Piha Beach - Village Voice

Piha News, Views, Opinions & Photos 2008/09

The Community Coalition for Auckland-Voices of Tamaki Makaurau has congratulated Waitakere MP and Minister of Social Development Paula Bennett for her public support of their concerns about potential loss of local control and projects. The Minister has taken the unusual step of publicly criticising the current proposals on regional governance.

The Coalition is spearheading a campaign against the governance proposals put forward by Local Government Minster Rodney Hide. It has argued for the report of the Royal Commission on Regional Governance to be used as the basis of legislation for the Super City.

Coalition representatives recently met with Ms Bennett to discuss the Government's proposals for the Super City. "It was a very constructive meeting and Ms Bennett asked for the group's ideas on how local views can be given a voice in a new structure for Auckland's governance", stated Iris Donoghue, a Coalition spokesperson.

"It was great to have our local MP asking for the views of her community. That's what democracy is all about, and it's particularly pleasing that she has now spoken out so clearly in favour of greater local democracy and continued funding for local initiatives."

A further meeting between Ms Bennett and the Coalition is scheduled to review the Coalition's ideas for local structures powers and functions.

"Whatever we end up with at a local level needs to have the power and budget to implement local solutions determined by local input on priorities," said Ms Donoghue.

Recent comments by Prime Minister John Key have also been seen by the Coalition as a major step forward for their campaign. Mr Key has supported giving greater powers and funding to local areas to control their own ?grassroots? projects

"It is now obvious that the Government has been taken aback by the depth and breadth of opposition to the Rodney Hide-led proposals" said Coalition spokesperson Tony Mayow. "Polls in Helensville and Waitakere demonstrate clearly that there is very little public support for the 20-30 local Community Boards. The overwhelming regional response to our campaign has shown the anger within the community over the way local voices have, up to now, been shut out of the future of their city.

"We have not yet formed a view on the number of local bodies that would be appropriate, but we reiterate that the Royal Commission report should form the basis for select committee discussion. This proposed six local councils, with up to 11 considered workable.

The Community Coalition for Auckland: Voices of Tamaki Makaurau will be speaking at a public meeting in the CBD tonight. Manukau Mayor Len Brown will address the meeting at the London Bar at 7pm. It has also been invited to speak at Meetings in Papakura, on May 4th, and in Manukau, where efforts to establish a Manukau Steering Group are underway.

The Coalition supports the call by Maori for 'solid partnership' within Auckland's regional governance and that real representation for Maori is included in any proposal. The Coalition will be joining the Hikoi on May 25 where people from all cultures will converge from the four corners of Auckland to the bottom of Queen Street by 12 noon. From here they will march to the Town Hall.

For further details of this and other actions, see the web site.  http://www.cc4a.net.nz

In open forum Sara Carbary went through the 'Safe Walking in Piha' groups submission to the WCC LTCCP submission for safe walking paths around Piha and asked for the R&Rs support.

If you haven't heard of this group its grown over the last year or 18 months and now includes Sara Carberry, Gabrielle Lancaster, Hannah Slade, Gillian Cotton and ? can't remember her name . . . it'll come.

Their vision is for all of Piha to have safe walking to everywhere - not just the beach.  There are lots of kiddies in Piha now that wish to visit friends, lots others too want to walk around without having to dodge cars and all sorts.

So I am right behind them and if you wish to support them please Email them here and let them know you're behind them and what you'd like to see. The more they can add to their submission the better.

 27/4/09  What is happening here in Beach Valley Road?

Machines, cement trucks . . . .

See here for more photos and explanation

It has been suggested that I ignore this but I can't.  I started Village Voice to expose this type of nonsense so how can I now start ignoring it?

There is a family in Beach Valley Road whose young toddler has not once but twice this year swallowed berries from karaka trees on their property. For those that don't know, these berries are very very poisonous.  So not once but twice this darling little toddler has had to have her stomach pumped - most unpleasant for the littlie but also for Mum and Dad.

So Dad did what any parent would do and started removing said karaka that were dropping berries in the area of their property that littlie played in.  Mums and Dads can't be watching children constantly - right?

Then the Dad got rid of these berries, and gee whizz, maybe a small twig or branch with them, into the weed bin in Beach Valley Road.  One would think this was a normal course of events - given that your child had swallowed them twice! 

Oh no!  Some inane, busy body, self centred, small life person saw the karaka twig/small branch in the weed bin and, yes, decided to let WCC know that it was there WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE FOR HEAVENS SAKE!!!   You'd have to ask what this person was doing on private property for a start and was it such a serious situation that this branch/twig had to be  brought to Council's attention?  Control, control, control!  

When my son was little he was so alergic to bee stings that we had to carry adrenalin with us every time we were more than 20 minutes from a hospital.  Of course he got stings regularly - Murphy's Law! Once he barely made it to hospital.  His father and I wanted to exterminate every bee in NZ - we didn't of course but you get my drift.

So to the pathetic person who thought it essential that the authorities knew about this I say this:  "Take a running jump - get a life - trust that people usually have a reason to do things and most people, you excluded, are fundamentally nice and caring people and finally , , , , ,  mind your own bloody business" 

Footnote: When I found this out I got a ladder and my camera and went up to the weed bin and took the photo above:  these are the karaka berries.  Oh, gee there is some pampas too and some wandering jew and and and weeds for africa that have all been hand removed from Beach Valley Road - no poisonous spray !!!

The 'Obama Brothers' at the Piha RSA after the Piha ANZAC Parade

An explanation will follow with lots of neat photos.

24/4/09

The Anzac Parade leaves the Piha RSA on Beach Valley Road at 2pm.  It's a wonderful parade because, unlike the dawn parades, this is a daylight one and usually includes most of our village community from the elderly in chairs to babes in prams and the family pets head toward Lion Rock.

To hear the piper play from 1/2 way up Lion Rock always brings tears to my eyes.

Left: Piha RSA the night before Anzac and below two photos of the wonderful woman making the ANZAC wreaths.

Big thanks to Graham Valentine for the photos.

24/4/09  

The Beach Valley Road Project asked WCC to do some maintenance for us and they came to the party

From Left: 1. WCC workers putting in drainage  2. Drainage done.  3. Clearing the culvert that causes flooding and   4. putting new reflectors on bollards.   Thanks WCC.

We'd like to know what you think of the Project  in Beach Valley Road:  Do you like it?  Do you not like it? Somewhere in between? Have you noticed?  Please comment . . . .

Please give us some feedback here . . . 

Tuesday April 28th 7- 8:30pm         or       WednesdayApril 29th 7- 8:30pm

Waitakere City Council invites local residents that live on or near Scenic Drive to one of two focus groups being held at Lopdell House next week.

Come and share your thoughts about driver and cyclist interaction on Scenic Drive.  The Council is considering roadside signage and information to help remind drivers and cyclists to 'share with care' on Scenic Drive. 

Share your ideas and brainstorm solutions as to how we can encourage greater understanding between cyclists and drivers to make Scenic Drive a safer environment for everyone. Both focus groups will be held in the seminar room on Level 1 of Lopdell House in Titirangi Village.  Please book your space with Rachel Blundell at Core Communications by calling 3073937 or email rachelb@corecom.co.nz

"Waitakere is already a Super City"

There is NOT a lot of time to get involved - 22 April 2009  Hundreds protest supercity plans

An estimated 1,000 people marched through central Henderson today to protest against the Government?s model for Auckland governance.

Rally organisers, Community Coalition for Auckland: Voices of Tamaki Makaurau, say the event demonstrated the growing groundswell of opposition to the proposed model the Government is fast-tracking through the legislative process.

"Our protest is about demanding the right for Aucklanders to have a say about how their rates are spent and to have a meaningful say in local decisions that affect their lives and the lives of their children," said coalition spokesman Tony Mayow.

"This is the biggest challenge that Auckland has faced in its entire history. It's inconceivable that 1.4 million people are not able to have a say in it!"

The coalition is calling for the Government to use the original Royal Commission report as the basis for any future decisions on the governance of Auckland's 'Super City'.

"We reject the undemocratic 'Rodney Hide' version of the report that the Government has presented as a done deal to the people of Auckland," Mr Mayow said.

"The Government's model for Auckland regional governance will strip away democracy and replace the effective partnerships between councils and community with voiceless, powerless local boards that have no access to funding
or resources.

"We are not opposed to the idea of being part of a 'super-city' and recognise that if it's done well, in consultation with the community, it will bring some benefits. But change has to work for all the people of Auckland, not just for Rodney Hide and the interests of big business."

Joint coalition spokesperson Iris Donoghue says the Government's model is at odds with what is happening internationally.

"The rest of the world is embracing the power and effectiveness of local initiatives and local democracies. Rodney Hide?s model concentrates power in the hands of a few and harks back to the destructive 'Rogernomics-style' leadership of the 1980's. This is a backward step for New Zealand's social, environmental and economic development," she says.

The strong support of the Waitakere community was evident at the rally, with banners and flags supporting the coalition's call to the Government. A wide range of community organisations and residents and ratepayers joined the coalition on the march.

Rally protester Jeremy Snowsill said it was exhilarating to witness the enthusiastic support of the community at the rally.

"There are hundreds of community initiatives delivering essential services in this city that will disappear under the new proposal. There are many of us who are outraged at this prospect and that is why we are here today."

"The Royal Commission's proposal took 18 months to prepare, cost millions of dollars and drew on the wisdom of both ordinary Aucklanders and governance experts. The report wasn't perfect but it was a damn good start. Rodney Hide's
sham version that he's forcing on Auckland was thrown together in just three days."

The Community Coalition for Auckland: Voices of Tamaki Makaurau also supported the iwi call for Maori representation in any Auckland governance structure and reminded the crowd of the hikoi planned for May 25th .

Further regional meetings are being held around Auckland this week, with Manukau City Council holding a public meeting at 6pm tonight at the Telstra Clear Stadium. Further details are available at www.cc4a.net.nz.

22/4/09 A letter to the NZ Herald by Bob Harvey, Mayor, Waitakere City Council

Congratulations to the Herald for the editorial on how to make the Super City work.  It added wisdom to the debate, which has been lacking in the past few weeks.

The mayors have taken a drubbing, uncalled for because  they have simply raised relevant issues about democracy, or the lack of it, swirling around the edict which demands we pack our tents and abandon our communities.

I have been disturbed by the emotive us of the words "execution" and "death sentence".  Elected members who do an excellent job do not deserve this tag.  My reasoning of going back to the royal commissions's report as a starting point has been lost in the melee of background static.

It was a very workable document. We are now working on a Government version that will require a major overhaul and much negotiation by mayors and chief executives to deliver anything that equates to what cities in the 21st century should be about.  (Precisely - Bobbie)

Columnist Brian Rudman has become the house parrot of the Auckland Regional Council.  Senior officials of this regional authority are now busy working with the crafters of the Super-City bill, happy to be dorking democracy and the communities of the Auckland region.

"Waitakere is already a Super City"

"What do we want?" . . .  "Democracy" . . . . "When do we want it?" . . .  "Now!"

Today Julia and I introduced our granddaughter, Brittany, to the 'Kiwi protest march' and what better introduction than to a protest march to stop Auckland stealing our city - Waitakere. Above is one of the chants we did today marching from Corbans Art Centre to the WCC centre.   It was great to see fellow Piha people there along with the wonderful cultural mix of what makes Waitakere so wonderful. 

I am getting incredibly suspicious about 'who wasn't there' and the silence of the usually loud political voices of Piha is deafening . . . . something is up and I have a feeling we're not going to like it . . . . watch this space . . .

There is not one mention of this on the Piha Ratepayers and Residents website . . . not a word ? ? ? ?

Email your thoughts on the Governments changes to the Commissions recommendations here

Protesters crowded on to the streets of west Auckland today to demonstrate their opposition to the Government's approach to the proposed Auckland "super-city".

The protest was organised by the Community Coalition for Auckland, which said about 1000 people joined in. (and it was absolutely wonderful to be there - Bobbie)

Coalition spokesman Tony Mayow, left, said the protest was about protecting the right for all Aucklanders to have their say about decisions which could affect them and their children.

"This is the biggest challenge that Auckland has faced in its entire history. It's inconceivable that 1.4 million people are not able to have a say in it," Mr Mayow said.      Full article in NZ Herald here

Rodney Hide's Book, My Year of Living Dangerously was mentioned at the march today.

Rodney: You think 'Dancing with the Stars' was living dangerously?  Think again! 

Mucking around with the West is living dangerously !!!

A message for you and Paula Bennet : For the first time ever (I think) Waitakere went Blue at the elections : enjoy it - I doubt it will happen again after what National is doing with the West.  Was this in your manifesto Paula? -  Ha!  Some Westie you turned out to be

And the winner of the Hyundai Terracan is .......

Piha's Mike Mulcahy - congrats Mike : left

$100 REWARD

$100 reward to any person who can give information leading to the return of these Beach Valley Road Project signs and another $100 for information as to who is responsible for their dissappearance - phone Bobbie 021 969924

CORBON ESTATE ART CENTRE, HENDERSON 3PM WED APR 22ND

$85,179.77 : The cost to Waitakere City Ratepayers for Piha to get a Cafe ! ! ! 

$85,179.99 is what it cost WCC to defend their granting of a resource consent for a Cafe in Piha in the Environment Court.  The initial Resource Consent was challenged in the Environment Court by Protect Piha Heritage (PPH): Chair: Sandra Coney, Secretary: Susan Davis, and the rest: Gregor Nicholas, Helen Pearce,, Francis Salole, Jim Stephenson, Megan Hosking, Peter Hosking, A.R. Barnes, Zeke Wolf, Liz Hawker, Monique Davis, Misha Davis, Kath Dewar, Mary Mead, David Falla, Sheena von Bassewitz and Fiona Anderson. 

WCC have applied for costs against Protect Piha Heritage noting amoung other matters:

• Protect Piha Heritage's case did not relate to general environmental issues or specific effects generated by a Cafe but rather a 'general opposition for an activity not supported by the Society'.
• The case did not raise matters of public interest or policy issues of general interest to resource management practise.
• PPH used the same arguments in the Environment Court that were unsuccessful with the Council Commissioners in the initial resource consent hearing.

WCC submits that costs should be awarded for reasons including:

• PPH refused to settle the matter in mediation despite Council and the applicant proposing various changes.
• WCC approached PPH prior to the Environment Court hearing to settle the matter but PPH declined..
• PPH did not present expert witnesses in the appeal in the key areas that were the basis of their case.

WCC has applied for 35-50% of their costs, $85,179,  as these costs "should not be borne by ratepayers".   Preserve Piha Limited has applied for 70% of their costs being $87,630.67.   

Remember: Auckland Regional Council also defended their consent : their costs yet to come.  It's not over till all the bills are paid!

Yes! Piha Cafe - a journey in photographs       BLOG - Cafe in Piha

Letter to WCC from Beach Valley Road Ratepayers 16/4/09 :

Problem (1)    On 9 April, whilst  heading to the shop from the bottom of Piha Hill, walking with our grandchildren on left hand grass, past the Fire Station/Gallery, a truck driver, Dean Selak, drove past taking out two limbs of an overhanging Pohutakawa tree. 

I caught up with him at beginning of Garden Rd, where he had also hooked another overhanging branch.   On speaking with him about the possibly of injury/fatality, about a  large limb barely missing our grandchildren, he hadn't  realised this had happened, apologised and said to make the council aware of this problem. 

