This meeting was held on Monday March 16^th, at St Thomas’s Church Lounge.

We were pleased that MP Julie Anne Genter, Cr Laurie Foon and GWR Cr Yadana Saw all attended – perhaps the first time that the House of Representaives, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council have all been represented at the same Association meeting.

These were some of the issues discussed –

Emergency Management:

Vania Szymkowiak introduced the evolving role of WREMO in the Newtown area.

This includes consideration of:

• Current resources – both central and held by individuals
• Known hazards 
• What people are concerned about emergency preparedness
• Community-led model, neighbours uptake is progressing

There was to be a WREMO workshop at Te Whare Hapori o Ngā Puna Waiora/Newtown Community Centre on Saturday 21 March, aimed at those who are interested in being part of a collective of others who want to be involved, to promote hub open days, community events/workshops and ongoing conversations/preparedness.

Newtown Festival

Rhona Carson (Festival Administrator as well as Association Secretary) said that organisationally things had gone very smoothly, and asked for feedback from others who were there. Most of the meeting attendees had been at the Festival –either as marshals, stall holders, helpers with the morning tea provided by the Association, or as members of the public. The feedback was very positive!

Rhona thanked those participating and contributing, on behalf of the Festival team. The meeting supported the Festival by acclamation. 

The Protest Exhibition – 1970’s protest photos and art from 6th March to 11th April

Hilary Watson shared that the exhibition at 24.7 Gallery, Riddiford Street was well attended during the Festival with further promotion at Sub-Culture.  The exhibition is extended until 11th April and everyone is welcome.

Marching 4 meals – Shared by the Salvation Army, click this link for more details:  Marching 4 Meals : this event is supporting Major Gavin Baxter who is walking the Te Araroa Trail to raise awareness and funds for The Salvation Army foodbanks across New Zealand.  He started at Bluff on January 1st. People are invited to walk some or all of the Wellington South section of the trail on Sunday 29 March. Walkers are gathering at 1pm, Shorland Park, Island Bay, finishing at Oriental Bay, distance: 10.3km

Laurie Foon – Wellington City Council update

• There will be an update on policy for dangerous and insanitary buildings. This is relevant to Newtown because of ongoing issues with the burnt out house at 185 Mansfield St.
• The name Kahukura Park is now official. The meeting discussed having a party to clebrate. Perhaps a Neighbour’s Day event? 
• More P180 parking spaces are to be permitted as part of the parking plan around Newtown East.
• A mobility park is to be allocated in Regent Street as consulted.
• On 17th March the Council was due to discuss matters including the Mayor’s 64 Triennium Plan and an extension for City Safety work to continue into Newtown.
• Annual plan is to cut funds, but climate action was not part of the funding cuts.
• It was noted that Loafers Lodge has been sold to Prime Property Group 
• There is currently a problem with the FixIt App not sending feedback acknowledgements and time delay to get work done.
  Noted that this appeared to be fixed after this meeting.
• There is not yet a process for continuity with change to Tiaki Wai (the new water management organisation) on the 1st July.

Julie Anne Genter – Parliament update

• Congratulations and thankfulness for an amazing Newtown Festival. 
• Helping council work on Moa Point. Terms of Reference have been released. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/moa-point-crown-review-team-appointed
• Opposition to the Government’s ‘move-on orders’; action on the 29th March
• New social housing developments are going to be built in Newtown.  Some from Kainga Ora and other community housing providers like Dwell Housing.
• The Environment Select Committee is working through submissions on the RMA replacement bill.
• There are various steps being taken to push the Government to take steps to ease transport costs with the current fuel crisis.
• It was suggested for the community, residents association to gather and think about what we can do, to support our community as hardship and crisis will rise.  Fits in well with emergency planning discussion, with food security and how we can access these and other resources.

Yadana Saw – Greater Wellington Regional Council update

• Yadana Saw, Sarah Free, Simon Woolf and Tom James are our representatives from the Pōneke Constituency
• Public transport fares are increasing by 3.1% on 15 May
• On 12th of April, on the Snapper network, you will be able to use your debit cards, smartphones and watches to pay for a single adult snapper fare. It does not include concessions until the national ticketing system, NZTA projects on the timeline of delivery to roll out throughout the country.
• Annual/Long term plan has trimmed a 13% rate, on average to around 9.7%
• There is also going to be a GW review/investigation of Moa Point, at least 6 months away
  https://www.gw.govt.nz/your-region/news/moa-point-sewage-discharge
• The way we pay for water is going to be changing over to a new entity, Tiaki Wai, as of the 1st July.  There will be more changes to follow and a better understanding of the water charges and payment, separate from district council rates
• The Joint Working Group looking at changing regional council activities is progressing https://www.gw.govt.nz/your-region/news/greater-wellington-joins-other-councils-mana-whenua-to-reform-local-government/

Carrara Park Toilet Update

Council are progressing with an external contractor appointed for construction of toilet block off-site and onsite work is expected to begin in May.

WCC Consultations

There are several consultations currently open for public feedback. Sign up to WCC Let’s Talk to stay updated.  Home | Let’s Talk

• Noise control policy: Review of noise in the District Plan | Let’s Talk closes 10th April
• Community engagement: Participate Pōneke | Let’s Talk closes 12th April