community garden

December 2024 Residents Association meeting minutes

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Minutes Tuesday 10 December 2024
7:30 –9:15 pm RSA Wairaka Rd

Attending: Paul FitzGerald, Margaret Blair, Ross Leggett, Judith Frost-Evans, Jane Comben, Iain MacLean.
Apologies: Judith Frost-Evans, Jonathan Harker, Nikky Winchester
Community members: Brian Sullivan

Election of Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary, Treasurer

Appointing Jonathan Harker to committee
Jonathan Harker was not present at the October AGM, but wished to remain on the committee for the following year. Iain MacLean notified all the existing Members and none of them sent any objections to the Committee doing so. The Committee can do this under Section 14.5 of the Constitution.

Motion by Iain / seconded Paul. All in favour. Carried.

“The Executive Committee of the Pukerua Bay Residents Association appoints Jonathan Harker as Member of the Committee for the 2024-2025 year.”

New member Judith Frost-Evans.
Judith gave her mihi and brief intro. Moved into PKB in 80s then moved away and back in 2009. Involved in storytelling and hosted artists. She’s now representing the Community Garden and notes there is a small group forming about protecting little blue penguins. Interested in improving signage or other ways to protect the penguin. How do know what is important to people? Judith is now the Community Garden Rep.

Council updates

PCC

Started our Annual Plan discussions. Net years rate increase was 10%.  They’re talking about what they can do about it. Can see this Thursdays council meeting for details. Pressure on 10% with inflation etc. Currently at 6.7%. Ann Plan consultation in March – April. Getting feedback on things like increasing parking fees, consents, Cannons Creek Pool fees. To reduce/increase rates by 1% = 10 million Capex or 1 million Opex. Going out for consultation. Working hard to keep rates as low as possible. Still pressure on council to increase contribution to Wellington Water.

2% for admin costs for new company (to replace Wellington Water). There will be consultation on the new company.

Alcohol bylaws, animals, freedom camping out for consultation. Freedom camping to be discussed later.

Plimmerton Farm – resource consent has gone through.

Northern  Growth Area still waiting for govt /Kainga Ora to make up their mind. Kainga Ora being squeezed in Eastern Porirua. Some stormwater and wastewater projects are going ahead in Porirua. To reduce wastewater overflows from Eastern Porirua, Tawa and northern Porirua.

Wellington Water – water demand is down by 8% so significant restrictions are unlikely. Helped by the reduction in leaks. 60 private leaks, 30 new leaks.

Spicer Landfill – Makes council money. Plan to keep to 2040 but need to reconsent to go to 2035. Odour problems for people in Tawa. Consent may be difficult so there are 2 options. Close in 2030. Or try and keep it open to 2035. But no tip costs will go up to take rubbish elsewhere. A big change coming.

Appeal into the Environment Court GWRC policy statement that effect us and cost money. They believe it’s an over reach. They’re going to court with Hutt and Kāpiti councils. E.g. Our District Plan did not have high density in PKB but GWRC could/would over-ride it.

0.8 contraction in in economy in Porirua.

Pukerua Beach Road Slip – contractor has been awarded. They will do investigation and design of remediation work.

Freedom Camping  – issues raised especially Motukaraka Point. Trying to increase potential camping areas and reduce pressure on Ngāti Toa domain but in a balanced way.

GWRC – none

Last month’s minutes a true and accurate representation

Moved Paul / seconded Iain. All in favour. Carried.
Note: Judith abstained as away in Nov.

Matters arising.

Bus Shelter – Paul contacted Thomas Nash at GWRC twice. He was chasing up what action if any was happening at council. Waiting to hear, it’s an ongoing issue. In PKB the stops need to involve NZTA

Parking Ticket at Station. Paul has contacted Keryn twice to check it’s Porirua council giving tickets (not Metlink) before approaching council. Has yet to hear. Jane will text her as she has her number.

