately short of public amenities to be worth more than the small difference in tender price” said Mr Caddie.

Mr Caddie said THAG will be looking at options for Housing NZ Regional Managers to have more discretion in considering tenders from first home owners, owner-occupiers, social housing providers and charitable community groups alongside private investors.

Our house in 2010... new roof, paint, windows, kitchen, etc.

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Categories : Healthy Tairāwhiti, Social Development, Our Families

Big Society – Big Community

3 08 2010

David Cameron re-launched his Big Idea this week. The new British prime minister says the ‘Big Society’ concept is about empowering communities, redistributing power and fostering a culture of volunteerism. In a speech in Liverpool, Cameron said community groups should be able to run post offices, libraries, transport services and shape housing projects. While one motive for the Tory version of ‘people power’ is obviously to help lower Britain’s debt which is spiralling out of control, I think there is some substance in the plan.

Modern society has turned many aspects of our lives into commodities. Citizens have been replaced by consumers and nearly all our relationships are mediated by the market. In the market-based society we earn money to pay other people to care for our young and elderly, we become slaves to debt, and outsource our responsibilities. Families become less important and effective and neighbourhoods lose their ability to function properly.

Gisborne has much to offer the rest of the world, and it’s not just a wall of wood, wine or wool. What we can offer is a healthy model of true community – and we are not too far from manifesting that goal.

I was so encouraged to see the big turnout this week to a presentation by historian Jane Luiten on the history of local government on the East Coast. The diversity of our community was represented in the 60 or so people from all walks of life who came to hear some challenging stories from our local history. The interest in this topic from young and old, Maori and Pakeha and new immigrants gave me a deep sense of optimism for the future of our community.

There are a few simple truths that citizens of Gisborne can hold on to if we want to be a place where more people love to live. Our neighbourhoods are the primary source of our health as a community. Whether we are safe and secure in our neighbourhoods is largely within our control. In our neighbourhoods, towns and villages we have the power to build a resilient economy. We are local people who must raise our children.

We live in a democracy, a political system that gives us the freedom to choose a common vision and then make choices that bring that vision into being. But the institutions we look to, whether they are government and its agencies, businesses and the ‘free’ market or civil society organisations cannot make us into a community. Only families and neighbourhoods acting together can create a sense of belonging, unconditional care and acceptance, trust and support.

Community organiser John McKnight suggests a community becomes powerful when three things are happening:

The Giving of Gifts: The gifts of people in our neighbourhood are boundless, every single person has something of value to contribute to our wellbeing.

The Presence of Association: Through association our gifts can be shared, celebrated and magnified and become productive.

The Compassion of Hospitality: There are no strangers here, only friends who haven’t met – we welcome the gifts of new people and need to share our own with them.

The characteristics of the Big Society may also be those of an abundant, healthy community: kindness, generosity, cooperation, forgiveness and the acceptance of fallibility. These virtues aren’t delivered by the market, or by government or local body organisations. They come from within us and could become what makes Gisborne a fantastic place to live.

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Categories : Community Outcomes, Vibrant Tairāwhiti, Connected Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Positive Leadership, Empowered Tairāwhiti, Social Development, Cultural Capital, Relationships, Our Children & Youth, Our Elders, Our Families, Safe Tairāwhiti

Critical Mass Cycling Group Submission on Draft Annual Plan

1 05 2010

The Gisborne Herald reported on 18 May 1952 that Gisborne had 13,000 cyclists out of a population of 20,000!

Critical Mass members delivering our Annual Plan submission to GDC, March 2010

We are a group of commuter cyclists interested in making it easier and safer for Gisborne residents to choose cycling for most of our trips within the city.

We commend the Council for undertaking the development of a number of cycle-lanes on roads through the city.

Experts predict that the price for a barrel of oil may be at US$100 per barrel by June of this year, with further rises up to $150 a barrel in the next five years and possibly up to $350/barrel by 2020.

