Minutes Tuesday 10 June 2025
7:30 –9:00 pm RSA Wairaka Rd

Attending: Paul FitzGerald, Jane Comben, Nikky Winchester, Cr Josh Trlin, Margaret Blair
Apologies: Judith Frost-Evans, Jonathan Harker

Last month’s minutes a true and accurate representation

Moved Jane / seconded Margaret. All in favour. Carried.

Council updates

PCC –

Last week passed the Annual Plan. Decided not to proceed with ending the events fund. Stopped the Chamber of Commerce funding. Not increased parking in CBD, or entrance fee at Cannons Creek Pool. Fees for Buildings Consents will go up.

6.39% overall increase in rates

Efficiencies made across council.

Going to invest in new library in Eastern Porirua by Cannons Creek Pool. Looking at a community centre but instead they’ve decided to bring it forward, reduce scope and make it modular. 4 million budget. Scope to expand in the future. Current library has high usage but small and in need of earthquake strengthening.

Officially signed off on establishing a new entity for water reform. Baking in charter with things around working with Māori and public ownership.

Non-binding referendum on amalgamation – to work on proposal about working with other councils. Good timing for referendum. 20k extra to run now alongside the Māori Wards referendum.

Election

Nomination period start 4 July to 1 August.

11 October Voting Day

Judith – Thanks to Josh for following up and putting us in contact with Mike Mendonca. Waiting to hear from Mike. Josh says if he doesn’t come back he’ll chase up for us.

Candiates Meeting

Not sure if we’ll have the school hall. If it’s available we’d look to do something. We could possibly coat-tail on the Plimmerton/Paremata one. We could have mix and mingle at the RSA. Josh thinks the more events the better as the communities are different.

GWRC –

none

Matters arising

none

Financial report as at 8 June 2025

BNZ		$15,241.49
Income:
$	6.78	Interest
$ 2,200.00	Res Assn Donation
		

Expenditure:	
$220.00	CGFF Water Tanks x 2	
$32.35		CGFF Plants	


Account balances as at 8 June 2025
Res Assn 000		$462.58
He Ara 001		$87.67
CGFF 002		$2232.83
Kōrero 066		$229.27
Climate 083		$0.01
Surf Seat 067		$174.73
On Call Acct	025	$12054.40	
					CGFF		$3550.00 On Hold & Donation
					He Ara		$5000.00 Donation
					Korero		$2250.00 On Hold & Donation
Climate	$550.00 Donation
					Residents	$704.40 Interest & Donation
________________________________________________________________
Action Notes:
Aon Insurance declaration returned 28 May 2025 with question:
“May we question the increase of the brokerage/admin fee – a 79% increase seems a bit steep, especially as the community garden is a voluntary, community activity with no income except for the generosity of grant funding.”

•	New signatory required for BNZ – Underway with Jonathan
•	Costings for other CGFF projects

Signatory Motion: To remove Iain McLean as a signatory for all banking processes to be replaced by Jonathan Harker 
Moved Margaret / seconded Paul. All in favour. Carried. 

Financials

Moved Paul/ seconded Margaret All in favour. Carried

Correspondence

14 May 2025

From: Tim Costley
Subject: Business Directory/Association

15 May 2025

From: Darien Scott-Hill
Subject: Pest Problem – Pa Road Pukerua Bay
Responded: Invited him to meeting and put him in contact with Predator Free PKB

27 May 2025

From: Aidan Houchen
Subject: 2025/26 Insurance Renewal – Pukerua Bay Residents’ Association
Default renewal $ 776.25

29 May 2025

From: David Verrinder
To: Paul FitzGerald
Subject: Canditate Meetings – asking if we’re having one and promoting their Plimmerton/Paramata one at Ngati Toa
Responded – will let them know if we do anything as we’re not sure about the school hall.

30 May 2025

From: Marcus Hopkinson – school principal
Subject: Hall
Responded: Thanked for info that the hall will be brought up in next BOT meeting.

30 May 2025

From: Judith Frost-Evans
To: Mike Mendonca
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] RE: PBRA – Issue with signage

NOTE: Thanks to Josh for following up and putting us in contact with Mike Mendonca. Waiting to hear from Mike,

Action Items

Train Replacement Bus Service – Paul has written to GW Council suggesting they come and meet with us on site to talk it over. No response yet

Dog/Penguin signs

More info from Andrew Gray to Paul. The sign prepared for last year to go in. Stan built and sign printed but no budget to install. Have to wait until July to install with new budget.

Judith has sent a comprehensive email to Mike Mendonca about the signage.

Greetings Mike 
Thanks again for your willingness to follow up on our local signs.

There are several issues with the signage at the bottom of Pukerua Beach Road. 

Some of the Issues:
1.	The sign is old and faded
2.	The sign is often blocked by parked cars - this has been made worse by the removal of the rubbish bin which has allowed cars to park closer to the sign. This is a separate issue I am pursuing with Ross Leggett and others in Council however if you are able to help with this, that would be amazing. I will address that separately.
3.	The sign is not visible once people have driven around the corner with Ocean Parade and parked anywhere along the waterfront.
4.	The sign is confusing in that the first thing you might see as you drive past, is 'Dog Exercise Area'.
5.	The sign does not highlight the hours that dogs are permitted on the beach sufficiently clearly
6.	 The sign is not clear about dogs needing to be on leads at all times. 