Financial report as at 10 December 2024

BNZ $ 11,542.70
Income:
$ 15.57 Interest
$ 280.00 CGFF Tea Towels
$ 111.00 CGFF Flower, plant & other sales
$ 70.00 He Ara Panorama
$ 15.00 He Ara Tee
$ 55.00 CGFF Plant Sales Christmas on Field


Expenditure:

$ 0.00 Fees
$ 50.00 He Ara Koha
$ 233.66 CGFF Rongoa
$ 149.99 CGFF Rongoa Brochure
$ 678.50 Kōrero
$ 10.00 CGFF refund for incorrect deposit made on 12/11/2024


Invoices – Issued
$ 20.00 Korero
Invoices – Paid
$ 20.00 Korero

Account balances as at 10 December 2024
Res Assn 000 $ 459.15
He Ara 001 $ 372.82
CGFF 002 $ 2695.95
Kōrero 066 $ 1250.27
Surf Seat 067 $ 174.73
On Call Acct 025 $ 6604.78
CGFF $1000.00 Donation
CGFF $ 500.00 Payment
He Ara $5000.00 Donation
Residents $ 104.78 Interest

Budgets to be presented at next meeting in February.

Moved Margaretl / seconded Iain. All in favour. Carried

Correspondence

21 November: Shared by Adele Quayle to Kate Dreaver
Sharing info about the submissions on Proposed Freedom Camping Bylaw. Encouraging the wider village to submit, not just the beach residents.

28 November 2024: Russell Plume – Spectacles found on Escarpment
(Jane corresponded with Russell and was going to do a RA post but it was already sorted and the glasses returned to owner.)

Project Updates

Community Garden Food Forest

Garden Club visit Tuesday 11 Feb 2025. We will provide morning tea. A koha has been asked for. Hopefully we will have plants for sale. (Now cancelled)

Christmas in the Park. & December 2025. Good supply of plants for sale and last of the tea towels. $199 taken and Gay talked with Mayor who encouraged us to contact Hutt Mana Charitable Trust.

Camera is working well, damage is down.

Celebration for the Pavilion.  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON ANNIVERSARY DAY?”

  • Ask Gabrielle if she would be willing to provide music
  • Brian to look at challenge of completing a Crankie from the story of the garden over the years
  • Vicky has children’s treasure hunt
  • Jane to make a poster please
  • Gay to invite Barbara Edmonds and Porirua Mayor

$3,400 in bank

Table: The Pukerua Bay Community Garden & Food Forest Rongoā Māori Report to Tree Crop Association

He Ara Report December 2024

  • Pou Tangaroa panel was blessed by kaumatua Taku Parae on Wednesday 20 November.
  • Memorial plaque for Peter Lindsay refixed in place.
  • He Ara hosted Judy McCoy and four other Friends of Taupo Swamp and Catchment on a visit to Mt Welcome Bush, one of the headwaters of Taupo Stream. He Ara, together with a team from the Friends, have offered to assist the owners with the task of eradicating three invasive species so the owners meet the requirements of their QEII covenant.  We have also offered to assist to set up and monitor trap lines for possums and rodents.
  • The Hub provided a table in the community tent at Christmas on the Field.  Interest in panorama and tee shirts made this worthwhile.
  • Website – more stories have been put up including Ngā tipu o Pukerua Bay and Growing Up in the Bay.
  • Ashley spent a day with Mike Gray, grandson of Charles Gray Esq in Kaikohe and came back with 303 photos including early Charles Gray photos, Lindsay Gray DFC’s medals, WW2 photos and memorabilia as well as photos of records, paintings etc. A treasure trove of Pukerua heritage.

Kōrero

No report

Climate Action Rōpū

  • Part of the RA table at Christmas on Field.
  • Crop Swap & Recycling Hub – Sat 21 December, 3–4pm
  • Strategy meeting on Sunday 15 December
  • Treaty Principles Bill
  • Conor is going to write a submission for us.
    • https://docs.google.com/document/d/184rtpDMDbM4Mc7d0vxtag1sRV-XmZx02MmJXlrbXYdA/edit?usp=sharing
    • We’re also doing one for Kōrero.
    • And there will be one for the TTT group.
  • A shared message being that the Treaty matters to PKB. It’s the foundation of the honest, respectful, and reciprocal partnership enjoyed between residents and iwi and is reflected in the values in our village plan. Kate thinks It would be wonderful if the RA, as our parent organisation, could do something similar to pull them all together!

