Our Treasurer, Peter Frater, who has served the Association so well for so many years, has retired from the role. He is still on the wider Executive Committee. We are very grateful to Peter for all he has done for us, thank you Peter! The Executive is able to fill vacancies between AGMs, and has appointed Jane Patterson to be our new Treasurer. We are very pleased that Jane is willing and able to take this on, and warmly welcome her.
Happy New Year for 2016! Best wishes to all for the year ahead.
Carols in Carrara Park Tuesday 8th December
Keep Newtown Clean
This Saturday, 5th December. Meet outside Newtown New World, between 9.00 and noon. Please come if you can, wearing old clothes and ready to paint, clean, weed and otherwise spruce up Newtown. All the equipment is supplied. This is a great way to contribute to the community, and meet other like-minded people.BBQ sausages for volunteers: thank you, Newtown New World!
Report on the November meeting.
The Monthly Meeting on Monday 16th November focussed on two topics.
1. The Fair, Intelligent Transport (FIT) proposal for light rail
The link to their paper is here.
The speakers were John Rankin and Kerry Wood,
Introduction and Macro view by John: Overview of suggestions for Wellington (as in paper), and notes about existing trams overseas. Outlining positive benefits for communities when trams are introduced.
Micro view by Kerry: Suggestions of how Newtown could be serviced by a tram network between Wellington City and the Airport, either along Constable St or through a new tunnel past the zoo. Emphasising that no one option is preferred at this stage.
Their presentation was followed by vigorous discussion.
2. Keep Newtown Clean
Hine Moana-Sullivan and Lola Liava’a Tonga from the Wellington City Council Graffiti Removal Team were the speakers.
Hine – gave an overview of what has been happening, and reported an audit showing success in responding to requests for graffiti removal.
The next Keep Newtown Clean event is on Saturday 5th December. This is the second since moving to a 4x year system. The September event had a successful new activity with KNC volunteers working on the garden area outside St Thomas’s.
Lola – Volunteer Coordinator for the graffiti team, spoke about a new programme for volunteers to work in their own time, which has its own webpage. They are planning an official launch at Keep Newtown Clean on 5th December at 9:00am and were asking for Association approval to announce this – agreed. They are planning for a BBQ, balloons, and general celebration in St Thomas’s courtyard.
The full meeting minutes, with notes of further discussion, are here.
November meeting
Next meeting: Monday, 16th November
7.30pm at the Newtown Hall, 70 Daniell St: everyone welcome!
The Agenda will include:
- A presentation from FIT – Fair Intelligent Transport – with a proposal for light rail, as introduced at the last meeting – see the item below.
- A discussion with Hine Moana-Sullivan and Lola Liava’a Tonga from the Wellington City Council Grafitti Removal Team, about their work, their future plans, and the Keep Newtown Clean morning on Saturday 5th December.
This will be the last regular meeting for 2015: do let us know if there are issues you would like addressed before the end of the year, and your thoughts about what the Association could be doing in 2016.
The Wellington Town Belt Bill
Progress on the Bill: Grant Robertson, MP for Wellington Central moved that the Bill be read for the first time on 16 September 2015. The House voted unanimously to refer the Bill to the Local Government and Environment Committee. The Local Government and Environment Select Committee then called for submissions, which closed on the 29 October 2015. The Association supports the Bill in principle, and have made a submission saying so, with a few provisos. Our submission is here. A couple of other links – the text of the bill and the WCC page – including a map.
October meeting report
Report on Newtown Residents’ Association October Monthly Meeting and resumed Annual General Meeting, 19th October 2015.
The AGM was re-convened at this meeting – it couldn’t be completed at the September meeting because the Annual Accounts hadn’t been received from the auditor. Nominations for Association President were re-opened – there were no nominations in September, but this time Rhona Carson was nominated and accepted the role. The Annual Accounts were presented and accepted, and there was also a report on the successful 2015 Newtown Festival. The full AGM Minutes can be seen here – in draft form until passed at the 2016 AGM.
Other business included:
Trams through Newtown? Ian Shearer from FIT – Fair Intelligent Transport – gave a brief introduction to his organisation’s advocacy for light rail – i.e. trams – to be routed through Newtown and on to the Airport. We are going to have a full presentation about this at the next meeting, on Monday 16th November. You can see an introductory article here.
A new lease for Truby King House: Wellington City Council have consulted us about their proposal to lease the property to Conservation Volunteers New Zealand. We support this and look forward to welcoming the organisation to our neighbourhood.
Sprucing up our streets? We are hoping to work with the relevant Council officers to get a better process for keeping our streets clean and in good repair, but it seems difficult to find the right people to talk to. This is still a work in progress!
Berhampore Golf Course Centenary
The Centenary of the Berhampore Golf Course will be celebrated on Saturday the 31st of October.
8am: Mornington Open Day Tournament – To Support The First Tee Junior Golf Programme in Wellington Open to Men, Women, & Juniors. $35 Entry Fee (Juniors $20) (includes lunch during prize giving). Over $5,000 to be WON in Prizes. Entries: Phone (04) 389 6816, Email: mornington@golf.co.nz
1-4pm: Open Day and Community Festival
In 1915 Berhampore was the birthplace of community golf in New Zealand. It was the first public golf course in New Zealand, created to provide the working class an opportunity to play golf. At the time golf was deemed to be a rich man’s sport, and all the existing golf courses were run by private golf clubs. It was also the first in NZ to recognise golf as a sport for women, with a women’s club established soon after the men’s.