There were photos taken by another resident (left).   He gave me his card and said he was driving within his height allowance for his vehicle, and had in the past contacted the Council regarding this  problem he has previously encountered  ALSO NOTING  the long overdue need for some decent walkways, particularly around 5/7/9 Beach Valley Road, again our grand-daughter  aged 11 who was off road on grass verge, being narrowly missed by two vehicles trying to past one another.

(2) On 9 April,  around 10am the septic tanker came to pump out the RSA septic, (above ground & which we find most surprising to see this appear when no there was no notification given and that Council are so pro 'improving the environment.), the stench was so strong we had to vacate our home.  On our return some two hours later we arrived to a sewerage smell throughout .

We were not alone with this, as many residents we spoke to plus a Council Employee also voiced their disapproval. 

I look forward to your earliest responses, and hopefully some resolve to the above.  Yours truly

"For 3 1/2 years you have spend hours and hours and hours  to save the Piha Post Office service and building while under your nose someone is trying to 'Steal our City'.

What are you doing about that?  Regards,  Bobbie.  Village Voice Editor

Take an afternoon off work - Show Hide we won't tolerate his autocracy

Hyde knows better than the Commission?  I think not !!! 

       Look what BEACH VALLEY RD PROJECT did today         

 19/4/09

Please click on the photo left and read if you didn't get a copy of the Western Leader.

"Who stole our voice?" is the heading by David Kemeys, Editor-in-Chief,  Western Leader.

      If you're not angry yet there is not a lot of time . . . . .  

Not sure about you but I was reasonably happy with what the Commission came up with for Auckland wide governance - at least it had some 'local' in it.

The theme of the party, of course, was 'Westie'.  There was fabulous Island music, band 'Tall Popplies', a great bunch of Westies, great supper and generally an excellent, fun Westie Celebration.

CLICK ON THESE IMAGES for bigger photos and see what a 50 year old wears on her T-Shirt!!!

Linda Cooper and I play 'naughty girls' having a practice at 'cutting the birthday cake'.

Of course we didn't, rather leaving it to Penny and Carolyn to do.

I'll tell you a little secret : "Bob Harvey is a very good rock and roller - fitter than me, thats for sure" 

Waitakere Council Chambers were packed with standing room only this afternoon at the Extraordinary Meeting. 

Without exception all talk was against the Government overturning the Royal Commissions recommendations for changes to local government for Auckland. 

Mayor Bob says we have been "steamrolled and shredded" and he feels "great anguish and torn apart".

Mayor Bob and all the Councillors present stressed it is up to us Westies to give our message loud and clear and they are behind us all the way.

It's late - more on Village Voice tomorrow.

(Photos exclusive to Piha - Village Voice  )

17/4/09

Fiona Anderson
Piha Camping Ground

Community Coalition for Auckland Region

17/4/09

On a final note it is great to see that the post office appears to be  open for more hours than previously.

Regards Corrie                                                  Post Office BLOG

Come and show the unified strength of the community at a Waitakere City Council Special Meeting tomorrow

 Extraordinary Meeting at Council - Friday 17 April 2009 4pm.

For councillors to receive feedback from the Mayor on the meeting with the Minister of Local Government on the Governance of Auckland and to resolve to take any action considered appropriate as a result of the Mayor's report.

Waitakere needs you there to show to a united  and strong community. Gather at the Council chambers to hear the debate at this meeting.

In contrast to Hong Kong, Auckland is a relatively small city-region of 1.2 million people in a country of only four million. What is most notable is the overwhelming beauty of the natural environment. The stunning dual harbours facing the Tasman Sea and the Pacific, former volcanoes within the city proper, extensive shorelines, islands and a pleasant climate all make Auckland very special. It is ironic, but I believe living in such a beautiful natural environment has resulted in a reduced level of attention being paid to good city-building practices. Auckland has a mixed track record of waterfront development, mediocre architecture, and a weak public transit system, and is dominated by a car-culture mindset. I spent a lot of time with Robert Lipka, a senior urban designer with the City of Waitakere who used to work for the City of Toronto; Ludo Campbell-Reid, the Auckland Manager of Urban Design; and Penny Pirrit, the Auckland City Planning Manager, and their respective staff. They are embarking on a new urban design-based citywide plan, which is a departure from traditional policy approaches.

The City is currently debating the pros and cons of amalgamation and the central government has appointed a Royal Commission to study the matter in depth. The Commission will be coming to Toronto in October to meet with various officials here to learn from our experience. My candid remarks on Toronto's experience attracted large public- and private-sector audiences and generated a lot of attention in the media with a prominent article in the New Zealand Herald. My advice to Aucklanders on amalgamation was to tell it like it is and to be careful what they wish for. I described how the Ontario government imposed amalgamation on Toronto despite a strong 'no' vote in a non-binding referendum and how the downloading of financial responsibilities for social housing, transit and some social services made the past ten years extremely difficult. I also talked about the ongoing need to establish better governance models of citizen engagement, the expansion of additional powers and financial tools in addition to the lack of cost savings associated with amalgamation. However, I was at pains to point out that anything can work if the will is there to make it succeed.

At present, two basic models are being contemplated. The first is a single larger city, similar to the Toronto experience, while the second is four stronger cities with an upper-tier regional level. I encouraged the Royal Commission to do its homework and be very sure about what it wants to achieve before proceeding. The Commission is due to report by the end of this year to central government, with a New Zealand election expected in late fall, so 2009 will definitely see a decision on whether or not to proceed with amalgamation.

I also spent a fair amount of time talking about the 2002 official plan adopted by Toronto Council and how this new plan differed from the former seven official plans in existence prior to amalgamation. The situation in Auckland is similar except that their current citywide plans also incorporate the equivalent of the zoning by-law into the plan, making for an extremely large, complex  and detailed document. The good news is that everything is in one document, but the size and cumbersome nature of the document make it unworkable. They are now embarking on a new approach with urban design-based policies to be the foundation of a new plan. While my time in Auckland was very intensive, it was most rewarding. I would love to return at some point to see how things are evolving.

It's not about Mayors, it's about communities : Community organisations are worried that their message about the removal of community voice within governance plans for Auckland is itself getting lost with the media focus on "Mayoral antics". 

"The media 'beat-up' of petty squabbles is a smokescreen to the real risk threatening communities;  that of having no community voice within the proposed Auckland Council," claims Tony Mayow, Board  Chair of Community Waitakere. "Additionally, the abuse of Government's power in overturning the  recommendations of a well researched and thorough report that took 18 months to prepare, cost $3.5  million and had approximately 4000 submissions, is appalling. Read: Press Release here   Email Paula Bennett here

 12/4/09 Piha Community Library does it again

A great time was put on for the children of Piha at the Piha Library.  For more photos and competition results See Piha Library photos here

12/4/09

Ross Duder, of Piha Coastcare, presented Pat LaRoche with a gift to thank her for mooting the idea that the NZ Dunes Restoration Trust have their 2009 Conference in Piha and then pulling together a Team that made it the success it was, at the Piha Coordinators Meeting on Sunday.  (photos of the Conference to follow sometime soon )

13/4/09 Walk Safely in Piha

We are a group of residents concerned with the need for safe walking areas in Piha.  We are making a submission to be hopefully included in our Waitakere City Council's Long Term Community Council Plan (LTCCP). 

If you would like to see safer pedestrian access in Piha please email us with your support and comments at walksafeinpiha@gmail.com 

Remember, with the changes ahead this may be the last chance for Piha residents to be included in this sort of planning. 

Dinner the the Bowler:  We had friends visit on Sunday.  We all went for a great walk along the beach and over Piha's Eel Bridge, through the kiddies playground, over to the site where the Cafe is to be and then home past the RSA. 

We all ended up going for dinner at the Bowling Club and our friends just thought the whole experience was fantastic.  The Club itself they loved with the fire going, its furniture, the eclectic bunch and the other friends that joined us for dinner. But more than anything they raved about the fabulous roast dinner they got for $10 only to be beaten by their huge $7 dessert.   Aaah we forget sometimes how great it all is don't we?

Whoops: not sure how that first photo got in.  It's the one of the dessert  meant to be there.  Oh well!  Very yummy dessert 

"We are meant to be a forerunner for the world. But there is nothing more disturbing than following a car from Piha and seeing beer bottles or McDonalds chucked out the window," Andrew says. Andrew wants people to think about how they throw things away.

The amount of litter he picks up around Piha is staggering, he says.

"My partner and I walk every day and I can't help it. She's actually got to the stage when she's said I don't want any more stuff around home. We end up picking up so much," the 36-year-old says.  See full story here

Andrew: We are hoping the new rubbish bins (on trial), left, will reduce the amount of rubbish, especially bottles, we pick up in Beach Valley Road. 

It's a shame they didn't put one of these directly outside the Surf Club and Blairs???

A coalition of community organisations in Waitakere is calling on Local Government Minister Rodney Hide to meet with them face to face to hear their concerns about sweeping changes to Auckland Regional Governance.

The coalition, which has a burgeoning membership of over 60 community organisations from Waitakere and further afield, is demanding more time to consider and respond to the Government's proposals.

"We are angry that the Government's changes are being rushed through with no community input" says coalition spokesman Tony Mayow, chairman of the Community Waitakere Charitable Trust.

"We demand the right to constructively engage with Government to ensure the community voice is heard and its concerns are taken on board.  The least Mr Hide can do is front up to the people of Auckland who will be most affected by these radical changes and hear what we have to say about them, the good and the bad, before the proposed model is set in stone."

The coalition is also calling on Waitakere MP Paula Bennett for her support in ensuring the community's voice is heard by those in power.

"We know Paula is proud to be a 'Westie' and she has been very supportive of many of the community-based initiatives that Waitakere is renowned for," says Mr Mayow.

"We are asking Paula to continue that support by adding her voice to ours. We need her now more than ever."

Determined that it will continue to fight for a fair democratic process, the coalition met today to discuss options for further action.

"We won't accept such a blatant disregard of our democratic rights," Mr Mayow says. "And we don't think other Auckland communities will either, now they are realizing the devastating effect some of these changes will have on them."

The coalition invites other concerned community organisations from around the Auckland region to join its group and add strength to its cause by emailing pam@communitywaitakere.org.nz.

---

9/4/09 How is a Gal to keep up in Piha?  What a morning in Piha!  We had a building move,  a car rolling off Seaview Rd onto Beach Valley Road, truck vs pohutukawa,  tractor taking over where trucks fear to tread, traffic management by locals and more truck vs pohutukawa.  It's an interesting place to live, is our Piha.   

All images can be clicked for larger photos

       

Top from left: 1. The old Dental / Post Office building on the move.  2. Chris in the new PO building, 3. relocated PO boxes.  4. BVR friends and the twins wander down after nearly being wiped out by pohutukawa branch knocked down by large truck.

Below from left: 1. Whoops, too much of a hurry going up the hill. 2. It's getting pretty dangerous around here - time to take cover.  3. 'The' truck heading up Garden Rd. 4. Whoops, more pohutukawa branches hit the deck. 

       

Below from left: 1. And into the mix, as if we need it, the poo truck!  2 & 3 Truck backs out of Garden Rd, parks on roadside and off loads delivery by tractor!   4. Tractor heads to Garden Road. 

      

Below from left: 1. One truck waits for the other to vacate the 'hub'. 2. Good citizen directs traffic!  3. Old dental/post office building on the move. 4. Dave pleased they can get on with the Cafe now.

     

Below from left: 1. This is the tricky part.  2. Oh no! not more pohutukawa branches? 3. Looks like it!. 4. Breath in, you'll make it.

     

Below from left: 1. Giving the phone lines a hand over the building. 2. Down she goes. 3.  Watch the lights now and 4.finally in place.

       

Below from left: 1. The best place in Piha for a Cafe!  2. Just as I head home I can see it coming . . . . . 3.  yip, another pohutukawa branch hits the dust.

     

Below:  Yes!!!    A journey in photos

Have you voted your preferred option yet ?     BELOW   

---

Poll closes on Easter Monday 

   items below 

PIHA POLL  - POSTAL SERVICES  Which would you prefer?

ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE.  TOTALLY CONFIDENTIAL

1. The Piha Ratepayers & Residents Assn continue to operate postal services from two cabins in the Piha Domain 6 hours a week or 
2. That Piha postal services be operated by Piha Domain Camp, from its office, 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Vote Option ONE here     Vote Option TWO here

---

8/4/09: Beach Valley Road Pedestrian and Vehicle Safety. 

I just couldn't stand seeing that revolting ivy and the flax growing over the road any longer. 

Vehicle safety is a part of the Beach Valley Road Project Plan so I decided to get onto it.  We'll be planting out the northern bank this autumn.  Of course WCC, as our partner, arranged for these guys to come and take all the rubbish away.

Check the Before and After photos here on Beach Valley Road Project Photos

 

---

8/4/09: Piha Community Post Office:  Wondering where it is?  Here in the Piha Domain Camp. You can click on these images for bigger photos. 

 

---

7/6/09  Wondering where all the boxes have gone?  You weren't the only one today!

Seems someone forgot to tell the box holders they were going.  Whoops.  It's always the little details that get in the way isn't it?

 

---

There is a cold front on the way . . .

 

Time to get out the knitting needles  . . .  ?

 

---

New Piha Water Quality Results out:  See here

---

6/6/09 This was once a former dental building prior to it being moved onto 21 Seaview Road in 1987.  The Piha Post Office moved from the old Piha Library Building into this where it has operated from until today.

It is now going into storage on the Piha Domain over near the macrocarpa tree opposite the Piha Bowling Club.  You can see in this photo that the awnings have been removed from the building ready for the move.

---

6/4/09 Piha drowning victim named:  An Indian student who drowned at Piha beach west of Auckland on Saturday has been named.  Rajdeep Singh, 25, an Auckland University of Technology student who had been in New Zealand for two months, died about 12.45pm on Saturday. It appeared Mr Singh was on an AUT outing when he became separated from his colleagues, Senior Sergeant Robert Cochrane of Henderson police said. Mr Singh was believed to have either fallen into the water or been swept into the water by a wave. Read on stuff.co.nz here

---

4/4/09  Who could resist a sign like this?  Not I!

Piha Library's Carboot Fair was just great.  Plenty to browse through, yummy food and a great time and place to catch up with friends for a relaxed chat and laugh. Oh! The whitebait was nice too

For news on the Carboot Fair, including photos and how much was raised (wow!),  Take a peep here

 

---

5/4/09: A Wonderful Donation    Great news for the library and a wonderful gesture from our own Fiona Anderson. 

     

On Saturday morning, amidst all the bustle of preparing for the Car Boot Fair, Fiona came over and quietly slipped a cheque into our cash box - a generous donation of $600 to boost our funds.  It will be banked immediately in our building fund.    

 

Thankyou, Fiona, we are all thrilled by your generosity!

     

Fiona is a long-term library assistant, and as many of you will know, she is also a long-term contributor on a daily basis to the welfare of this community.  Her support for the library and our community needs to be acknowledged. Thanks again Fiona.  Yvonne Dufaur

Photo: Fiona, left, at the Library stall.

---

We didn't have to get out many seats in Barnett Hall for the 'crowd' that turned up.  All 5 of us.

I know what/where/how I am going . . . . 

They also made it very clear that the backup, in the event of disaster, won't get to us probably for at least 3, if not 4 or 5, days . . . . 