General Business

Freedom Camping submission

Approach we’re not opposed to freedom camping but access via a fragile road. E.g Northern carpark on Centennial Highway. Lack of flat land. Very busy carpark with local residents.

Iain’s great idea about setting up a survey form on RA website

The submission is due before our next meeting

Village Planning Hui

Feedback positive but brief. Need to follow up a couple of other groups that were invited but didn’t come.

Former Plunket Rooms

Matt Hoffman asked for updates. Feedback is they have approval for consulting in the New Year.

Treaty Principles Bill

Iain to draft a brief submission pulling together all the various groups under our umbrella. 

CGFF Funding Application

Motion –  Pukerua Bay Community Garden and Food Forest has the approval of the RA to apply for funding from Hutt Mana Charitable Trust  for funding Aon Insurance public liability $713 due July 2025. The funding closes end of February 2025.

Judy moved/ Paul seconded. All agreed. Carried

Beach Signage

Paul has had discussions over the years with council about signage and how they could improve.

School Hall

Heard that there are plans for the school to use the hall for classrooms next year for rebuilding. The hub and RA rep will hopefully have a meeting for more details as it will impact basketball groups, RSA Anzac day etc.

Meeting ended 9.15pm

December 2024 Residents Association meeting minutes Read More »

March 2024 Residents Association Meeting Minutes

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Present: Ross Leggett, Chris Kirk-Burnnand, Paul FitzGerald, Margaret Blair, Jane Comben, Gay Hay, Jonothan Harker , Iain MacLean. Late comer Matt Meladonis
Apologies: none

Approval of February 2024 minutes

Approval of February 2024 minutes
Motion: Gay moved to accept February minutes, Iain seconded – all agreed, carried.

Council Updates

GWRC

  • Chris has visited the community garden with Paul and will try to make inquiries.
  • Mt Welcome understand the consenting issues and challenges. First bit will be 10% of whole development. We’ve seen the visualisation images with lots of trees.
  • Thursday this week voting on LTP for GWRC looking at a 19.8% rates rise. 66% transport (but more technically) so that is a concern. Includes fares increase. When national ticketing comes in there maybe charges for Park and Ride with concessions for train ticket holders.
  • Consulting on own and set up a depot in Miramar and northern areas. Depots need to be near electricity for charging buses.
  • Looking to purchase 2approx 3% shares owned by Horizons Centreport shares. Considered important to add to 77% existing shares so it’s kept in local community ownership. Chris is confident their yield can be improved overtime.

PCC

  • Long Term Plan consultation coming out 1 April. There will be a meeting 4 April 3-5pm at RSA. 17.5% proposed rates increase in the first year. Many projects have been deferred or stopped.
  • PCC have chosen to include water in the LTP – although it should be taken over by other govt arrangements. 66% of Capex is water. Most commitments that are remaining are related to water. The big tank project will help prevent overflows into the harbour.
  • New govt policy statement changes direction from previous govt and downplay emissions but deals other items such as increase road maintenance. There will be more clarity over time. Way things are funded (eg cycleways) are changing.
  • Civic awards nominations are open again. Think about if we’d like to nominate anyone.
  • Plunket Room consultation document is coming out. Although we have already consulted in a basic overview way.
  • Village Plan – proposal for consultation is coming out that Village Planning will be culled for cost saving. Capex will go. Some projects in the system will be worked through.

Matters arising from previous minutes.

Action: Chris and Paul have visited to the Community Garden.