These changes will mean that even one car is considered a luxury. While cars are, and will be, important to the regional transport strategy (whatever they run on), Council should be considering public transport and alternative transport possibilities, and acting now to ensure they can be implemented when required in the future.

We support the vision of a city linked by green corridors which connect the neighbourhoods of the city, and heritage/leisure destinations. Gisborne is ideally suited for bicycles and walking and this should be encouraged as it is sustainable, good for health, and attractive for tourists and future residents. We support current efforts to educate and encourage all road users to share the road and to think of others safety at all times.

The great cycling-centric cities of Europe have only been designed this way through the concerted and sustained efforts of the public, politicians, planners and engineers.

We encourage Council to continue working with the Cycling Advisory Group to identify priority activities that contribute to the group’s vision of “Tairawhiti leading the way: where people choose to cycle, where people come to cycle.” We note the progress made on priority issues as a result of CAG working collaboratively with stakeholders on:

roundabouts
identification of new cycleway options and promoting key urban and rural cycling routes
vehicle driver education and safety for school and commuter cyclists

With estimates of over 3,000 bicycle trips in Gisborne per day and roughly half of these are school students, we recommend Council monitor the number of cycles in school bike racks over a three year period and work with CAG to identify barriers to cycling and implement with community leadership, actions likely to increase the number, frequency and duration of student cycle trips.

We draw attention to proposals for cycleway options on the Gladstone Road bridge and the possibility of a boardwalk cycle/walkway along the Taruheru River from Lytton Road to the CBD and request staff be directed to establish a cost estimate for both projects. We also ask for GDC to work with the Gisborne Cycling & Walkways Trust to make an approach to Eastland Community Trust and Eastern & Central Community Trust for funding to complete the Wainui-Sponge Bay cycleway.

Given recent changes in central government policy on transport subsidies, it seems timely to undertake a review of the priorities of the Walking & Cycling Strategy and new sources of funding for major projects, we suggest this be included in the Annual work plan for GDC.

Manu Caddie; Michelle Hight & Bradley O’Donnel; Gillian Ward; Richard Coates; Ross Revington; Sarah Cleave; Bob Hughes; Norman Weiss & Diana Whakapapa.

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Categories : Healthy Tairāwhiti, Local Issues, Regional Infrastructure, Safe Tairāwhiti, Sustainable Tairāwhiti

Regional Cycling Vision

16 02 2010

Congratulations to Kim Smith, Hans van Kregten and the other Council staff for the Eastland Traverse being selected to proceed to the next stage for consideration as part of the Prime Minister’s National Cycleways Project.

The quality of the proposal reflects the input from tourism operators, cycling advocates, DOC, councillors and our friends on the other side of the Waioweka Gorge. If we can get this cycleway established it will be a significant visitor attraction, supporting economic development all along the route and into the city all year round.

While there are no guarantees that the Eastland Traverse will receive central government funding, it is still a good example of what can happen when local government works collaboratively with the community to develop the best options for the region. The costs of improving the signage and a few bridges on the Opotiki side are a fraction of other cycleway proposals and offer great value for a small investment of public funds.

The establishment of the Cycling Advisory Group one year ago was fortuitous as we have been able to provide Council and other stakeholders in the region’s transport systems with timely advice on a range of issues and plans.

Making it easy and safe for people to cycle to work and school is one of the key goals of the Cycling Advisory Group. Driver and cyclist education, road design – particularly roundabouts and key areas around schools are all activities that the Cycling Advisory Group has assisted local authorities with over the past year.

This week we are looking at how cities in Europe have changed the way they think about roads and set targets for increasing the proportion of short trips that are made by cycling instead of driving.

Gisborne District, Northland and Taranaki now share the lowest rates of cycling in the country. People living in Christchurch cycle more than ten times as often as we do. I suspect we don’t have ten times the crash rate as them. What is our vision for our city and how does more cycling and walking (which we also follow the rest of the country in) fit into the urban design of Gisborne?