Questions a caring Community might ask itself:

• Do we know where our elderly people live who may need help in the event of a disaster?
• Do we know where young families are they may not always have a car available?
• How will we know if water is contaminated or not?
• If we needed, could we coordinate sharing our food supplies?
• If the power is down, and mobiles, how are we going to coordinate ourselves
• Lots more . . . . . . 

 3/4/09 A message from Janet Murray, President Piha Bowling Club:

Twilight Bowling finishes tonight as daylight saving finishes this weekend.  I would like to thank every one who participated in our ' Twilight Bowls' and wish you all the best until daylight saving starts again on 27th September.  We will let you know the exact date that Twilight Bowls starts again.

In the mean time the Club is open Fri, Sat and Sundays with the full kitchen menu.

Wishing you a warm and happy winter, Janet 

Heeeeeeeeeeelp:  Due to a change in plans the Piha Library is urgently looking for an Easter Bunny.

Male or female will do, as long as they are good with over excited children. Who ever does the job will need to be at the library from 12 noon to approx 3pm.  Hired suit already to jump into.

Please contact Gaby Email or through the Piha Library

 2/4/09  Piha - Beach Valley Project : roadside clearing    The BVR Project are in the process of clearing the weed infestation, on the right hand in this photo, as part of our 'pedestrian and vehicle safety'initiative and then to plant it.

The weed, already cut, will be removed early next week, so your patience in the mean time is appreciated.

 You can click on the photo for bigger image:  We'd love your feedback:  Email us HERE

"If we were all the same color life would be very grey"

Vote Tamati on 'Dancing with the Stars" and support Rainbow Youth

Midday 1/4/09                      It is April Fools Day !!!    

Not in my dreams would I think the 'downing' of Village Voice would create such a response. Texts, phone calls, emails, blogs and friends calling in.   It's not my fault I was sent to a convent where they taught me to be naughty.   Thanks to every one of you for your support    and to those that were wrapt that V V was being closed down 'bad luck!   

You must read some of the responses here

• There is no writ
• The Post Office is not going to Steadfast (correct spelling Stedfast) Park

Now the real news of the Day:

I went to the Community Board Meeting last night and came away a little surprised . . .

Grant Jennings presented 'Temporary Relocation of the Piha Post Office Building to the Piha Domain'. 

So the plan now seems to be:

• The Piha Post Office will operate from two of the 'huts' in the Camp Ground until a permanent solution can be found. The Post Office boxes in one and the Post Mistress in the other - 6 hours a week.
• The WCC Infrastructure and Works Committee (?) will decide tomorrow (April 1st) if the old Post Office Building can be temporarily stored on the Domain, near the Bowling Club.
• If it's not used as a Post Office then Mark says "they (the R&R) can sell the building to recoup the costs"
  • The R&R Committee have decided they can spend up to $4,000 to move the Post Office
• Mark says Piha Radio, the Children's Trust and another ? are interested in the building.

My thoughts:  I agree with Mark: the Post Office building does have some value to the Community BUT

• Why is the Piha R&R financing the removal and storage of a building they probably won't use? 
• If Piha Radio want it then why aren't they paying the costs of removal, or the Children's Trust or or or ? ? ?
• Why, more importantly, are the R&R Committee not having a General Meeting to get the members OK to spend thousands of dollars to move the building into storage.  I imagine it will have to be covered with a taupolin or something as the PO boxes will be removed first.
• Are you sick of all this yet?

            Readers Responses         

The Good News:   Solution Found for Post Office.  Phew . . . . after three long years, at the last moment, a solution has been found.

I attended the Community Broad Meeting tonight.  Waitakere Community Council has agreed to pay for the removal of the Post Ofice Building to Steadfast Park and Auckland Reasonal Council is paying for the utilities: electricity, water etc.

All consents have been sped through and it should all be completed by the deadline of 14th April.  You can comment here  or Email here

31/3/09  An insult to Piha ?

These new recycle rubbish bins around the car park at Piha Beach have been described by one property owner as 'an insult to Piha".

Left: "This" is an insult to Piha!

The Beach Valley Road Project has literally picked up and recycled at least 6 large recycle bins of bottles, glass, plastic etc during our cleanup.

My wish is that they put another of these 'new recycle bins' right outside Blairs as well.

  Email me what you think . . here 

At the 2006 AGM I proposed that the Post Office Building be relocated to the Domain to take up Telecom's offer of $5,000 to relocate it..  References were made to the 'Preserves Management Plan' etc etc that no building could be moved onto the Domain.  I recall asking The Mayor, Bob Harvey, that surely if the people of Piha wanted it then there must be some way around it.  I recall some people making comments like "over my dead body" to the suggestion that any extra building go on the Domain.

Well best you hurry to the Community Board Meeting tonight to stop it or start arranging your funeral you folk because tonight at the Community Board Meeting that is exactly what is on the Agenda. 

The R&R Committee, in April 06, decided to accept Telecom's offer but 'needed more time to find a suitable alternative location'.   Telecom's offer of $5,000 to move it was extended but finally expired on 14th June 2006.   So now any cost associated with moving the building, gifted to the Piha Community by the Cafe guys, has to be paid by whoever wants it I suppose.

31/3/09 Neil on anti-pest mission - in Piha

Wildlife advocate Neil Hilton is on the warpath.  And he has feral cats and other four-legged pests in his sights. The 55-year-old is especially keen to get the stray feline population around Piha under control.

"There are about 20 to 30 abandoned cats in the vicinity," he says. "We will start trapping at the end of April."Mr Hilton urges residents to make a greater effort in keeping their cats indoors and away from native birds.  read Western Leader article here

Ooooh & Aaaah by Anon

Beyond watching eyes

With sweet & tender kisses   

Our souls reached out to each other

In breathless wonder

 

And when I awoke

From a vast and smiling peace

I found you bathed in morning light

Quietly studying

All the messages on my phone 

                         

1. SGM 27/7/08: "That the Piha R&R Assn continues to provide full postal services in Piha"
2. SGM 16/11/08: "That the meeting agree to the option of temporary location of the post office on the Domain as per WCC agreement" ( x 2 Fiona's huts in Camp Ground)
3. SGM 16/11/08: "That the Piha R&R investigate the following options for permanent location of the postal service:
   1. Private land
   2. Extension to the Library
   3. Campground office area
4. AGM 25/01/09: "That the incoming Piha R&R committee further investigates the three options"

Graham Cleghorn is facilitating the Committee with process and sound decision making and is willing to assist with the writing of the various proposals which could then be taken to the entire community for appraisal. 

So where are we at?  Seems that the eye has been taken off the ball if you ask me!  Why?  Well because the Cafe Guys have, in their generosity, offered the Post Office Building to the Piha Community.   This in no way changes the above resolutions . . . but it has taken the Committee's eye off the ball . . .   Which is #2 and #3 above.  Time is running out so best stay on the mandates above I say.  It's been 3 loooooooong years so lets get a solution and move on :)  Bobbie

• Please take your neighbour's telephone books in if they're still out.  They're a perfect advertisement for burglars!
• Billabong 'Ride of the Year' nominees here
• Car Boot Sale: Piha Domain 4th April.  Book your space now with Marilyn 8128 799

Initial thoughts on how the Royal Commission will effect the Waitakere Ranges/West Coast area

The proposals by the Royal Commission take power away from local communities and centralise the power in the hands of a new Auckland Council and particularly, an elected-at-arge Mayor. He or she has unprecedented power to appoint a deputy-mayor, all committee chairs, propose the draft Long Term Council Committee Plan and annual plan (budgets), initiate and formulate major policy and establish and maintain an office.

The Auckland Council would have 12 elected members from wards, three Maori councillors and 10 elected at large (that is, they would stand for the whole Auckland region), a total of 25.

City councils are abolished and in their place are shrunken Local Councils which are subservient to the Auckland Council and get their funding from it. The major tasks currently carried out by the city councils would move up to the Auckland Council. There would be no District Plans as now, only one DP for the whole of Auckland. The Local Councils would be concerned with essentially local matters. Community boards are to be abolished except for Waiheke and Great Barrier Island which were seen as special cases.

So what does this mean for Waitakere representation? It is not good.

There is a significant loss of local democracy and voice, which is quite at odds with the Local Government Act and what happens in the rest of New Zealand.

The Auckland Council would have two representatives from Waitakere as it has now, but their influence would be weakened because the council would be twice the size. It may well be that the ?elected at large? members would have the greatest influence on the council for the following reasons.

It would be extremely expensive to run for one of the 'at large' seats. Candidates would have to campaign from the farthest north of Rodney to Pukekohe in the south. Therefore it is likely that 'tickets' of well-funded, like-minded people will be put together, and this is likely to be of business interests. The other scenario is that political parties who already have the electoral apparatus in place will field teams.

Likewise the 'at large'  mayor will have to have the funds and/or name recognition status to contemplate this. Or they could be part of a ticket.

This augurs poorly for the tradition of community-minded individuals who are able to stand for office. It is a recipe for privileging the already privileged, who usually favour development over environmental protection or public service.

The Royal Commission also proposes a whole raft of CCOs, which cannot have locally elected representatives on them and must act as successful businesses with financial targets and objectives. This differs from the existing situation where some CCOs (eg Auckland Regional Holdings) are required to act in the long-term interests of the people of the Auckland region.

The new Local Councils will not set rates and would have a budget allocated by Auckland Council. It is proposed that Waitakere Local Council will have 11 members. The council will elect its own chair. The council would have 5 wards with two councillors per ward. The Waitakere ward would become a Waitakere-Titirangi ward.

Currently the council has 14 councillors and a mayor, so this is a loss of 4.

The Waitakere Community Board currently has 5 members and all these would be gone. This means fewer elected people to serve a much larger area.

It is contradictory that a case could be made for Waiheke to retain its community board but not the Waitakere Heritage Area, which has similar issues (if not more) with remoteness and special challenges.

So what of the Heritage Area?

The Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act talks about the Auckland Regional Council and Waitakere City Council and neither of these will continue to exist. As the new Waitakere Local Council will have few powers and there will not be a local District Plan, it is probable that all the powers that can currently be exercised by the two councils under the Act will go to the Auckland Council. I imagine the process of developing LAPs would have to be carried out by the Auckland Council.

Of course, the big question will be whether the National Government continues with the heritage area at all, it having opposed its formation and campaigned against it during the election. It may take the opportunity presented by the Royal Commission to get rid of it altogether.

There are of course positive aspects of the Royal Commission report, my intention here is to particularly draw attention to the major weakness of the report which is the loss of local democracy and voice.

Husband says: When I get mad at you, you never fight back. How do you control your anger?

Wife says: I clean the toilet...

Husband asks: How does that help?

Wife replies: I  use your toothbrush.....

 27/3/08

Now here is a little competition: There are two photos below that show 'illegal rocks'. Can you guess which ones?  I have thrown in one or two 'wild' ones just to try and put you off track.    

What I have yet to get to grips with is why the 'Rock Police' are only targeting a few.  If she was so concerned with 'rocks without resource consent' then maybe all those below should be targeted ???

Just to keep you on track only two photos showing  illegal rocks.    All the others are OK so take your time.  It may not be as easy as it first seems!

1 2 3 

45.6 

7 8 9

10 11 12

13       14     15

8:30pm 28th March wherever you are turn all your lights off for one hour and Vote for the Earth.

Read about Earth Hour - Vote Earth here

The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) is reviewing the way it manages regional parks and wants to know what you think.  The time has come to review the Regional Parks Management Plan and understanding the needs and expectations of our regional community is an important part of this process.

What is the Regional Parks Management Plan?

The Regional Parks Management Plan sets out the ?big picture' for managing regional parkland in the Auckland region. It guides how parks are managed on a daily basis and into the future. It covers everything that happens on parks, from conserving natural and cultural features to managing recreation and supporting community involvement.

Go to ARC here for all details, forms etc

Below from left: Shona Laing, still as strong and political as ever. Love you Shona!  Then our introduction to Charlotte Johansen - great stage presense and oh love the humour followed by the Magnets.  Not sure how to describe them: unique music, dry humour and very entertaining.  I'm wrapt we didn't miss this show Click on photos for bigger images

Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Leah 

Leah at her 30th last week . . . .  another great night in Piha 

Hi Bobbie,  Can I suggest an addition to that article, in big bold red letters reminding people they must always Dial 111 first and not members of the first response team direct.  Doing so delays the dispatch of the ambulance whereas if you call 111, the ambulance and the first response unit are dispatched simultaneously.

I totally agree:  our friend was most reluctant for us just to call Fiona so not sure what reaction a ''I'm calling 111" would have got. Having said that I totally agree. Bobbie

• The council now provides a pre-paid inorganic rubbish collection service and will collect only from inside your property.
• Piha's collection is between 12th & 20th April
• You can book online here at a cost of $11.25
• Bookings made on-line or paid in cash at the counter must be done at least one whole week before the beginning of your collection week.
• Customers paying by cheque have to book at least two whole weeks before the beginning of the collection week  (Just in case your cheque bounces uh!)
• You place your inorganic rubbish inside your gate, on or close to your driveway, before 7.30am on your collection day.
• You may put out a maximum one cubic metre (about two car boots full) of inorganic rubbish.
• Tie your dogs up .......

What happened to  'one mans rubbish is anothers treasure' ? 

Don't put inorganic rubbish on the kerb - it will attract a $400 fine

They did this under the Objects of the Association: (d) To support and co-operate with the Piha surf lifesaving clubs and other organisations, individuals or projects within the Piha area whose activities will assist in meeting the objects of the Association.

I think thats a great and generous thing to do 

$175 a ticket or Table of 10 for $1500  - thats $150 a head at the Trusts Stadium on Thursday April 9th; 

There will be bus transport to and from Piha so no problems with drink driving :)

If you are thinking of going and would like to share a table of 10 then email and we'll see if we can get a table of 10 together   Email Table of 10 here

The dinner will have all of the following:

• drinks on arrival as you catch up with old acquaintances
• a 3 course meal served to you at your table 
• beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks included all night 
• celebrity MC to entertain and lead the revelry 
• an account of the first 75 years of Piha SLSC 
• the Candy Lane dancers adding glitz and glamour 
• a DJ playing after the dinner and show so the party continues

Business Herald writer and author Mary Holm has joined the capital market development taskforce.

The taskforce, headed by investment banker Rob Cameron, was set up by the previous Labour-led government last year to try to develop New Zealand's capital markets.

Article in NZ Herald here

Left: Archive photo I took of Mary at the launch of her latest book

On Sunday March 22nd Julia and I went to visit a friend.  While we were there he mentioned he had some chest pains and he didn't look that well.

We immediately called Fiona of Piha 1st Response.  Fiona, upon hearing the symptoms, called an ambulance and then attended our friend within minutes.   Backup, in the form of Jim, arrived soon after and then the ambulance from the City some 45 minutes after our initial call to Fiona.

Our friend was carried down a no small number of steps, with all this support, and then to hospital by ambulance.  Today it was confirmed that he had had a heart attack.

To Piha 1st response: Fiona, Jim and Sue who gave support by phone we love you . . . how lucky is Piha to have this within our Village?  Thanks.  Having been attended myself, several times, in the past by 1st response I consider you all a huge asset to our Community

23/3/09 Walkway on Piha Hill to allow safe movement of pedestrians

Dear Councillor Hulse, Christine Shepherd, Chris Ferkins, Renee Davies and other interested parties at Waitakere City Council,

We are writing to request that Waitakere City Council seriously considers providing a walkway on Piha Hill to allow safe movement of pedestrians up and down the hill.