Finance Report

To March 2024 Meeting, as at 10 March 2024

BNZ   		$11,369.25
Income:		
$   130.00  CGFF Tea Towel Pre Pay
$   770.00  Korero Invoices
$   300.00  Korero Donation
$       3.52  Interest
$     13.58  Interest

Expenditure:
$  678.48  Korero	
$      3.80  Bank Fees 
			
Invoices – Unpaid
$  220.00
				  	
Account balances as at 10 March 2024

Res Assn 000    	$  255.19
He Ara 001		$1661.60
CGFF 002		$7107.01
Kōrero 066		$2190.47
Surf Seat 067		$  154.93

Correspondence

12 Feb 2024: Porirua Community Leaders Forum invite forwarded by Jono fromTalanoa Wānanga 

13 Feb 2024: Paul FitzGerald responded to Bill Inge’s email about cleaning work on theSecret Valley Murals.

No Action items

Project Updates:

Community Garden

  • Compost system. Bins in place. Vicky and Brian leading the project.
  • Pest Control. Very frustrating for beans tomatoes and berries. We plan to consult other gardens and try to establish a yearlong attack. We will plant less densely next year.
  • New signs created by Gay to prevent people taking fruits before they’re ready
  • Pavilion report. Working on interior.
  • Matariki celebrations. Plan to provide pumpkins for school hangi in future. Garden to host Welsh author, artist storyteller, Peter Stevenson. He will work with community to construct a “Crankie” and provide art work to retell a Matariki story. Ara Swanney has offered to work with tamariki to make harakeke stars. Possible date 22 June.
  • Winter prep of gardening. Discussion still needed.
  • School Gala. We will be taking orders for our tea towels (Due April 20). We will donate a basket of produce as a raffle prize for the school.
  • Korero. Gay and Margaret have agreed to work on an article for the next publication focussing on “kai”.
  • Local business (not sure which) may support garden with a staff work day. We need to action this.

He Ara Pukerua

• The Stores panel was revealed on Thursday 7 March by Janine Thomson and Darryl Lindsay. They are grandchildren of Arthur and Annie Lindsay, the original owners of the Lindsay family store.
– Bill Inge and Megan Krishnan from PCC also came along.
– We are blown away with the responses to our posts on He Ara Facebook from all over the world. There is often subsequent dialogue between many of these people.
• Pou panel – wording had been approved by PCC we are now waiting on approval from Ngati Toa.
• PCC have put in the concrete pads for the Mosen and Pool seats in the Muri Reserve.
• Wellington Heritage Festival – we have received an invitation to participate in October.
• Margaret has met with author and researcher Clare Gleeson about Miss Ngita Woodhouse.
• Work is proceeding on the He Ara website.
• Ashley accompanied three classes from Pukerua Bay School to Wairaka rock and talked to them about Albert Augustus Clark aka Nobby Clark.
• Visit from Dick Farrell. He has so many stories about living in the Bay as a child. He will be back again. He donated a large, framed photograph of the beach in the 1960s

Motion:  Approval requested from this Residents’ Association meeting to apply to the Nikau Foundation for funds to complete the panels project. moved Paul, seconded Jono – Carried

Kōrero

Kōrero is now in its fourth year of publication. We’re entering this year without our dear friend, Mel, and in the knowledge that we will soon lose Iain. In the face of those losses, we’re delighted to welcome three new people to our editorial team: Gill England, Carla Guy, and Kelly McClean.  Iain remains on the team for the meantime. Kate continues as co-ordinating editor, Moira ably organises advertising and budget, Nikky is chief proofreader, Jonathan looks after the IT side of things, and Gill has stepped in to look after distribution.  Anne’s role as designer is critical – she makes us look good!

Our extended whānau includes our distribution team; Paul, who does most of the pickups from the printer; and Margaret who processes our invoices and helps Moira keep track of finances. And, of course, it includes our wonderful contributors, whose numbers grow with each issue.

Publication would be impossible without the generosity of our advertisers, sponsors, and, last year, the Pelorus Trust. 

Our first three issues this year have needed to be produced on a tight timeframe, as Matariki will be celebrated a month earlier than usual, so Issue 3 will have to come out in the first half of the year. We have not finalised dates for issues 4 and 5. These will be determined later in the year and be responsive to community events.  With that in mind, this is the 2024 schedule.