In Wellington the Council has a goal of 15% of commuters cycling by 2016 – Gisborne has a much more compact city, few hills and much better weather, so this could be a goal that we aspire to surpass within the same timeframe.

Establishing safer cycling routes is a priority for the Cycling Advisory Group and we welcome suggestions from the public on how to improve hot spots. Our monthly meetings are open to the public and limited to one hour over lunchtime. Together we are crafting a vision for cycling in Gisborne and everybody has a part to play in this process.

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Categories : Connected Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Local Issues, Prosperous Tairāwhiti, Safe Tairāwhiti, Sustainable Tairāwhiti

My Priorities

3 12 2009

These are the things I think are important and would strive to promote if I was elected to Council next year…

A region that values the rich traditions and diversity of all its residents.
A region of safe communities based on caring relationships between families.
A region that fosters innovation, enterprise, the creative sectors and scientific discovery.
A region that nurtures well-educated young people and leaves no one behind.
A region that is a magnet for young families and values the contributions of older people.
A region that will leave the natural environment better than we found it.
A region that is committed to ensuring housing, energy and healthy food are affordable and that supports families to manage their finances wisely.
A region that understands the importance of increasing the economic productivity and sustainability of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
A region that promotes the use of cycling and walking for most people making short journeys.
A region that is well connected with the rest of the planet through low-cost, high-speed, internet access.
A Council that encourages public participation in decision-making.
A Council that is able to keep any rates increases at (or below) the rate of inflation while still providing quality services and infrastructure.

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Categories : Community Outcomes, Connected Tairāwhiti, Cultural Capital, Educated Tairāwhiti, Employment, Empowered Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Local Governance, Local Issues, Other Information, Our Children & Youth, Our Elders, Our Families, Positive Leadership, Prosperous Tairāwhiti, Regional Economy, Regional Infrastructure, Relationships, Safe Tairāwhiti, Social Development, Sustainable Tairāwhiti, Tangata Whenua, Vibrant Tairāwhiti

Committee Decision-Making

15 10 2009

The Environment and Policy Committee meeting I attended this week was a great example of how slack politicians can increase social problems.

Last month the Committee was presented with a paper advising them that the Law Commission is undertaking a review of alcohol legislation and the issue has considerable impact on our local communities.

The Committee agreed that a public meeting would be hosted by GDC to workshop the issues with interested people including representatives from owners of liquor outlets, health services, Police, community workers, Council staff and whoever else was interested.

Pat Seymour and Andy Cranston were the only two Councillors to attend the workshop along with the other people mentioned above. The meeting over two hours was based on good information, followed by healthy debate that arrived at consensus on each one of many points ensuring Council staff drafting the submission had confidence that the process had been open and thorough.

People attending the meeting used the Law Commission’s 280 page discussion document that presents the hard facts as the starting point for commentary on the issues. Local examples were used to back up the evidence presented in the discussion document and it was hard to find any situations that contradicted the document’s findings.

A submission based on the agreements reached at the workshop was presented back to the Committee this week at which four of the six members decided to vote against the submission.

Only one of the four Councillors objecting had her copy of the Discussion Document present and based on their comments and criticisms it seemed obvious that either two or three of the other Councillors had not even read the document. Those Councillors that had not read the Discussion Document, had also not participated in the public workshop and had not contacted staff after they received the draft submission to discuss any matters of concern. As a result of their problems with the submission the Councillors were allowed to have a private session with staff the next day to take out the parts of the submission they were not happy with.

With due respect to Councillor Seymour, who has shown great leadership on this issue and who has had to deal with poor behaviour from the majority in this case, I don’t think the outcome was the best we could have had and the community has been let down again by those making important decisions on our behalf.

The problem I have with this kind of process is that it rewards laziness and arrogance amongst some Councillors. As a result, the majority of Committee Members (who did not take up the opportunities to participate in an agreed process) have dictated that a much watered-down submission is going to be put before the full Council for their consideration one day before the deadline for submissions. While the GDC submission is only one of hundreds, it should have been able to promote well considered options that do justice to the level of concern our community has about access to and use of alcohol, particularly amongst young people – and now it will not.