This is important for a number of reasons, most importantly the safety of adults and children who at the moment cannot safely walk to visit friends who live 200m away, let alone to the beach or to join into the vast park track network that encircles Piha.

It would be beneficial to the health and wellbeing of Piha residents also, to be able to head out for a walk without first having to get in the car, as many of us must currently do. We believe a walkway that links into the ARC track system, and down to the beach, via existing WCC walkways would be well-used, and contribute to the wellbeing of locals.

Better movement of pedestrians in Piha would also foster a greater sense of community, and of course would have environmental spin-offs at a time when we're all trying to minimise our carbon footprints. It would very much be in keeping with Waitakere's eco-city ethos; a similar project to the walkways and cycleways being provided for residents in the Project Twin Streams area.

It would also be reflective of the Piha Reserves Management Plan which has as an objective: 'Pedestrian movement is encouraged'. The Plan lists a number of points beside this including 'investigating the potential for greater public access to and within the scenic reserves at Piha' and 'seeking ways to provide pedestrian access for Piha hill residents to the beach'.

Most of the houses on the hill are home to permanent residents, many of them families with young children. These children are growing up, and in a few years time will want to walk to their friends' houses, or down to the beach for a swim or a surf.  We believe it is the Council and community's responsibility to provide them with a safe means to do this.

As two concerned hill residents (and parents), we spent two mornings walking the road verge making notes and taking photos and came to the conclusion that it wouldn?t be a massive undertaking logistically for WCC to provide a safe walkway from the Karekare turnoff to the start of the WCC track system at 23 Piha Road (where the track links to Rayner Rd and other tracks to the beach).

In most places there is room for a walkway already; in some it will take some clearing of vegetation etc. We would love WCC to be creative in its approach to providing a walkway, incorporating some of the permeable materials and knowledge you have employed for the Project Twin Streams walkways. We also believe in some places a short stretch of boardwalk might be the answer. 

We believe the walk 'down Piha hill' could be viewed as a community asset/ a city asset in itself as there is beautiful bush and views all the way down. It would really add something to Piha and Waitakere City.

We also request that investigation is made into:

·         The opening of the strip of public/WCC land that runs from the corner near 69 Piha Road to link with the ARC's Tasman View Track.

·         The opening/maintenance of an old track that links Pendrell Road to Glen Esk Road (this needs investigation and clarification, we can't see it on maps, but believe it would be easy to tie a track in with ARC network).

·         Better signposting and maintenance of existing WCC tracks such as the one from 23 Piha Rd to Rayner Rd, Sylvan Glade etc.

·         The lowering of the speed limit from the Karekare turn off down the hill to 50kms.

·         A signpost at the turn off to Karekare/entrance to Piha saying something like 'slow down, you've made it, welcome to Piha'. This could be run as a competition in conjunction with the Piha Gallery possibly.

One final thing to note: we understand ARC have met with Community Board Chair Kubi Witten-Hannah about the proposed 'Long Trail' and the need to provide a safe accessway for walkers along the Piha Road; optimally from Te Ahu Ahu Road to the Winstone Track (Just past the Karekare turnoff on the LHS as you head out of Piha). Those discussions could be part of the wider one we're proposing.

To conclude, safer pedestrian access is something residents of Piha hill have been talking about for years. We are hoping now is the time for action.

Kind regards.  Sara Carbery, Resident of Piha Road, Piha

See the full proposal HERE [3650kb].doc

21/3/09 Letter to Village Voice:

Two Wonderful Women:

I just wanted to let Piha know that they can be very proud of the outstanding organization that went into the National Conference of the Dunes Restoration Trust of NZ Annual Conference which was held at the Surf Club over the last four days.

The conference was hosted by Piha Coastcare, but the majority of the workload was carried by Pat La Roche and Bobbie Carroll and they did us proud.  The organization was superb and the attention to detail was incredible.

Much will be reported I am sure on the conference in general, the excellent programme and the superb catering and social arrangements, but I think Piha should give a huge  vote of thanks to the two who were largely responsible for making it happen.  The planning and organization by these two hardworking women, who spent weeks in ensuring that everything was in place and went off like clockwork, has to be acknowledged.

Thank you Pat and Bobbie, you were wonderful!

Yvonne Dufaur

 Bobbie, blushing

20/3/09 NZ Dunes Conference Attendees head off to Muriwai and Bethells.

Left: Tom, ARC, and Wayne from Ritchies on our field trip.  Wow, Muriwai dunes took such a beating last year.  It was great to see the back dunes at Bethells.  More later .

When Preserve Piha Limited (PPL)  purchased 20 Seaview Road (the old Post Office site) there was no exclusion for the post office building, and it was on the site the day the sale went through and part of the sale agreement.  It was part of the property they purchased.  End of story!

Prior to the sale going through in 2006, Telecom offered the R&R Committee $5,000 toward the cost of relocating the building.  This offer was not taken up.

Now:  if the post office building did belong to the Piha R & R, as some claim, then the argument now is between the Piha R&R and Telecom. There has been talk of legel experts giving opinions that the Post Office building belongs to the R&R but at the time of writing none have been willing to put this in writing, on their letter head - probably a wise move.

Now that the Cafe has the green light from the Environment Court and Preserve Piha Limited have well and truly won their case the 5 guys have decided, in their generosity, to gift the building to the Piha Community.  Below is their letter to the new 2009 Committee and they sent me a copy for publication. 

28/2/09

Dear Mark,

With the recent announcement from the Environment Court we (Preserve Piha Ltd) can now move forward with the plans for the cafe. In order to make progress from our end the Post Office building needs to be removed by the 31^st March 2009. As has always been our intention, we are happy to gift the building to the community of Piha. If the Residents and Ratepayers Association wish to take up this offer all the costs associated with removal of the building are to be met by the R&R. The gifting of this building is under the premise that it will be used as a community asset and not be on sold for profit. We would be disappointed to see this goodwill gesture undermined by such a sale. 

If the R&R does not have a permanent solution for the Post Office building by the end of March then it could be worth engaging Asset Management Services at council to discuss the temporary storage of the building until a permanent solution is in place.

Should the R&R not require the building we have 2 options. 

1. Move the building to one of our shareholders land at Piha which is dependent upon consents and associated costs
2. Demolish the building

Mark, it is a shame that you have to pick up the pieces here and only have a month to act but we have been walking this path with the R&R for close to 3 years now and they have gotten nowhere. We will assist you where we can and look forward to forging a working relationship with this new R&R committee.

Kind regards, Rich, Fouge, Andy, Dave and Marc

So now the Ratepayers and Residents of Piha are probably going to have to cough up $5,000, if the gift offer is accepted, to relocate it.    What a shame Telecom's offer 3 years ago wasn't taken up.  I just don't understand why it wasn't really ............... does anyone?

19/3/09 NZ Dunes Restoration Trust Annual Conference Dinner @ Piha Bowling Club

57 NZ Dunes Trust Attendees attended their Annual Dinner at the Piha Bowling Club this evening:  A great evening after two pretty full on days in Conference.

Left: The tables are set

Above left: The Candles are lit.  Right: Tina Grenville reads from 'Dining by Arrangement'

Below left: Mains are served.  'Heartstrings' played beautiful dinner music & totally divine dessert.

18/3/09 : Today Waitakere's Mayor Bob Harvey opening the NZ Dunes Restoration Trust's Annual Conference hosted by Piha's Coastcare and held at the Piha SLSC.

Speakers today included: Dr Bruce Hayward, geologist, Mark Dean from the Dunes Trust and Greg Jenks.  This was followed by 'Regional Roundup' and then off to Black Sands Lodge for an informal spit roast pork and lamb with drinks and 'story telling'  Above: Most of the Trustees and right Mayor Harvey

17/3/09 "The biggest turn out of all NZ"  The Piha SLSC was full to overflowing tonight for the ' "'Empowering Coast Communities to adapt to climate change'  funded by the Ministry of Environment and hosted by Piha Coastcare.  The NZ Dunes Restoration Trust, who presented the seminar, were thrilled at the turnout and the obvious interest by the audience.  Plenty of questions put to the presenters.

The NZ Dunes Restoration Trust Annual Conference starts tomorrow, Wednesday, morning.  Of particular interest, maybe, to locals will be Thursday which will focus on Piha Beach.  You are most welcome to come along even if not registered : full day registration just $25.   For more information please see here.  or you can phone Pat on 8128 202 or Bobbie on 8128 758.  We will both be at the Conference on Wednesday so just leave a message and we'll return your call. 

Dear Neighbours,  Recently we have been working with a small group of you on ways to improve everyone's experience of Stedfast Park.  The outcome of this is as follows:

1. Stedfast Park has amended its noise policy.  There is to be no amplified outside sound at any time.  There is to be no loud noise after 10pm or before 8am.
2. Stedfast Park will continue to operate as a primarily educational facility, hosting church groups, schools and tertiary institutions.
3. Stedfast Park will continue to promote itself as an alcohol free venue.

Items we wish to draw your attention to:

1. Circus festival, this weekend - this is to be a one-off event.
2. We are hosting three weddings over the next year.  These will have alcohol present but we have strict guidelines as to how this is to be managed.  There will be some amplified sound but noise levels will also be tightly monitored.  Please be assured that there are to be no more wedding bookings at Stedfast Park after this.

The board and staff of Stedfast Park wish to thank you for your patience and goodwill during the last uyear.  We hope the next year brings much enjoyment for everyone who attends or lives near the camp.  Please feel free to contact the caretakers at any time.  Duncan and Rachel Pankhurst, Stedfast Park - 8128 883 or Email us here

Heidi, Steve and others of Glenesk Road; what a great job you've done communicating and negotiating with Stedfast Park staff to get where we are today.  Bobbie 

"Act now or prepare for war" headlines in the 14th March Herald . . .

The world's leading scientists issued a desperate plea to politicians to act on climate change, amid warnings that without action the world faces decades of social unrest and war

How privledged are we to have three of NZ's top coastal scientists here in Piha Tuesday night March 17th. 

Come and have dinner and a drink at Piha SLSC then stay for the 7pm seminar on 'Empowering Costal Communities to adapt to Climate Change"  If you haven't registered - just turn up - Tue 17th Mar.

Challenge Strange behaviour: just this afternoon Ju and I challenged a stranger entering private property up the road from us.  With the spate of burglaries of late please keep your eyes open, challenge strangers BUT don't put yourself in danger.  Get someone to go with you . . . 

16/3/09 Piha SLSC Nippers on a beautiful Piha Day.  We wandered down to the beach today to watch the Nippers do their training.  The volunteers do an incredible job with all those children.  Click on the photo on the left and below for a bigger photo.

The many volunteers in Piha and the people involved in the Arts in Waitakere sure make this place wonderful for our children and grandchildren : thanks to all of you    Click on thumbnails below to see a few of the photos I took.

 16/3/09 It annoys me somewhat when I am with young children wishing to swim inside the flagged area but its full of learner surfers from an outfit called "Surf and Ski'.  Surf boards are not supposed to be inside the flagged area so when I asked the Tour Guide if they could move outside the flagged area so the swimmers would be safe without learner surfers there he said "No, I can't do that".  I had a chat to 'The Boss' who started mentioning Bob Harvey etc, not sure what that had to do with it, so I just suggested they had the whole beach to choose from and the flagged area was for swimmers. 

You might recall Mike Murane had a fundraiser, for his daughter to go to Surf Champs, at the Piha Bowler on Jan 25th. 

Well there was a raffle and my Ju bought a ticket.  The prize: $1500 worth of Quicksilver products. 

Well, left, is Mike having presented the prize to Ju because she won !!!

She was thrilled: Quicksilver watch, glasses, wallet, suitcase, backpack, towel, T-shirts, hoody etc etc and heaps of etc.  She was truly blown out. 

We have a local 'Piha - Karekare Local Water Agenda Group' funded by WCC.  I am not sure on their brief but they have been operating for several years now.  Trying to find out information from them is like pulling teeth.  There are no Minutes on WCC website so I wrote and asked for them.  I have waited, and waited and waited . . .  for months.  I finally got them .......... phew. 

Well the neat thing is they're meeting again this Tuesday (that's a shame but more on that later) which is a good thing because the pollution in our three lagoons is way over the top. 

WCC:  What are you doing about this?  You've known about it for long enough; talked about it long enough and still, heading into another winter, not much has changed. 

Kubi Witten-Hannah (Community Board) is the Chair . . .  Kubi, can you let us know what's happening please?

See the latest discusting results here:  Water Quality Testing Results

  Piha's own special day : join in for $25 including morning and afternoon tea plus yum lunch by none other than our own Claire Inwood and sponsored by our own Ratepayers and Residents Association, Piha Domain Camp and Black Sands Lodge . . .     Here it is . . . .   Followed by great dinner . . .

 We've opened the bar for you . . .   We've arranged for the restaurant to be open . . .  .. .  It's FREE and a FREE supper afterwards . . .   

Do you want us to send a taxi to pick you up ? 

Large-scale sand movements on Auckland West Coast

Why and where is all this sand on Piha Beach coming from?  Why is Piha Beach turning white when its a black sand beach?  Come along and find out . . . ask questions: any questions . . . . .  ask the experts what they've done with the 'Piha Bar'?    One more look here . . .  

This Tuesday at Piha SLSC - just roll up . . . opens at 5pm I dare you to come

This Seminar is NOT about Dunes

EMPOWERING COASTAL COMMUNITIES TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Register FREE Seminar

"How to adapt to Climate Change"

Piha Surf Life Saving Restaurant & Bar open from 5pm. Seminar starts at 7pm

2009 Summer Herald Weather Headlines

12/2/09 Auckland enjoys hottest day ever: 20/2/09 Severe rain wreaks havoc across much of country: 6/3/09 Wild weather moving south: 2/2/09 January hotter than normal with twice as much sun: 5/3/09 Rain, wind hits Auckland, 28/2/.09  Two die on the road as heavy rains lash North Island: 9/3/09 A BLAST OF COLD AIR : 8/1/09 '40C' heat hits Christchurch, hot summer predicted : 9/1/09 If it's 40C and the road melts ... go to the beach

Piha is hugely privileged to have such a seminar come to our village.

Anyone living or owning property nearly NZ's coast should attend.

Register FREE Seminar

 11/3/09 WARNING :   I have been asked to write and warn everyone at Piha of the large number of recent car break-ins plus attempted thefts.

Unfortunately an increase in crime is one of the many side effects of a recession.  We need to be very diligent about your own property and others.  If you see something suspicous then please, without putting yourself in harms way, do something even if you can get a photo or a friend to join you and approach them.  Thieves have been caught red handed very recently.  Contact the police AND your neighbourhood watch person.  If you don't know who your neighbourhood watch person is then email me and I'll give it to you.  We do not publicise their details.

MORE library news:  What is happening at the library over Easter?

Look here and don't miss it if you have children under 12 in your family

6/3/09 Dear Piha,

Below is a copy of the proposal Piha Camp has made to NZ Post. I offer this to you in the interests of transparency.

I have not withdrawn my offer to the Association to accommodate two leased cabins on the camp- one for counter services and one to house the boxes, nor my offer to pay the power for the R&R should my application be unsuccessful.

The cost to the Association if the cabins are leased from the same company we use would be $110 per week, $440 per month and annually $5,280. That would be in addition to existing Post Office overheads. Under this option the Post Centre would still only open 6 hours per week.