You can follow this link for a very interesting illustrated account of the history.
The Centenary of the Mornington Golf Club. The Club, which now has a growing number of sports and community groups and activities, was formed in January 1916 and celebrates its centenary at Wellington Anniversary weekend, 23rd-25th January 2016.
See more on the Club’s website.
October Monthly Meeting and resumed Annual General Meeting:
Monday, 19th October 2015, 7.30pm at the Newtown Hall, 71 Daniell St.
All welcome!
The AGM couldn’t be completed at the September meeting because the Annual Accounts hadn’t been received from the auditor, so it is to be re-convened at this meeting.
Agenda:
Re-opening of Nominations for NRA President – Claire Pettigrew stepped down from the role and there were no other nominations.
Presentation of NRA Financial Report for 2014/15. See the Annual Accounts here.
Newtown Festival Director’s Report and Festival authorisation.
Other Business – please contact us about other items you would like discussed at the October monthly meeting.
Report on the September Meeting
See the draft minutes of the meeting here.
The NRA meeting in September was the Association’s AGM, but in the event only part of the AGM business was concluded, and the AGM was adjourned, to recommence at the October meeting. Unfortunately the Association accounts had not been received from the auditor and so could not be presented.
Claire Pettigrew presented her Presidents’ Report, and was thanked for all her efforts and achievements during the year.
Election of Officers:
President – there were no nominations. Claire has decided not to stand again as she has more demands on her time now with a full-time job. [27/10//15 – Update -at the second part of the AGM at the October meeting Rhona Carson was nominated for President and accepted the role.]
Secretary – Rhona Carson
Treasurer – Peter Frater, in absentia, subject to his agreement
Vice-President – James Coyle (no nominees for the other 2 possible VP roles)
Past President – Claire Pettigrew
Executive – Carol Comber, Kevin Lethbridge, Steve Dunn, Cheryl Robilliard, Jeanie McCafferty, Steve Cosgrove, Effie Rankin, Martin Hanley.
Steve Cosgrove moved, Rhona Carson seconded, that the people nominated be declared elected unopposed. Carried.
Newtown Festival Appointments
Festival Director: Martin Hanley
Festival Committee: Anna Kemble Welch, James Coyle, Tom Law, Rhona Carson
Festival Review Team: Steve Dunn, Peter Frater (if he continues as Treasurer), Claire Pettigrew – with power to co-opt. Ken Allen said he could be willing to be co-opted.
The AGM was adjourned before the Festival business was concluded; to be continued in October.
Other Business – included a discussion about “Safety on our Streets” prompted by concerns about about men begging for money and hanging around the ATMs intimidating people. Jono Sharp from the Police responded to this, saying that the Police are doing what they can, and advising people to speak to the Police if they are having trouble.
See the meeting minutes for more details of the above topics.
2015 Annual General Meeting
Monday, 21st September, 7.30pm at the Newtown Hall, 71 Daniell St.
All welcome!
Agenda:
Confirming Minutes of 2014 AGM See here for the Minutes
Matters arising
President’s Report
Treasurer’s Report – Presentation of Annual Accounts
Election of Officers (President,Treasurer, Secretary, up to 3 Vice-Presidents and up to 9 Executive Members – see last year’s minutes for the current office holders.)
Newtown Festival Director’s Report
Appointment of Festival Director, Festival Committee and Festival Review Team.
Other Business.
Food Fair: Saturday 12th September
The Chinese Baptist Church invite you all to a fantastic culinary experience, where you can sample some of your favourite Chinese dishes. The Fair will be at their headquarters, 24 Donald McLean St, from 10am – 4pm.
Newtown Acoustic Sound
A group of local musicians write: We are passionate about music, especially the singer songwriter acoustic type of sound. So to hear more of the talented acoustic performers in our area, we have started “Newtown Acoustic Sound”, and hope that many of you will come and share with us in the Upstairs room at the Office Bar in Newtown. We will start it off on Sunday 20th September at 5.30pm with some invited guests, and we hope to develop an open mic. We want to hear your ideas to help us develop a uniquely Newtown music destination.
Newtown Festival wins an award!
The Festival was nominated for a Wellington Airport Regional Community Award in recognition of the excellent work the recycling steering group and the volunteers put into recycling at the Street Fair this year. James Coyle, Vanessa Rushton, Renee Rushton (Newtown Community and Cultural Centre), Hannah Macintosh (South Wellington Timebank), and Ben Phillips took on the challenge of making a significant impact on the amount of waste going to the landfill. 50% of waste from the Fair was diverted to either recycling or compost – and they intend to do even better next year!
At the Wellington City awards last night the Newtown Residents’ Association Festival Committee was announced as the winner of the Heritage and Environment category!
The next step is the Regional Awards, bringing together the winners from Wellington, Kapiti, Hutt City, Upper Hutt and Porirua – the Regional Awards wil be announced on November 10th.
Congratulations to all involved! Continue reading Newtown Festival wins an award!
newtown.org.nz 