I hope more members of the public find an hour or two to sit in on one of these meetings and reflect on the quality of decisions that are being made on our behalf. I believe we can do much better than what we have at present.

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Categories : Empowered Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Local Governance, Our Children & Youth, Positive Leadership, Social Development

Transition Tairawhiti?

25 08 2009

About 15 people in Gisborne met on 24 August 2009 and agreed that it would be good to see Gisborne/Tairawhiti become a ‘Transition Town’.

Most of the group have read the book and are committed to forming a steering group that plans it’s own demise, sees the community run their ideas, etc.

We are keen to build on the success of the World Environment Day event in Gisborne this year and build a wide support base across the community to promote the Transition Towns principles and inclusive action for positive change.

- – - -

POSTSCRIPT: Check out the TT website with resources and events at: www.transitiontowns.org.nz/gisborne

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Categories : Healthy Tairāwhiti, Local Issues, Prosperous Tairāwhiti, Regional Economy, Regional Infrastructure, Sustainable Tairāwhiti

Council Draft 10 Year Plan Submissions

4 05 2009

Here are some of the submissions I helped prepare on the Council’s Draft 10 Year Plan – opportunities to speak to the submissions come up in early June:

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Categories : Community Outcomes, Connected Tairāwhiti, Cultural Capital, Employment, Empowered Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Local Governance, Local Issues, Other Information, Our Children & Youth, Our Elders, Our Families, Positive Leadership, Prosperous Tairāwhiti, Regional Economy, Regional Infrastructure, Relationships, Social Development, Sustainable Tairāwhiti, Tangata Whenua, Vibrant Tairāwhiti

‘Constructive’ first Cycling Advisory Group meeting

26 03 2009

The first meeting of a new advisory group for cycling is being described as ‘constructive’ by local cyclists and the Gisborne District Council.

About 30 people representing diverse sectors of the Gisborne community attended the Cycling Advisory Group meeting hosted by Gisborne District Council. Mayor Meng Foon and Councillor Kathy Sheldrake were present along with commuter and recreational cyclists, Gisborne Cycle Club representatives, staff from local schools and Trustees of the Gisborne Cycle and Walkway Trust.

The meeting discussed and refined a draft Terms of Reference which describes the purpose of the group, clarifies that the group has no authority over Council decisions and activities and outlines the frequency and format of meetings.

Kathy Sheldrake nominated Manu Caddie to Chair the group, this was supported by Muriel Jones from the Gisborne Cycle and Walkway Trust and endorsed by those present. It was agreed that subcommittees will be established to work on particular issues such as promoting cycling, cycleways and road safety – and that a lot of good work had already been undertaken by Council and groups like the Trust.

The group agreed to meet monthly with roundabouts being an initial focus. Organisations involved with the new group will provide short presentations on their current activities and priorities for cycling in Gisborne at the April meeting.

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Categories : Healthy Tairāwhiti, Sustainable Tairāwhiti

Council keen to make cycling safer in Gisborne

17 03 2009

A Cycling Advisory Group is being established by the Gisborne District Council to work together with the community on cycling issues in the city.

The idea for the group followed a request by the Critical Mass cycling group for the council to improve safety and grow the numbers of cyclists in Gisborne.

The terms of reference for the group will be established at its first meeting. This will be held on 25 March at 12 noon at the Gisborne District Council offices in Fitzherbert Street.

Organisers hope it will include representatives from a range of cycling interests including schools and the police.

The overall purpose of the group will be to provide advice on how to make cycling safer and encourage more people to use the facilities of the walking and cycling network being created by council. They will also have input into the Walking and Cycling Strategy. The group will work closely with the Road Safety Officer from council and the Traffic and Education Officers from the police.

One of the first tasks will be to look at cyclist safety at roundabouts. Council’s Engineering Manager Peter Higgs says “this is a great opportunity to work together with the community. As with many issues, the solutions are likely to be a combination of actions including the three “Es” – engineering, education and enforcement.