Should I be successful in this application I will meet the cost of the office refurbishment myself and NZ Post will supply the boxes. The cost of a box rental will rise to $135 per year and NZ Post will keep that revenue. Current box holders will keep the same numbers and this service could begin from the 1st of April- the day after the post office land has to be vacated.

I  will receive a stipend for sorting mail and a percentage on stamps/parcels.

This is not personal, nor a money making enterprise. This is about an immediate solution which will best serve the needs of this community now and in the future without emotion or sentiment clouding the issue.

Thanks for taking the time to read this,

Fiona

Dear Kerry,

 

Several years ago you approached me asking if I would be interested in looking at the contract for postal services presently run by the Piha Residents and Ratepayers Association, and running this service from the campground.  At that time I was not in a position to accept.  However, the situation is now somewhat different.

 

You will know that shortly the present post office premises will no longer be available.  The R & R has been aware of this coming change for several years but has not made any real progress with settling on an alternative.  Given this situation, and division in the committee on possible alternatives, I have decided to re-look at the situation and feel that I could now offer a very satisfactory solution by taking over the contract.  I had previously offered the R & R to run, on their behalf, a post office service through the campground office, but further consideration of the situation has led me to believe that the most satisfactory solution for the Community would be to have a direct contract with New Zealand Post.

 

As there is some urgency in arriving at a satisfactory solution, my proposal would provide an immediate answer and could be implemented with minimal disruption to mail box delivery and postal services in the community.

 

I set out below the services I would be happy to offer:-

 

·         From 1 December through to 1 February a post shop service available from 8am to 9pm daily.

 

·         From 2 February through to 30 November of each year, a post shop service available 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 12 noon and from 6pm to 9pm. 

 

·         All transactions run through a computerized system.

 

·         The camp office will be modified to meet NZ Post security requirements and for postal goods to be displayed and available to the public.  Waitakere City Council has already indicated that it is willing to expand the office space if necessary.

 

·         Existing campground office staff will be fully trained to undertake this service.

 

·         A poste restante service for short term holiday residents will also be available.

 

 

I would like to point out that this will provide a very much expanded service to the Piha community.  At present the post office is open for 6 hours a week on 3 days of the week only.  Mail is frequently not sorted till late afternoon and residents who work in the City are unable to collect parcels during the week, and frequently on the weekends also if they need to leave Piha on a Saturday morning.

 

In part, I have made the decision to offer this service because of dissatisfaction with the minimal service at present being offered and because many residents have urged me to undertake this contract as there does not seem to be any progress in solving the present need for an alternative site and service.

 

If NZ Post is interested in my proposal, I would be happy to meet with you to talk over the situation and to provide you with details of how I plan to accommodate a postal service within the campground office.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

      Fiona Anderson
      Piha Camping Ground

---

" Date: Mar 3, 2009 2:41 PM
Subject: Not in my backyard!
To: s_coney@co.nz

Dear Sandy,

This Environment Court decision is just so typical of the new mood sweeping across our country - one of optimism, hope and a culture where hard work and success are celebrated. 

It is deplorable.

Bring back mediocrity, antagonism and envy. 

Fronted by Ellis, a man who has achieved far too much in his short life already and brought nothing but humour and happiness to New Zealanders around the country, and supported by 4 others who have far too many friends, make the most out of life, and have a hunger to make a difference - this venture is a disgrace.

Heaven forbid, given their past history and positive attitudes they may even make a prosperous success of this venture, bring joy and charm to Piha and even employ some motivated people who would be much better off getting handouts subsidised by earnest rich pricks like these chaps. 

Guys like them get all the breaks - and it's just not fair.  Good job they have had to battle through a ridiculously long, pointless and expensive court case. 

I wish the site had been gifted to the highly competent ARC, who would keep it looking shabby, desolate, gloomy and lugubrious. This country needs more misery and boredom. 

With a half empty glass I salute you,  Charles A. Nimby"    Read more here

---

And another  Piha Beach will get a new cafe 

---

 6/3/09  Remember the tiny town of Culverden and their two Cafes?  Well I got this email this morning from my sister: 

 

Morning Sis,  Just had the guy from our Cafe come to me and  he saw about Piha winning the cafe, so passing on the congrats from Culverden.  I will catch up soon with more news. Love ya More  Wendy 

---

 6/3/09  WCC install new rubbish bins at South Piha Beach Carpark

'One plastic bottle in landfill can last up to 100 years'.

Every ton of recycled paper saves enough energy to power the average home for six months'

Thanks WCC - hopefully we won't have to pick so many bottles up off the road sides :)

 

---

How is climate change going to affect coastal areas?  What can we do?

These questions and your own addressed.  Please seriously consider attending this FREE seminar on Tuesday 17th at Piha SLSC.  Dining room and bar open for dinner and a drink first

All details here - please take a peep

---

Open Garden - Heroic Gardens at Black Sands Lodge:

Charity raising funds for Hospice NZ.  Locals that would like to come and see our garden, locals artists works displayed and on Sunday between 2 - 4pm a 'string quartet' featuring our very own Helen Duder can enter for $5 (for charity).  Children are welcome and free but must be with adult at all times please.  Love to see you here . . .

Last year  Open 10am - 6pm Sat and Sun

---

 Surf Life Saving Northern Region  Rescue of the Month :

    United North Piha Lifeguard Service:  Read the details of this great rescue here

---

Art on the Beach Workshops:  The West Coast Gallery will also host a free lantern workshop for the local community on Saturday March 7 from 1 - 5pm for adults and children at Piha's Barnett Hall. Get the details on lantern workshop here

---

Piha Community Library has just finished cataloguing another delivery of new books - looks great to me. 

Have a look at the list of new libary books here

---

Bad news travels fast - Good news travel slowly . . . . . . . .  but it finally gets there . . . .

3/3/09 Buddies win the battle: It's party time for five old mates who have won a three-year battle to build a cafe at Piha. Read Read article here photo,left by Neil Duddy

Just a few points Wayne Thompson (NZ Herald) couldn't quite grasp but fortunately Stephen Forbes can:  They enjoy surfing and three live there.   They enjoy surfing and three live there.

Piha café gets go-ahead from Environment Court:  Piha café gets go-ahead from Environment Court . . . .  Environment Court judge Gordon Whiting dismissed the appeal, ruling that a 35-seat café be allowed to open between the hours of 7am to 7pm, with the cooking of light meals only.  Read article here on scoop

Re Public Toilet Signs:  Hi Bobbie, It's not only on Beach Valley Rd that we need signs. One needs to be in the middle of the car park at Lion Rock Corner. I get people coming up to my house to use my toilet and they can get very huffy when I point out the toilet block at midbeach. I am also getting tired of seeing people using the unoccupied section at the corner, the dunes and especially the small trees as a toilet. Cheers, Jane

---

   Does anyone in Piha have a problem telling the public where the toilets are?  I have lost count of the times I have been asked, while standing right next to them, are there any public toilets in South Piha?  Well as soon as we got onto our 'pedestrian & vehicle' safety issues on the Beach Valley Road Project I put it to everyone that we get some 'public toilet' signs.

I mean why have public toilets if only locals know where they are?  Here is a pdf of the design WCC has come up with.  The first page is blank so just go to page 2 & 3 and, do I need to say: the signs will NOT be pink !  

Beach Valley Rd Public Toilet Signs [4385kb].pdf  - just click on your choice below and send!

No: don't tell anyone where the public toilets are - are you mad?

Oh OK! if we must tell them then put the signs up

---

2/3/09 Dear Bobbie,

I watch the unfolding post office debate with interest and horror- rather like an impending train crash.

If the R&R could add up the hours that they have spent on the post office business thing and the amount of work they haven?t done because of it over the years- both they and the community would  be absolutely shocked.  

Plus all the time keeping the books, paying piddly wages, placating that [edit] woman in the PO- all for 6 hours of operation a week!!!!   

This is an absolute no-brainer- the Camp office is open for extended hours 7 days a week- The office ladies there, whenever I have had occasion to deal with them, are all very helpful and just delightful. As Fiona pointed out at the AGM- "As an ambulance Officer this community trust me with their lives, I think I can be trusted with a courier pack!"

It is not the role of an R&R to run a commercial business, even if it is for the community.

A Concerned Resident Name supplied but withheld for fear of verbal attacks.

---

 Elliot Paerata-Reid (Piha) won the closest fought boys final narrowly escaping a last second defeat by good friend Waretini Wano (Piha).  Wano caught a wave in the last minute of the final to post 8.25, agonisingly short of the 8.4 points he needed to win the event and the series.
 
Paerata - Reid showed the boys how it was done though, navigating his way through the tricky onshore conditions linking up some good rides to post an 11.85 point heat total.  Wano finished in third ahead of Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata).  Moretti did however do enough to win the series by way of his third place again pipping Wano by 50 points on the ratings.  Whangamata's Dune Kennings placed fourth in the final for his best result of the series.  Read it all here on surf2surf

---

 2/3/09 Big Wave breaks with tradition : New Plymouth's distinctive Big Wave Cafe is curling its way to success in its first summer in business.  The portable cafe, built by owner Michael Welsh so it looks like a breaking wave, is parked every day at East End Reserve and serves coffee and food to customers who arrive on foot or bike on the coastal walkway, or drive there in their cars. . . . . . .

Mr Welsh had originally planned to establish the Big Wave at Piha Beach near Auckland, but didn't have much luck wading through the bureaucratic red tape to allow it to happen. He decided on New Plymouth instead and found working with the district council much easier.  Read whole story on stuff.co.nz here

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 February, 2009 : - - The top three rated surfers are still alive at the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge event held today.  Tane Wallis (Piha), Ben Poulter (Rag) and Todd Doyle (Mnt) moved through to the semifinals after winning their heats in testing South Piha conditions today (Saturday 28th of March).

The massive storm forecast to hit the North Island pushed through overnight and day break brought clean 1.0m waves with strong offshore winds to Piha.  By the afternoon the rain had moved on and the wind swung onshore causing officials to make an early finish to the day.

The pressure of the series title took it's toll on the top surfers with neither of the three fully capitalising on the perfect 'A' frame peak in the contest area.  Todd Doyle (Mnt) top scored in the quarterfinals posting 13.0 points in his heat to progress through to the semifinals alongside Elliot Paerata-Reid (Piha).  whole story here on Surfers Village

27/2/09 Piha cafe gets go-ahead after appeal fails :  Environment court judge Gordon Whiting dismissed the appeal by Protect Piha Heritage against the cafe's resource consent.

Consents were approved in February 2008 for the cafe, but Protect Piha, led by ARC parks chairwoman Sandra Coney, challenged the court's decision, believing it would encourage urbanisation.

She said the consent set a dangerous precedent for development at the beach. "So far Piha has avoided retail, cafes, bars, or anything not relevant to the character of the community ... why anyone would suggest we need more than this wonderful beach is a mystery."  (Because 900 people live here and would like a day time, non boozy place to meet That's not hard really! Bobbie)  NZ Herald article here

26/2/09  Celebrations were had this evening after hearing the Environment Court Decision.

Cheers to:  WCC for granting and defending their Resource Consent, ARC for granting and defending their Resource Consent, The "YES!" campaigners, the 627 people who signed the 'Yes' petition and everyone else that supported this result.  More celebratory photos . . at the bottom of page.  

9:54pm 26/2/09 Piha to get controversial cafe "The campaign for a new café for Piha, which was fronted by Marc Ellis, (they just can't drop that Marc Ellis name can they? - Bobbie) is celebrating tonight after the environment after the environment court gave it the green light. . . . "Look we are ecstatic" it's been a three year battle and we are pleased to finally see the end of it" said one campaigner. . . .  The judges decided the café would be a neighbourhood amenity and provide jobs." (Yip, thats at least 3 jobs they can cross off the 'Job Creation' summit being held in Auckland tomorrow! - Bobbie ) Full TV3 news video & article here

TVNZ  ONE News   A lengthy battle over a cafe at Auckland's Piha beach has been won by TV personality Marc Ellis (TVNZ ONE News can't get past Marc either - Bobbie ) and four of his surfing buddies. Chris Fougere says it has been worth the fight.  "We had a long fight here. It is good that it's finally over and common sense has prevailed. The community is going to get what it really wants" says Fougere.  The Environment Court agreed and says the café will bring jobs to Piha."  ONE News item here

Is this Hiroshi Miyata from 601 Morningside?

"Hosts are Hiroshi Miyata, previously chef at Katsura in the Rendezvous Hotel when he wasn't surfing at Piha, and Gen Ogata from Tanuki's Cave, a delightful maitre d' who's as far from anyone depicted in paragraph 2 as you could wish." 

You read the the article about 601, Morningside, here  and tell me ???

  26/2/09 Reactions to the Environment Court Yes! Decision for a Cafe in Piha:    

Good News; "Ye Ya"; "Wonderful", "well done"; "Whoa, how cool, we want an invite to the opening"; "Yeah, bet the celebrations have started"; "Woho! Is it open now?"; "Yay!";  "You did it!"; "gr8"; "Whoop whoop, how exciting. V pleased all hard work paid off"; "Fantastic, when will it open?"; "Congratulations X"; "Congrats"; "This is good news, The Piha'ians should be v happy"; "FANTASTIC news...... a great victory for democracy... ";   "Fanbloodytastic - YES YES YES" . . .  and more  "AWESOME!! All that hard work got a result"; "Fantastic"; "Great"; "More Yeahs"; "Wonderful news"; "Wahoo !  Say congrats to the guys 4 me"; "Great news, you must be stoked"; "Yeha";

Piha Cafe Blog here

(6/10/08)  "They are up against Preserve Piha with the likes of Sandra Coney and TV3's Melanie Reid, who oppose their plans for a small local community cafe. The Environmental Court typically hears large industrial cases and Treaty issues, so the case about the little-cafe-that-could is bound to draw loads of media attention. "

  26/2/09 New Zealanders are, at last, getting back some of their fiesty nature they used to have : the very nature that gave the women of NZ the vote, told USA to keep their nuclear ships out of our waters, gives us one of the highest Human Rights rankings in the World,  anti-discriminations laws  . . .   YES! we must not be afraid, stand up and say what we want : we did and we won!!!!  This is a win for the people of Piha.  Now can we please have an ARC Representative that represents us?   Bobbie - Village Voice Editor

Post your own comments at the bottom HERE

 26/2/09    Breaking News - Decision in from Environment Court

yes Yes YES yes yesYES yeeeees

Environment Court says YES! Piha can have a Cafe !!!

A YES! Journey in Photos here

Common sense, fairness and the majority WIN!

     Piha's very own 'sideswipe'

Found on the R&R website:

• Changes to R&R meeting days and dates and venue.
• Meetings will now be held every 4th Sunday of every month at 4pm
• The next meeting will be on Friday 20th february at 7:30pm

Monique has not lived at Piha for a long time and is now only a visitor, which means that any regular visitor, whether a surfer, tramper or beach lover, could also claim interest and therefore qualification for the R & R committee.  Property developers of Auckland, line up!   Len

25/2/09 Hi Bobbie.  I've just been reading with interest the open letter to Monique (below) over her right to be on the R&R committee. I found it very interesting as I'm sure if it was anyone else on the committee who was in the same situation they would have been challenged long  ago and no doubt gone by now. Monique should  stand down and save the committee the embarrassment of asking her to resign.  Ratepayer

24/2/09 An Open letter to Monique Davis-Olivier

Dear Monique,

Wasn't it great that we had more nominations than positions for the R & R Committee at the AGM last month?  It took a lot of work from a number of people to get people enthused enough to stand for a Committee that is renowned for its infighting.and questionable representation of the people of Piha.