Korero schedule 2024 (in devt.)
IssueThemeCopy due date
FebruaryThe beach – where we live and playComplete
AprilKai12 March
Early JuneMusic and Matariki1 May
August/SepHauora 
NovemberWriters and writing 

Financially, we are reasonably on track, but our planning is based on 16-page issues, and we find that we normally need 20 pages. A sign of success, but it does create some pressure. For that reason, we would like the RA committee to endorse our application for another grant to help pay for printing.

Motion:  To apply to Pelorus Trust for extra funding for Korero printing costs. moved Iain, seconded Jono – Carried

General Business

Community Resilience – Matt Meladonis

  • Still pin point water sources outside the community hub and distribution plan.
  • We need to localised fliers specific to Pukerua Bay about what to do. What to do, what to keep in stock. Margaret suggested we find a sponsor for printing
  • Need a list of people who would require assistance, on chronic meds etc.
  • Hoping to get some street groups going with Street Rep so it will help distribute information easily. Could coordinate with neighbourhood watch if it existed. Neighbourhood day could be an opportunity.
  • Whetu Bennett contacted Matt about radios and told Jane the PKB report will be updated in April.
  • List of key personnel in bay (medics, elderly care, police etc)
  • If we have a long term panic, perhaps put out a call out for generator, chest freezers etc. Investigate EV’s V2L powering like a battery.

Muri Road Development update

Artist impression renders were sent in the part that is already zoned for residential and consented. It’s a Jennian homes development. To be put out on a Facebook post.

Closed: 8.52pm

March 2024 Residents Association Meeting Minutes Read More »

Garden pruning and tool care workshop

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Hi Gardeners,
The Pukerua Bay Community Garden and Food Forest team presents:

Pruning and Tool Care Workshop
Join us on SATURDAY AUGUST 13th, 10am – 12 noon.
PRUNING
Hannah Swartz will be demonstrating winter pruning care for our fruit trees.
Thanks to NZ Organic Garden magazine for their donation to host this event.
TOOLS
Hannah will also talk about care and maintenance of your garden tools. We are lucky to have two local experts that will help you with any of your tools you bring along. We are asking for a Koha to the garden for this service.
FOR SALE
Our seeds will be available for you to purchase (with cash).
As always, everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you in the garden. (Weather permitting!)

Garden pruning and tool care workshop Read More »

Community Garden Food Forest working bee

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We’ll be at the Community Garden and Food Forest this Saturday 12 June at 10am to 12 noon (ish). Feel free to come along as we’ll be working on the berry area and usual maintenance, plus the usual cups of tea from the thermette. If available, you can bring:
  • Gloves and hand tools
  • Green matter for the compost bins (e.g. veg scraps)
We now have two regular mornings in the garden:
  • 2nd Saturday of the month
  • Last Wednesday of the month

We look forward to catching up with you soon,
PKB Community Garden & Food Forest members

Community Garden Food Forest working bee Read More »

Community Garden consultation

/ / Announcements, Community Garden, Consultation / , ,

We had a great meeting at the site of the Community Garden on Sunday, having invited all the neighbours to discuss the project and contribute with ideas and feedback. Everyone who turned out was enthusiastic and eager to participate, so we are looking at getting things moving ahead. With this in mind – everyone in the community is invited to a meeting at 7pm, Thursday 19 October at the School Hall to contribute to the planning for the immediate and longer term future of the garden.

If you have anything you would like to put on the agenda; ideas and feedback,  skills, materials or other resources to contribute, please feel free to message here or comment on the Facebook posts’s discussion.

Community Garden consultation Read More »

Community garden meeting

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We had a great meeting at the site of the community garden on Sunday, having invited all the neighbours to discuss the project and contribute with ideas and feedback. Everyone who turned out was enthusiastic and eager to participate, so we are looking at getting things moving ahead. Everyone in the community is invited to contribute to the planning for the immediate and longer term future.

Community garden meeting Read More »