The safety of cyclists is a matter for which all road users have a responsibility” Manu Caddie, one of the Critical Mass organisers, says he is pleased to see council willing to establish a mechanism for ongoing dialogue with the cycling community.

“Beyond making the streets safer for cycling we are keen to see proactive measures in place to encourage more people to move around by bicycle.” “One of our older members only had to fill up his car twice last year because he cycles most places.

Cycling has environmental, health and economic benefits that council and other organisations need to promote.” “We encourage all cyclists to come along to this meeting.” says Mr Caddie.

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Categories : Connected Tairāwhiti, Healthy Tairāwhiti, Local Issues, Our Children & Youth, Regional Infrastructure, Sustainable Tairāwhiti

Letter to the Editor 09/02/09

9 02 2009

I wonder if the 75% of your online poll respondents who claim to support the death penalty ‘for the most brutal murderers’ would count themselves among those murderers if such a useless piece of legislation were to be adopted in this country.

The real psychopaths are the people who refuse to accept the overwhelming international evidence that punitive punishment does not deter serious offending. A recent study from California demonstrated that state murder rates were nearly twice as high during years in which the death penalty was carried out and the average rate of homicides increased in the month immediately following an execution.

I find it odd that the Gisborne Herald even asks the question – there are a lot more useful questions that could be asked which might address the causes of crime and questions of responsibility and attribution, rather than this kind of sensationalist polemic that promotes simplistic and/or disingenuous responses to complex and multidimensional issues.

While there are no quick and easy answers to the problem of violence in our society (at least not without radical reorientation of our relationships to one another and natural resources), capital punishment can safely be ruled out as being a sensible solution.

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Categories : Healthy Tairāwhiti

Can we get a Regional Youth Plan?

25 01 2009

drive-by1

Saying parents need to take responsibility for the violent behaviour of their children, as Education Minister Anne Tolley recently did, is like suggesting a tree needs to take responsibility for the type of fruit it produces.

Just blaming schools or parents is not going to help anyone.While there are significant issues in the attitudes and skill levels of many parents and teachers, without a local plan to address the range of factors that lead to violent behaviour amongst children we will continue to see children dropping out of school.

It would be helpful to see a commitment from the new government to supporting a comprehensive local plan to develop pro-social skills in young children regardless of the competency levels of their parents or teachers.

Such a plan would include strategies for supporting long-term mentoring relationships with caring adults who can see the potential in each child, it would include more resources and information for parents and better monitoring by funders of initiatives like Social Workers in Schools that are supposed to be supporting both the home and school.

Recent international research that suggests the most important things parents can do to keep their children out of trouble is to spend time doing things that the whole family enjoys.

In order of importance, the next three most important things parents can do are:

- to know where their children are and who they are spending time with;

- to support children to get involved with pro-social peers through groups like sports, church and kapahaka; and

- to keep their children connected to school.

Every young person needs a strong sense of belonging to a group of people, a sense of mastery and being good at something, a sense of being independent and a sense of contributing to their community.

If they don’t find these things at home or school they will look to their peer group to provide guidance on what is acceptable and unacceptable. The difficulty is that these young people are often also disconnected from home, school and their cultural and geographic communities.

Having been involved in a range of youth development research projects in Gisborne over the past five years, I’m still waiting for local and national leaders to make any significant commitment to a coordinated regional plan for the wellbeing of children and young people.

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Categories : Healthy Tairāwhiti, Our Children & Youth, Our Families

Caddie in Council 2010-2013

Wainui/Okitu Issues

Rental Housing WOF basics…

Critical Mass Cycling Group Submission on Draft Annual Plan

Regional Cycling Vision

Transition Tairawhiti?

‘Constructive’ first Cycling Advisory Group meeting

Council keen to make cycling safer in Gisborne

Letter to the Editor 09/02/09

Can we get a Regional Youth Plan?

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