Given that I understand your property was on the market, did you consider withdrawing your nomination for Committee?  If you had, that would have enabled someone who either owned property or lived here to represent us rather than miss out on the vote.  Did you think of that?

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Constitution but it reads like this: "Any property owner or resident of Piha and his/her family is eligible for membership of the Association upon payment of the subscription set by the Association from time to time.".  You do live in Oratia don't you?  You are entitled to be an Associate Member - but they don't have voting rights so that would be difficult on the Committee - no?

I also understand you are on the West Coast Plan Liaison Group, nominated by the Oratia Residents Assn, as the "non-West Coast Representative" is that right? 

Bobbie, Piha Resident & Ratepayer

  Forget the Beckham 'shock' for ARC there are a few people in Piha who feel 'shock' at the happenings at Stedfast Park since the ARC purchased it .  

• Stedfast Park had a 'no alcohol' policy when owned by the Boys Brigade - this is no longer the case under ARC
• The Piha Fire Truck is too heavy to go over the bridge access to Stedfast Park.
• The Juggling Festival includes Fire Juggling
• The sewage system on Stedfast park has a maximum 150 person capacity
• There is no traffic plan guidelines from ARC for large events at Stedfast Park
• There is no security plan guidelines from ARC for large events at Stedfast Park
• There is no 'noise' guidelines from ARC for events held at Stedfast Park
• ARC gets $2 a head for every person overnighting ($20 per person per night with minimum 40) at Stedfast park and 50c per day visitor
• The bond to hire Stedfast Park is $100
• There is no process to count day visitors at large events
• No WCC Consents are required for any event at Stedfast Park because it is ARC owned..   .   .

The Vision: (from the ARC website)

Media Release Feb 07: The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) this evening resolved to express its desire to acquire land at Stedfast Park, Piha, under the Public Works Act 1981. This means that the ARC will enter into negotiations with the vendor to agree on a fair and reasonable price.  The 8.22 hectare property has been put up for sale by way of tender by the Boys' Brigade Northern Regional Trust. For many years it has been used as an outdoor education facility.

Chair of the ARC Parks and Heritage Committee Sandra Coney says "For decades children have been visiting this camp and the ARC wants to continue this tradition. City children can reach a bush and beach educational facility in under an hour and this is virtually unparalleled in Auckland.  "Our interest lies in continuing the existing camp use and enhancing public access to the Waitakere Ranges. If we are unsuccessful, we fear that this opportunity may be lost for good,"she says.

Media Release August 07:  ARC Parks and Heritage Committee Chair Cr Sandra Coney says the ARC's acquisition of Stedfast Park is important not just because of its commitment to continuing outdoor and environmental education for school children but because the property is a primary entry point for visitors to the Ranges.  "It's important that city children get the chance to learn about the rain forest on their doorstep and learn outdoor skills.

"The 90-bed education facility is managed by the Adventure Camp Trust Board, based at Carey Park in the Henderson Valley"

The Reality:

Juggling Festival  Stedfast Park 19 - 22 March 09

On the Juggling Festival Website 3/2/09: A four day event featuring workshops, shows, exhibitions and parties. Join up with more than 100 other jugglers from around New Zealand and the world to learn, relax and party at the festival.  The New Zealand Juggling & Circus Festival is a four-day event featuring workshops, shows, exhibitions, and parties (check out the video from last year's festival if you want to see what to expect). Join up with more than 100 other jugglers and new-jugglers from around New Zealand and the world to learn, relax and party at a the festival site.

Some Residents of Piha recently met with the Booking Officer from Carey Park and the Caretaker of Stedfast Park to express their concerns about the types of events that have been held at Stedfast Park recently, the noise pollution and future bookings. This meeting was pleasant and each heard the other.  Unfortunately no one from ARC accepted the invitation to attend.  

On the Juggling Festival Website after Locals Meeting with Carey Park:

23/2/09 The New Zealand Juggling & Circus Festival is a four-day family event featuring workshops, shows, and exhibitions (check out the video from last year's festival if you want to see what to expect). Join up with the juggling community from around New Zealand and all over the world to share skills, participate in workshops, and relax at a the festival site. In 2009 the festival will be in the North, just a short drive from Auckland to Steadfast Park near the Piha community.

On a blog for the festival:

Q:  Do you have to camp/stay at this event for 4 days?  Or can you just visit it on certain days to attend shows & activities/workshops or just to see shows?
A:  Nope, you don't have to stay onsite,  or be there for all 4 days.   Of course it's more fun if you do. 

Forward Bookings include 3 weddings.

Hi Bobbie  Just reading through the water quality info, great to have.  Do you know if 'North Piha Lagoon' refers to the marawhara stream? This is where a lot of local children swim frequently at this time of the year. Thanks  Sara

Hi Sara:  Yes the Marawhara Stream and North Piha Lagoon are one and the same place : time they got onto finding the source of the e.coli and sorted it out - Bobbie

If you are interested to see the maintenance WCC Roading is going to do as part of the Beach Valley Project then Have a look here   If you look at these points you will see its just plain maintenance issues that have not been addressed for years and need attention on this very busy road.  So please look and don't listen to the 'whisperings' - this is what is on the plan

Here is Viv Tasker, with her son, bridesmaids and flower girls heading off to get married to Mr Valentine on Garden Road, Piha

I understand, as this photo was being taken, they were singing "We're going to the Chapel and we're gonna get ma'rried . . . . "  I understand Viv is keeping her name 'Tasker' for business but will also be Mrs Valentine. 

What fun and Viv you and Graham enjoy!

 21/2/09

Just a quick reminder to those of you who may be looking at your emails before Sunday.  We are having a Coastcare Weeding Bee of the Piha Streamside planting, so that we look spic and span (or at least presentable) for the Dunes Conference that is now only three weeks away.   Pat - Coastcare

Meeting Place: the Seaview Road end of Beach Valley Road
Time: 22 Feb 9am (or any time til midday)
Bring:  spades, grubbers, gloves (or use ours)

 My take on the 1st Meeting of the 2009 Piha Ratepayers and Residents Assn:

Firstly, how wonderful to have the meeting at Barnett Hall.  It was getting very uncomfortable meeting in the Piha Library with so little room so thanks for moving it to the Community Hall.

First impression was how great to have a President/Chair, Mark, to guide and hold the meeting together so well.  There was a lot on the agenda, in fact they didn't get through it all. The Secretary Alberto's great time keeping kept the meeting moving.   It was also good that some residents attended just to wish the new Committee well.

The Piha Post Office: After 2 - 3 years of getting nowhere it seems like some sort of solution may be forthcoming.  Graham Clegghorn, a long time Piha property owner, is going to 'facilitate' decision making sessions with the Committee, specifically for the Post Office, following a format he has used successfully over many years in business.  A observer mentioned the first step could be to ask the entire Piha Community "Do you want a Postal Service or just postal boxes?".

The process is about agreeing what the issue is, gathering facts, putting together robust options as if they were the final decision, put forward sound options and obtain community approval.  Yay! I see some late nights coming up for this Committee.

Civil Defence: The R & R are paying some attention to Civil Defence in Piha - yippee.  Two very important meetings coming up will be in What's Happening?  With flooding, bush fires etc so close to us in Australia its now time to update our Civil Defence plans and inform everyone.  Now that's the type of activities I believe an R & R should be onto 

Beach Valley Road Project:  Although pedestrian safety was first brought to the attention of the R&R some 3 years ago,  it wasn't followed through. Now a couple of members of the current R & R seem intent on getting some kind of control over what the residents and ratepayers in the Beach Valley Road Project are achieving beyond most of our dreams.  C'mon guys, trust that this is going to make you proud of this Road.

The suggestion that two people are running the show is an insult to the 40 plus people closely involved in all aspects of this project. 

Now these 2 or 3 people have got the Chair of the Community Board, Kubi Witten-Hannah, involved who is organising some meeting with WCC Roading Engineers!!!  Why?  What are you so fearful of?  Did the R & R ask you to do this Kubi or who?  What a waste of everyone's time . . . .  surely there are more important matters at hand.

The Council consult with the R & R when necessary and informs when appropriate as explained by Renee Davies at the end of 2008 and will continue to do so I am sure.  

West Coast Plan Liaison Group:  The R & R President will be representing Piha on this group now.

NZ Dunes Conference:  Pat La Roche gave the R & R the low-down on the up and coming Empowering Communities with Climate Change Seminar and the NZ Dunes Trust Conference to be held in Piha

Water Quality:  There was a short discussion, including Kubi Witten-Hannah, Chair of ourCommunity Board, about the water quality results in Piha.  I asked that Moana Stream and North Piha Lagoon results be added to the WCC on-line reporting as these results are not looking good and its important that people are rapidly informed at the earliest instant if the results are not good. There is a 24 hr Water Pollution Hoteline: 377 3107

Ratepayers and Residents Monthly Meeting: From now on the R & R monthly meetings will be on Sunday's at 4pm at Barnett Hall.

 Well this is a little topical for Piha:

 21/2/09 United North Piha Surf Club : New Club House process begins . . . 

Gareth Neilson and Robert Ferguson, President,  showing the plans for a new Club House for United North at the Piha R&R last night.

The current club house was built in 1952 and no longer meets their needs.

Their wish is to have the absolute best training surf club in NZ. 

Go guys!   click on thumbnail on left for larger photo

For this and more information on United North have a peep here . . .  

1. Fiona, Manager Piha Camp:  Fiona, thanks so much for your cheque for $360 to sponsor a morning or afternoon tea at the Dunes Conference to be held in Piha late March.
2. The Piha Ratepayers & Residents Association for their $1,000 sponsorship agreed to at their monthly meeting tonight toward the catering for the Piha focus day 19th March at the Dunes Conference.

We knew we would have to work hard to get sponsors in these tough financial times so it is wonderful that our own Community is putting their hands in their pockets. 

Big thanks to all our sponsors from us at Coastcare 

Please support them:  You can see them all here . . . . :-)

  20/2/09  Muriwai Cafe Restaurant: 

How come Muriwai can have a 'Cafe Restaurant' and we can't?  Cooked breakfasts, lunches etc

• Seaside Special: bacon- eggs (anystyle)- hashbrowns-sausages -tomatoes- toast- jam - half breakfast available.
• Pancake Stack - Choice of ham - bacon - or banana - served with maple syrup, toast and jam
• Omelet (3 eggs) - your choice of fillings.

There are other breakfasts and lunches and coffees etc.   They say 'life isn't fair' but this is ludicrous  Wuz's Cafe Restaurant

19/2/09 MEETING TONIGHT 

  STEDFAST PARK  - GLENESK RD, PIHA

Open Meeting @ Barnett Hall 7:30pm Thu 19^th Feb

Stedfast Park, owned by ARC, is under the Management of Adventure Camp Piha Trust.

There has been some concern, from Glenesk Road Residents, about the type of events being held there since the ARC purchased the property.

19/2/09  The Piha Community Library Committee is seeking support from those who see the library building and library site as needing to be set aside for future expansion purposes.  See the details of the library website, in the news section, under 'Message for lPiha Library supporters'  Yvonne - Library Manager

1. Check the Piha Library for news right here. There is news you all need/want to know!
2. Check Piha Trader for something of interest to Piha folk

Last night, my friend and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependant on some machine and fluids from a bottle.  If that ever happens to me just pull the plug"

She got up, unplugged my computer and threw out my wine.

She is such a bitch . . . . . . .   

Lagoon Results (Freshwater) - results are E.coli/100ml

Bathing Season

Freshwater location	Date Sampled	E.coli        /100 ml	Outcome	Next Results Due
Piha Lagoon	11 Feb 09	24000	Guidelines exceeded Swimming not recommended Warning signs erected Retesting initiated	16 Feb 09
Piha North Lagoon	11 Feb 09	11000	Guidelines exceeded Swimming not recommended Warning signs erected Retesting initiated	16 Feb 09

Today, Valentines Day 09, Viv Tasker, left, will become Mrs Valentine.

This photo was taken of Viv on the eve of her wedding day @ Piha

Below she was spotted with her 'Hens' at the Piha SLSC.  Viv is wearing some kind of 'veil' given to her by Marie at the Bowling Club earlier in the evening.  They were last spotted at the RSA.  Hope you're feeling OK for your wedding Viv 

You may recall that last year it was brought to my attention that the West Coast Plan Liaison Group was given $2,000 to give to community groups to collate the Heritage Area Community Information Pack and no one would tell me who got what.  Well after persistant enquiries I finally got an answer.

This groups mandate is to work through and implement the West Coast Plan [840kb]pdf

The 2008 Group consisted of:

Jo Quatermass (Chair) Hui Cornwallis;  Kubi Witten-Hannah (Deputy Chair) Emergency Services;

Cr Penny Hulse WCC;                         Fennella Thomas WCC Support; 

Cr Sandra Coney ARC;                      Elizabeth Francke Waitakere Community Board;     

Neil Olsen ARC,                                 Saul Roberts Te Kauwerau a Maki;

Glen Wilcox Te Taumata Runanga;       Clive Taylor Anawhata;

Jane Worley Bethels;                           Anna Bates Bethels;

Dave Bryant Karekare;                          Monique Davis non West Coast Communities;

Hellen Pearce Piha;                           John White Waitakere Forest & Bird 

Denise Yates Waitakere Ranges Protection Society.

This group did a couple of things that annoyed me last year.

• Without any mandate at all this group made a submission Sep 07 against the Cafe in Piha  Read submission here

• In April 2008 Cr Sandra Coney (ARC Rep on the group) reports to the Group.

   "  Piha Café consent  Sandra reported that Protect Piha Heritage Society has appealed against the conditions and the entire consent.  The applicant has appealed against conditions around noise limits and extend of food preparation allowed.  Period to register as a S 274 party runs out at the end of next week.  Should be heard by the Environment Court in November. In respect of registration as a S.274 party, it was agreed that given that the members of this group do not have a mandate to make a decision on this matter and given the uncertainty regarding liability for costs, we should not register as a S.274 party. " (Sandra: who are you representing: ARC, PPH,  or ?- Bobbie)

•  The West Coast Plan Liaison Group paid the following groups $2,000 of ratepayers money for putting the information in the Information Packs:  Please note that although Sandra, Helen and Monique, all from Piha, are on the group no group in Piha, to my knowledge, was approached to raise money by helping out.

  • Parau R and R                                               $135.00

     

    Karekare Landcare                                         $144.00

     

    Bethells/Te Henga Community Group              $103.50

     

    Neighbourhood Support Waitakere                   $351.00

     

    Protect Piha Heritage                                   $771.00

     

    Huia-Cornwallis R and R                                 $490.00

     

                Total                                                $2000.00 of ratepayers money.

I don't think it is OK  for Sandra Coney, as the Chair of Protect Piha Heritage, to accept any money from a group where her very presense on the group giving the money is that of ARC Representative.  If this isn't conflict of interest then what is ???

 

Also, I understand, the submission made, against a Cafe in Piha, was made under the name of the West Coast Plan Liaison Group without any minuted mandate from the group - even if it was their business (which I don't think it is)  to make a submission they shouldn't without a mandate from the very people they are there to, er, represent!. 

 

This group is financed by WCC - our Rates - but nowhere, in the public arena, are any Minutes available for us to read!

