This meeting was on February 16th 2026 at the St Tom’s community lounge.
The matters discussed included –

Re-registration as an Incorporated Society – our new Constitution for the Residents’ Association has been approved and we are now registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022. The next thing we need to do is to apply to be a registered charity.

Poneke Public Housing Futures – Invited guest Ellen Blake addressed the meeting to introduce this new group. It is part of a national structure set up by ActionStation with the objective of keeping public housing we have and building more. Ellen introduced a petition: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/save-state-housing-in-poneke-wellington.

185 Mansfield St – an update – Matters concerning this burnt out house have been discussed at previous meetings; after considerable delay in tracking down the owner the building has now been declared unsanitary and a notice given to the owner.

Other Social issues – There are people selling drugs on a local street, which is proving very difficult to prevent. It was agreed that each time a place selling drugs is shut down, Newtown seems to be a better place.

Salvation Army Housing  – Andrew Wilson told us about a new Salvation Army housing development. More housing is definitely needed! The site is 182a -194 Owen St and planning for 25 new 1-3 bedroom units and a community facility is well underway.

Emergency Services –Noted that none of the cities in Te Upoko o te Ika had to declare a state of emergency, but there are a lot of fallen trees and some power outages.We are past the worst of this storm, but we should all be prepared for future emergencies.The local community hub is the Newtown School Hall. There will be a community engagement day on 21 March 1 – 3 at the Hall. 

Newtown Festival – Everything is on track for March 8.  As this is International Women’s Day there will be a parade to mark occasion, from the Tangata Whenua stage to the Newtown Community Centre., where there will be morning tea catered by Association members.

Patrick O’Rourke – Warwick Taylor has drawn it to our attention that Patrick O’Rourke died in October aged almost 95.  Patrick had a long history with the Association, being an Association member for many years and a past Association President. He is one of the ‘ancestors’ of our current Association; RIP.