Ideas for action;
1.	Redesign the sign for clarity and emphasis (I will attach photos of signs at Hataitai Beach which are simpler and clearer).
2.	Place several of these signs along the waterfront.
3.	Place a simple welcome sign further back up Pukerua Beach Road (where the downhill traffic gives way to uphill traffic and there is a lane to pull over into to allow uphill traffic to pass). 
4.	This simple welcome sign could include the message that Pukerua Bay is a special area and has endangered native flora and fauna which we are endeavouring to protect. And requesting that visitors look out for the bylaws on signs along the beach so that they can support the local initiatives to protect our endangered species.
For example: 'Welcome to our Special beach which has rare and vulnerable species in need of all of our care' 
Please see restriction by laws for dog and vehicle control at the bottom of this road. 
Or whatever the sign experts recommend. 

Pukerua Beach Rd remediation works

Asked Claire Giblin is there is any date for that to happen. Confirm is the Ara Harakeke Remediation included in package of works.

Brendan Beach Rubbish Bin

Heard nothing

MOUs with groups under umbrella.

Paul hasn’t progressed this month

Village – see general business

Project Updates

Climate Action

We are starting planning for a panel discussion on the Climate Assembly.

Other things in the works – not confimed.

Community Garden Food

Finances $5815 in account, $776 AON insurance due ( this is ? increase from last year. Fund from Pelorous Trust Grant)

Rongoa garden:

Blessing shared.
Saturday community planting completed. All trees purchased now in the ground.
Special thanks to Ted and the Scouts for cutting and carting impressive driftwood.
Thanks to Keas for their enthusiasm and wonderful painted sign that is being preserved and hung.
Duncan gave an afternoon of heavy lifting that was tremendously appreciated.
Jane has named lots of the stakes for tree identification and now working on the information brochure.

Compost structure.

First 2 water tanks have been collected.

Matariki = celebration

Saturday 28 June at school. We will sell dahlia plants. We will present our Matariki Crankie story. Hub will give us a koha.

Calendar

Plan to have one copy printed for Matariki event to take pre orders.
Cost to print 200 = $ 1300 ($13.5 profit each if sold for $20)
Cost to print 300 = $2100 TBC
Budget for garden trail is currently $500 for printing, adverts and contingency
Sell calendars @ $20, Garden tour $10. Or calendar and tour at $25
Wording for each image is now with home owners to confirm Text.

Kate and family donation of $550 from Ian’s Give a little page.

Suggested and approve to buy specimen trees for Rongoa garden and 3 replacement fruit trees.
Discussion followed re our knowledge of pruning and care of fruit trees. Hannah is now confirmed to come Saturday June 14 from 10 – 11.30. Public welcome . Koha of $100.

He Ara Report

• •Saturday 28 June at 2pm is the date set for the naming of the Lindsay Gray DFC Lounge at the RSA. Invitations have been sent out and event publicised on He Ara, Trading and Community Facebook pages.
• Honours:
  • Sir Brendan Lindsay for services to business and philanthropy
  • Isaac du Toit shortlisted for the New Zealand Book awards for Children and Young Adults in the Russell Clark Award for Illustration category.
• Bevan walk story has been reviewed and layout underway.
• Transcribing of WWI war diary completed and final edit underway before returning to the Lindsay family.

Kōrero

Notes in RA meeting
Paul is going to write an item on bus shelter and train replacements. A full artilve is 300 words but could be less than that. Good for people to know we’re trying.
Maybe could provide links to the most relevant He Ara articles on website. Margaret to take to meeting
Info about Meet the candidates – would like info in next Korero

We’re in the final stages of preparing our Matariki issue for distribution this weekend. Many thanks to Ahu Charitable Trust and the Hub for their sponsorship of this issue and, more importantly, for the special event they create each year.

The theme for the next issue is “Exploring our village”. Not quite the right words, but it’s looking at our roads, tracks, and rail … how we get around. Sometimes, how difficult that can be. Contributions welcome from all.

The Residents Association has a proud tradition of very successful Meet the Candidates meetings. Will you be running one this year? If so, please let us know if you would like us to reserve space to promote it.

The copy deadline is 7 July, with delivery in mid-August.

General Business

a. Iain’s Tribute

Keep it in the investment account

b. Local Body elections – Candidates meeting

See if School Hall is available. If school not available , 2nd option is St Mark’s. Also advertise the Ngati Toa one for Plimmerton/Paremata. Have to be no later than mid-September.

Paul to check school hall availability

c. Village Plan Review

Honour the Treaty

Could promote and educate around the Māori Wards Referendum linking in ‘ActionStation’ (a digital campaigning organisation who’s big focus will be the wards this year with resources). Helping communities understand what it means for their communities. Could be combined with pop-up parlour if that happens.

Look for opportunities for creating community spaces

Pop up may happen again – looking for funding.

Worth telling people about the RSA as community club. Maybe FAQs.

A story “new to the bay” in Korero.

Question to re-institute the Street Champions – a possible pop-up parlour conversation. A WREMO, preparedness slant. Know your Neighbour. Point of contact if power goes out etc.

Repeat – Action:

Put something in the Korero about our venues and how you book them etc.
Then update the website and promote the website itself.

Jane away next month. Ask Judith to do minutes.

Meeting ended 8.45pm