---

 15/2/09 High Flyers Awards:  " . . . . . The other recipients of the High Flyers awards were United North Piha Lifeguard Service, . . . ." whole article in NZ Herald  I can't find any more deals so if anyone has them can you post them here

Leave a message

---

Friday 13th: BLACK  FRIDAY  watch for black cats and ladders

 

  

Leave a message

---

STEDFAST PARK  - GLENESK RD, PIHA

 

Open Meeting @ Barnett Hall 7:30pm Thu 19^th Feb

 

 

Stedfast Park, owned by ARC, is under the Management of Adventure Camp Piha Trust.

 

There has been some concern, from Glenesk Road Residents, about the type of events being held there since the ARC purchased the property.

 

The latest event booked for Stedfast Park is

 

17th New Zealand Juggling Festival

Thursday March 19 - Sunday March 22, 2009

http://festival.juggle.org.nz/

 

The Management of the Adventure Camp are happy and eager to meet with the Residents of Glenesk Road and the wider Piha Community to discuss what events are acceptable for the Park and what guidelines we would like around such events.

 

Dennis Cooper, the ARC Senior Ranger for Community Partnerships Parks ? Western Sector,  has declined to attend the meeting because he felt it had nothing to do with him however Richard Frost, the bookings Coordinator for Stedfast 'Adventure Camp' is very happy to attend and consult with the locals along with Mark from Piha R&R.

 

Contact: Heidi 8128 022 or Email Heidi here

 

Media Release 2007 when ARC purchased Stedfast Park: 

"ARC secures key parkland at Piha: . . . . . . . . . .  ARC Parks and Heritage Committee Chair Cr Sandra Coney says the ARC's acquisition of Stedfast Park is important not just because of its commitment to continuing outdoor and environmental education for school children but because the property is a primary entry point for visitors to the Ranges.

"It's important that city children get the chance to learn about the rain forest on their doorstep and learn outdoor skills. Complete article here

It seems that the sentiments in this press release aren't quite matching the reality in Glenesk Road . . . .

Leave a message

---

   OBJECTS of the Piha Ratepayers & Residents Association
The objects of the Association shall be:
(a) To promote and represent the views of the Association's members in all affecting Piha, its wellbeing, environment and development.
(b) To protect and enhance the unique nature of the ecological, geographical and social environments of Piha.
(c) To provide a forum within which the community can identify, discuss and deal with local issues and concerns.
(d) To support and co-operate with the Piha surf lifesaving clubs and other organisations, individuals or projects within the Piha area whose activities will assist in meeting the objects of the Association.
(e) To provide an informed and united voice to represent Piha ratepayers and residents to local and regional bodies and to ensure that their views are reflected in the development of policies which affect the area.
(f) To endeavour to ensure that rates paid by ratepayers in respect of property within the district are the subject of the maximum fair expenditure by the appropriate body within the district for the benefit of residents and visitors to Piha.
(g) To carry out such other actions as are incidental or conducive to attaining any or all of the above objects. 

Leave a message

---

10/2/09  Yvonne, Piha Library Manager has listed on their new website a list of fabulous books that have arrived and ready for us to enjoy. 

---

 Introducing:   'Piha Trader' : 

Buy, Sell, Trades, Professions, Advertise short or long term

Leave a message

---

Lyrics of Rest Of The Day Off   By : Finn Neil

Totally wired and the game is up
Im under the table
You carry my heart in the palm of your hand
As the clouds roll in
the party was rained out
Open up to find a man made home
And by four oclock when the sun came out
We were beside ourselves
Taking the rest of the day off
Lying out the back
Slung in a hammock
Gathering reams of space and time
Two eyes that surrender
The call might come
Fire my anger and spoil the whole thing
Its not much fun when the pressures on
And your luck has gone
But you squeeze my hand
Were taking the rest of the day off
We like to climb the rock
Before we have lunch
And well turn our backs on the whole damn bunch

You find the answer walking the dog
Down the south of Piha
its over and done
Not a lot to say when the man calls up
The line goes dead and youre yesterdays news
I couldnt care less now Im here with you
Were the only ones left and were flat on our backs
Taking the rest of the day off
And you find it dont add up to much
When youre wrapped in a blanket of stars
With the one you love
Like two shiny dogs
With the one you love

Leave a message

---

 10/2/09 

Where is the white sand on Piha Beach coming from?

Piha Beach has not only changed shape this year but it has an increasing layer of white sand.

To find out about this and more at this FREE Seminar @ Piha SLSC  Supper provided Tuesday March 17th 7pm

 

Leave a message

---

  Karekare Beach Races - Sunday 8^th March 2009 - from 11.30 a.m.

It is time for the beach races, Karekare's special carnival day - lots of fun for all the family and a great social event.  We will have thundering hooves in the main races, and the Kidz Kartz again - that is little kids driving tiny ponies flat out! And all the usual attractions - home made food, a flutter on the horses, pony rides, kids? fun races, quick-fire raffles and the famous Karekare T-shirts. Also, this year, there will be The Fantastic Hat competition, so get creative - a silly sunhat or an outrageous adornment - there are three categories:

1        Kids Kaps : 12 years and under

2        Westies Eco-Hat

3        Open : anything goes

 

Our big fund raising day for local Karekare causes: the school, surf club and predator control groups.

Parking is always a problem at Karekare but that problem is solved for Piha people who can just get the shuttle. Peter Gillespie of the Piha Surf Shuttle will be running a shuttle service leaving from the Domain from 10 a.m. - and carrying on till he has got you all back home! The charge will be $3 a head. You can contact him on 0800 95 2526

To enter the horse races or any queries:  phone Caroline Grove 8128 760 or Jenny Taylor 8128 506

Leave a message

---

 9/2/09 EcoMatters Environment Trust Press Release:

Waitakere City Council and EcoMatters Environment Trust are pleased to announce that EcoDay 2009 will be held on Sunday 8^th March from 10am to 4pm in Olympic Park, New Lynn. Entry to this fun, community event is free and there will be heaps of eco exhibitors, great food, great music and loads of information and inspiration.   More details on ecoday.org.nz

---

  Have you seen THIS ?

 Click on thumbnail left      :-)          

---

  7/2/09 Someone sent me this image

That same someone also called in, showed us a text saying something like  "you're a winner | $500 win at Wellington 7s and left. 

Oh puleeeese:  This is not   S_ _ _ _   in this costume is it?   And a winner? $500

 

 

 

---

  7/2/09 pm Water is back on delivery in Piha now - phew !

---

6/2/09 Water Supply in Piha:  Seems Patricks truck is not very well.  A team were working on it  to get it on the road.  In the mean time there are no water deliveries.

It's a good opportunity to check your neighbours on both sides have enough water - especially if they are elderly or have children. 

---

 6/2/09 Organised clutter: Piha's Sherry Roberts (well she has holiday house here so we can claim this woman with such taste as ours can't we?). For retro lovers, walking into boutique Ruby & Sol is somewhat of a revelation. Vintage lamps, crockery, art, clothing, furniture and kitchenware are artfully crammed into the front of a beautiful old villa, alongside new items including pretty frilly knickers and Karmameju clothing and candles from Denmark. Owned by Sherry Roberts  Read about Sherry's fab shop in Life & Style : NZ Herald

---

  5/2/09 Danger on our doorstep:  Forget the forest fires near Nelson and on the Mahia Peninsula - a greater danger sits right on your doorstep.  The potential for a major blaze in the Waitakere Ranges is high and the resulting chaos would be disastrous.  "People living out here need to be much more aware of the risks,"  principal rural fire officer Peter Barber says.  "They don?t seem to realise how quickly bushfires spread once started."

The (Waitakere)  ranges are the last significant remnant of coastal forest on the North Island. Full article on stuff.co.nz here

---

  5/2/09 Your place:  With black sand beach and verdant bush, you can look out to sea, towards the setting sun over Lion Rock, this can only be Piha. (from Afternoons on Radio New Zealand Radio New Zealand National) HERE

---

5/2/09 PIHA CAFE Attention all 274 parties to ENV-2008-AKL-000061 AND 000063

Waitakere City Council were directed by the Court to send the joint casebooks in respect of the above appeal to all 274s.  There are four volumes - they are big!  There is a lot of paper bound and posted.  That is expensive stuff.

Thank goodness WCC legal team have used some common sense and sent the four volumes to me and asked that I let all 274s know so if you wish to come and read then please do. 

Talking to WCC legal beagles the decision may well be another month away.  The Environment Court is snowed under so we have to wait.  It appears the amendments to the RMA planned by the current Government just may give the Court some relief.

Bobbie

---

COASTAL RISK ASSESSMENTS by Surf Life Saving NZ
SLSNZ will be visiting around 125 beaches (nationwide) to complete coastal public safety assessments over the coming months. This exciting project takes the work undertaken at many of our beaches over the past few years which gave rise to standardized signage and services a step further. It will provide a foundation for SLS, councils, land managers and communities to address coastal risk mitigation into the future.

The coastal public safety assessments involve a good look at the environment we operate in AND how people use that environment. This includes analyzing things like:

• Hazards
• Beach structures or existing infrastructure
• Access points
• Visitation trends
• Demographic profiles
• Activity profiles
• Existing rescue profile

It is important to note that the coastal public safety assessments are not only designed to identify lifesaving needs (i.e. patrols) but also a range of other interventions. These interventions may include signage, access management, public rescue equipment, activity zoning and pre-arrival education etc.

---

3/2/09 Stedfast Park : 

• Stedfast Park is owned by the Auckland Regional Council.
• The Adventure Camp Piha Trust manages Stedfast Park.  
• The Adventure Camp Piha Trust are tied up with Carey Christian Park Camp it seems as phone details are the same:  
• http://www.stedfastpark.org.nz/sfp_contact-us.html 
• http://www.careypark.org.nz/carey_contact.html 

Letter received by Village Voice reader:

Dear Kerry (of Adventure Camp) ,

 

I have left a message on your phone, but thought I would email you also.  I am decidedly unimpressed with the level of noise which has come from Stedfast Park.  One morning this weekend just passed,  we were woken at 5.am to the sound of an eastern Asian voice and accompanying crowd. I believe some kind of amplified voice equipment was in use.  A week or so ago, my partner and I could hear Hare Krishna songs word for word throughout the day. Now whilst this may not have occurred late into the evening, my understanding of the legalities of noise control is that it should be a few decibels above ambient. In other words; we should not have to endure this noise permeating into our home environment to the extent that we did. It is entirely possible that this particular group did not have a P.A system or similar, however it appeared to be a large crowd with musical instruments.  Do we not have the right to sit on our deck, listen to bird song and read a book without this uninvited background noise?

 

Questions...

• Prior to accepting a booking for Stedfast Park, what if any check list / conditions are in place to ascertain the intended activities the group has planned?
• Are groups clearly informed that they will be situated in a residential area? therefore; external noise within the park, and whilst walking or driving in Glenesk Road should be kept to a respectful minimum.
• Are clear expectations; e.g noise policy set prior to the booking and are these expectations put in writing, signed and agreed to?
• What are the penalties for not adhering to the agreement?
• Are the contents of the agreement reiterated on arrival by the caretaker? and what level of control, enforcement of the agreement does the caretaker have? 

I have lived in Glenesk Road for 16+ years now. Initially it was mostly youth groups who stayed at Stedfast Park.  Aside from the noise the kids would make whilst walking down the road, there were no real issues with excessive noise coming from Stedfast Park. Over the past year or so it would appear that the types of groups staying at Stedfast Park has expanded significantly. Is this because of Auckland City Councils (ARC)purchase of Stedfast Park?  Perhaps the individual(s) responsible for this somewhat badly thought-out expansion would like to exit their cube farm for an afternoon and spend some time on my deck. To be fair it may be that they have absolutely no idea how much noise can echo in the Piha Valley.  Even without the use of voice enhancing equipment 80+ people, singing, chanting, cheering in the external area of Stedfast Park can be incredibly loud. 

 

I have seen a copy of the existing noise policy and to be frank I feel that it is woefully inadequate. There should be clear emphasis on the fact that Stedfast Park is situated in a valley which means excessive external noise will reverberate and disturb local residents. I believe that thorough questioning needs to take place prior to bookings so that all parties can give fair and reasonably consideration as to whether or not the type of group and their intended activities are suitable for the environment.

 

Another question........

• Given that Auckland City Council (ARC) have purchased Stedfast Park, What if any consultation with local residents has taken place with both your organisation and Auckland City Council (ARC) in regards to proposed plans for the future use of it and the impact this may have on the residents and the environment in general?

Final question..  It is rumoured that a circus convention is due to stay at Stedfast Park in the very near future. The numbers are very large apparently (in excess of the current limit).  If this is not mere rumour, then can you please advise what their intended activities are?  If this is likely to cause a disturbance, what if any consultation is planned with local residents? Preferably before this booking is confirmed!!!

 

I will be most appreciative of your response. If you are unable to fully respond, because there are individuals at Auckland City Council (ARC) who may have input / be responsible for the bookings at Stedfast Park, then please pass on this correspondence to them.

 

Kind regards:   Heid Padain, Glenesk Road, Piha.  

 

"Tell them it'll be the cheapest 4 day party they are invited to next year this year..."   

 Juggle Festival @ Stedfast Park here 

 

 

COMMENT HERE 

---

2/09  Cafe in Piha : decision imminent!  Hoping that its a positive decision and we'll be wanting to celebrate a few of us got down to the Cafe site on Sunday to do a bit of a tidy up

   

---

  

Just wandering through my photos and found this of our new R & R President Mark Mitchinson as photographed me at a function in Barnett Hall a few years ago now. 

 

Remember this Mark ?  It was a great night . . .  

 

---

  2/2/09 Boat crew stand with giants: THE aptly named Day of Giants was an experience to savour for Tony Davis and the Tannum Sands surf boat crew.  read Gladstone Observer article here

---

 1/2/09 Heart-stopping tale : Father-of-four Ross Melles lay on North Piha beach, on Auckland's wild west coast, without a pulse or heartbeat after being pulled from the water last weekend.  NZ Herald story here

---

1/2/09

Big Wave Classic at Piha.

100's of people turned out to see this wonderful spectator sport.

Heaps of photos coming but in the mean time see last years Big Wave Classic terrible conditions here

---

---

30/1/09 Ex-boss of life saving club charged with theft The former head of Surf Life Saving Taranaki has been charged with stealing nearly $200,000 from the association.  NZ Herald article here ......... phew !

---

 30/1/09: Brian Rudman: Game over, the Air Force stays - so let's move on: There's a cargo cult nuttiness about Waitakere City's reluctance to abandon plans to rewrite the District Plan so that Whenuapai Air Force Base can be redeveloped as a commercial airport. It's as though Mayor Bob Harvey and his allies believe that if they write: "Here be a commercial airport," on the city's grand plan, hey presto, jumbo jets will start descending from the skies, packed with millionaire tourists eager to share their wealth with the friendly
natives.  NZ Herald article here . . . .

---

29/1/09  Reply from Gabrielle Lancaster to  "The Post Office from Keith Franich"    27/1/09

If the previous R&R committee had indeed consulted with and listened to the library committee as Keith Franich said he suggested, they would have no doubt have decided there was no sense in his going ahead with plans for his proposed addition to the library building and wasting his valuable time.

When the library opened in 1999 with a membership approaching 500, the library committee and the community thought that they had room to spare.   By 2005 the membership had greatly increased and the committee were starting to realize they they were getting pushed for room.  Now in 2009 the library has a membership of 1100 plus and growing weekly. The community and users of the library also realize that the murmurs we have been making about expansion are indeed necessary.

As a responsible group, the library committee is also looking ahead 50yrs and that is why we are adamantly against Keith Franich's suggested addition.  Both the children's and adult's sections are bursting at the seams and the only areas that we can utilize for a practical and cost effective expansion is on the end of each of the wings of the adult's and children's sections.

Adding the Post Office onto either side of the library takes away any opportunity for the library to expand and cater for future needs. This is the only area that will ever be available to us and we need to keep that option open for when we finally are forced to expand the available area.   You must remember:. WE CANNOT BUILD ANOTHER LIBRARY!....  .However there are other options for a postal service in Piha.

Gabrielle Lancaster
Librarian
Piha Community Library
www.pihacommunitylibrary.org.nz

---

Yoga in Piha:  I have been told that Yoga will continue on a Sunday at Barnett Hall with The Yoga Group and Melodie       

---

Piha Coastcare are thrilled to announce that Hynds Environmental are sponsoring the NZ Dunes Trust Annual Conference in Piha

Hynds Environmental  have joined the following sponsors: Waitakere City Council , Auckland Regional Council  Rodney Council,  Taupo Native Plant,  Bush and Beach and Naturally Native

---

27/1/09 he Post Office from Keith Franich

July 28^th 2008, day after another meeting, I came up with the possible idea of building a post office as an extension to the library building as a way around no new buildings on the domain. I made suggestions that it should be researched with the council to see if land could be available and to consult the library about the idea. Nothing happened except for miss information about it being in the library, under it and even on the deck. Not my proposal.

All along I have known that the parcel of land that the library sits on is designated as for library purposes only and cannot be changed unless agreed by council. I have never disputed this .

I believe in looking at all of the possibilities that are available and what could be best for Piha for the next 50 years.

Hence my proposal that I attempted to present is quite clear. I prepared drawings as an idea that could meet the needs of all of Piha, and that council are enthusiastic about that Piha could be united on.

Council requires a design that is agreeable, we have one, just extend on it. The proposed Post Office is placed so as to utilize three more car parks that have not been formed and would keep traffic away from the center. The proposed library extension is simply an extension following the same lines and in a position where a larger size building could possibly be built.

Both of these proposals are outside of the existing library use only lease.

Both of these have been viewed by council and today in my conversation with Mr. Grant Jennings-Services Manager, Parks and Open Space has reiterated that if Piha could get it's act together and have a united positive attitude and agreement then both of these suggestions for Piha are probable. Both will require public consultation and resource consent.

I would like to suggest that the people of Piha take the time to really consider the long term view. In fighting and disagreement would most likely see both fail.

I will be tabling all of my work as Inwards correspondence at the next R@R meeting. Over to you Piha

Keith Franich

---

 I have one suggestion for the R&R's new President:  Mark, you didn't close the AGM last night.  May I suggest to reconvene it and

1. Have a vote on who wishes to retain the postal boxes services
2. Have a vote on who wishes to retain the current postal services (including the boxes)
3. If 2.  above is carried then those that vote for retaining the current services, as apposed to just boxes, form a sub Committee to continue the work involved and the new R & R Committee can move onto other things. 

Start every Committee Meeting like an AA Meeting but instead of 'The 12 Steps'  all recite the 'Objects of the Association' so you can focus on what the R & R is really about.

---

27/1/09 Piha Pizzas: Free Delivery anywhere in Piha with min order of $15 and after 10pm extra $2.  From Blairs . . . . Phone 021 055 6959

Cheese Pizza $12 plus $2 or $3 toppings.   Sides of Chicken fingers, Onion Rings, salads etc $4-12

---

  CREATIVE COMMUNITIES SCHEME - Applications open NOW

 

Funding is available for Community-based arts activity in your area.  Applications close 5pm, Friday 6 March, 2009.

 

Applications under the Creative Communities Scheme are now being called for.  The aim

of the scheme is to increase participation in the arts at a local level and increase the range and diversity of arts available to communities

. 

Eligible projects must: 

• have an arts or cultural focus
• take place within Waitakere City
• Benefit the local community
• Not have started before May 2009
• Not have been funded by Creative New Zealand 

Application forms are available by telephoning 839 0400or  http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/CnlSer/fn/creativecom.asp 

 

A funding workshop will be held on Wednesday 11 February, 6.30pm at Waitakere City Council.  Workshop bookings/enquiries Ph 836 8000 extn 8934.

---

16/1/09 Another V V reader has added another $50 so: A Reward has been Offered!  $250 reward offered to anyone that will identify the person/s damaging the Piha CoastCare Dune signs painted by local artist Mandy Patmore.  $350 if prosecution successful.  Email Village Voice, Piha, HERE  More details below

---

25/1/09 Notice from the Piha Community Hall Committee:

Dear Yoga Customers and Whoever it may concern: 

Yoga classes (in Piha) have been temporarily suspended as Melodie has advised us that she will no longer run the classes.

For many years the (Barnett) hall has lost money and been funded by grants.  We can no longer expect this level of funding.

The hire of the hall on a Saturday evening is $400., Many people wishing to decorate the venue and set tables on a Friday night are happy to pay another $300 - this is a total of $700 for a 48 hour hire period. 

The fee for Yoga was $20.

To accommodate everyone we suggested that yoga move to Sunday mornings instead of Saturdays.  We remain happy to make the hall available for Yoga classes on Sunday mornings and during the week. 

We have already been approached by another person wanting to take yogo classes.  If anything eventuates no doubt you will be advised.

We wish Melodie all the very best and apologise for the disruption to your class.

Piha Community Centre Society Committee.                     Email Village Voice here

---

25/1/09 Piha Ratepayers & Residents AGM :

Presidents Report: Copies were not available so it will follow

Piha Coastcare Report:  You can read Piha Coastcare report here

Library Report: Here is Yvonne Dufaur's Piha Library Annual Report on their new website

Elections of Officers: (Tony Dunn withdrew his nomination for President prior to voting)

New President: Mark Mitchinson (left), New Vice President: Berend Westera, New Secretary: Alberto Bonini; Treasurer Geoff Calvert

New Committee: Fiona Anderson (Camp Mother), Gabrielle Lancaster, Hannah Slade, Helen Pearce, Julia Woodhouse, Monique Davis, Paula Legel and Barron Braden.

Changes to the Constitution: Monique's motion to stop any proxy voting was lost.  My motion to restrict proxy voting to one per member present was lost. My motion to clarify what the Committee can spend $$$ without a General Meeting was lost.  The motion that automatically has a Committee member resign if they don't attend and don't give genuine apologies for 3 consecutive meetings was successful. 

Then the fun started: The Piha Post Office and where to put it .............

The 2008 Committee recently sought legal advice on the ownership of the Post Office building and have been told by their lawyer, Chris Ockard that they, the R&R own it!!!  This has not been put in writing by the lawyer yet (and I am not surprised).  Preserve Piha Ltd, owners of the property the Post Office has operated on for some time, maintain the building is part and parcel of the purchase they made and to which they have title.  The meeting requested the R & R to obtain their legal opinion in writing from their lawyer which they agreed to do.

Options where to put the Post Office:  1. Building on the right of the Piha Store (private land), 2. Campground 3. Stand alone on Domain. 4 Addition to Library

Fiona Anderson (First Response) had a call out  so she addressed the meeting first.  Fiona mentioned that she was dissappointed that there had been whisperings that her Camp Office was not secure enough to handle mail.  She continued that if people trust her enough to look after their lives as a First Responder etc she is sure she and her staff can be trusted to keep mail safe.  She is willing to include Postal Services in her office at the Camp, but said there was no room for another staff member - it would have to be handled by her own staff.  This would offer the Community postal services 12 hours a day 7 days a week in a much more secure site than the present PO..

Keith Franich then talked to the drawings that were displayed on the hall wall.  Yvonne Dufuar (library Manager) had already stated in her report that she felt the R & R proceeding with this option without any consultation with the library management was discourteous and dismissive of their responsible management of this already too small facility.

Below are the plans as presented to the Meeting.  Click for bigger images.

    

Yvonne then compared her impression of the library's footprint, obtained from the lease documents at the WCC,  which was at odds with Keith's plan.  Yvonne's shows there is no room for the size of extensions that Keith had suggested.   It seems there needs to be some clarification from WCC about just how big the foot print is.

Watch this space.                     Email Village Voice here

 

I think it would be fair to say that from there the meeting turned into a bit of a bun fight - Geez.  Our new President, Mark, surely had a baptism of fire! 

Something I found particularly interesting was when Kath Dewar pleaded with the meeting, but it was more pointed the Library Volunteers, for some generosity of spirit and to let the PO. be added on to their building.  Kath mentioned the continued split in the Community etc. 

Well my take on that is:  I don't think I have ever experienced so much togetherness in Piha and I've been here since 1993.  From where I stand I see people who are happy (concerned but happy), mainly united, and loving their community, environment and friends.  I think the Cafe issue united a lot of Piha people . . . . and also that is when the great divide started as the large majority of Piha people want a Cafe and their views were not being asked for or taken into account.  Once it was taken to the Environment Court by Sandra Coney and Protect Piha Heritage  there was a ground swell of support and its not stopped. The people of Piha will have their say whether they are asked for it or not!!!   That support has now moved onto the independance of our probably most valued community facility, our Community Library. 

Anyway I divert: It was around about this time in the meeting that probably 1/2 of the meeting walked out and Mark declared the meeting 'abandoned' !!!! 

I have one suggestion for the R&R's new President:  Mark, you didn't close the AGM last night.  May I suggest to reconvene it and

1. Have a vote on who wishes to retain the postal boxes services
2. Have a vote on who wishes to retain the current postal services (including the boxes)
3. If 2.  above is carried then those that vote for retaining the current services, as apposed to just boxes, form a sub Committee and do the work yourselves. 
4. Start every Committee Meeting like an AA Meeting but instead of 'The 12 Steps'  all recite the 'Objects of the Association' so you can focus on what the R & R is really about.

My hopes for the next year: I truly believe we now have a representative R & R.  We have people from the pre-school, library, coastcare, business, campers, young families, weekenders, etc.

I hope that this group of representatives will communicate with us openly, consult with us before they make submissions on our behalf, do something positive every month for this fabulous community we live in: both the environment and the people.  Support our groups: Surf Life Savers, Piha library volunteers, Coastcare volunteers, Street projects, fabulous Art Gallery  etc and work with our Council not against. If anyone can Mark you can:  Go for it .............

Mike's Fundraising gig photos here    At Mike's fundraiser I stood there and had a good look around the room and I thought to myself; this is Piha, this is the Piha I love. Every shape, age, eco group all together having a great time.  Someone even said to me that Mike is part of our community and if he is doing a fundraiser then of course we're here! 

Go to heaps of photos here              Email Village Voice here

 

---

25/1/09  Guard off to make a splash overseas:  Rob Pidgeon is setting his sights high.  The director of the United North Piha Lifeguard Service wants the club to win global recognition for its work at one of New Zealand's most beautiful - and most dangerous - beaches  Read about Rob here on NZ Herald

---

24/1/09 A fine example of Piha Surf Life Saving - Ari Peach & Big Billy I hear . . .  

24/1/09 20:39  Quick action prevents drowning - :   A drowning tragedy has been averted by prompt action from surf lifeguards at North Piha beach, on Auckland's west coast.  They say patrolling lifeguards noticed a man in his mid-40s facedown and unconscious, in between the flags shortly before 4.00pm Saturday.  They pulled him from the water and managed to revive him after performing CPR for 30 minutes.  TVNZ News here

24/01/09 18:32:02 Lifeguards avert tragedy: A drowning tragedy was averted by prompt action from surf lifeguards at North Piha beach, on Auckland's west coast. Patrolling lifeguards noticed a man in his mid-forties face-down and unconscious, in between the flags, shortly before four this afternoon. They pulled him from the water and managed to revive him after performing CPR for 30 minutes. Newstalk ZB here

---

 A Village Voice reader sent this in: 

After numerous rounds of 'We don't even know if Osama bin Laden is still alive', Osama himself decided to send George Bush a letter in his own hand writing to let him know he was still in the  game.

Bush opened the letter and it contained a single line of coded message:

         370H-SSV-0773H

Bush was baffled, so he e-mailed it to Condoleezza Rice. Condi and her=2 0aides  had not a clue either, so they sent it to the FBI.

No one could  solve it at the FBI so it went to the CIA, and then to  MI6.

Eventually they asked the Mossad (Israeli intelligence) for help.

Within a  minute  Mossad emailed the White House with this  reply:

'Tell the President he's holding the note upside  down'

---

23/1/09 New Zealand Junior Team Named: The Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team was announced today with twelve of the nations top surfers set to compete at the 2009 ISA QuiksilverWorld Junior Surfing Championships to be held at Salinas, Ecuador.  The prestigious event takes place from the 28^th of March through to the 5^th April.

Piha: Ryan Hawker (Piha) Wildcoast Boardriders;  Rosa Thompson (Auck) Wildcoast Boardriders; Tane Wallis (Piha) Lion Rock Boardriders;   India Wray Murane (Rag) Formerly Wildcoast Boardriders and her Dad Mike lives in Piha   Surf2Surf 

Don't forget Mike has a gig on at the Bowler on Sunday evening to raise some $$$ for India to get to the Comp 

---

Beach Valley Road Project:  See what has been happening lately

---

 Piha Community Library:  Latest news:  here

---

Johnny, Jayda in NZ squad By John Hill,Ben Kennings  GISBORNE young guns Johnny Hicks and Jayda Martin-Fitzharris have been named in the New Zealand squad to compete at the 2009 ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships at Salinas, Ecuador, starting on March 28. in the Gisborne Herald here

22/1/09 Mike Jolly - MJ and Flying Fish Surf Shapes:  Mike Jolly is well known across the world for his superb craftsmanship in making surfboards. (as well as his phenomenally joyous nature) Mike turns longboards into works of art (great riding too!) Expert repairs. leg ropes. rash shirts and surf wax are always available. The shop carries a large array of Longboards, MiniMals, shortboards, bodyboards and surfing gear for hire or purchase. Lessons are also available.  Read it all on surf.co.nz  You can contact Mike here

---

Two arrests:  A summer liquor ban has been in place Piha since 2003.  Full story here on stuff.co.nz

---

 

Goodbye Bush . .  .

Welcome Obama . . . .

Some sanity at last . .   I hope

 

       

 

 

 

---

Hi Bobbie,  Any chance you could put the following on your website please?

 SANDY LOUIE our local TRAVEL BROKER representing GO HOLIDAYS is helping with the Fiji Relief Fund in conjunction with Air Pacific and Stella Travel Services.  Donations sought, including clothing for adults and children, bed linen and towels, kitchen utensils, children?s books, dried food like cans, noodles, rice; anything you can think of that is a basic essential to make a home liveable and life again bearable.

 We have seen the devastation that has been caused in Fiji over the last 11 days.  The surrounds of Nadi have been badly effected and for the large number of people who live in this area, many of their homes have been devastated.  Many of these very same people are the ones who work in the hotels in Denarau and the surrounding areas where you may have had the privilege to stay previously or plan to visit at some time.

 We have the opportunity to assist in a really practical way as some have had their homes swept away, others have had water rush through and sweep everything out.  For others everything is just sodden, after having been sitting in several metres of water for days.

 Please contact Sandy on 8128784 or 021 907 166 if you have any items to donate.  Sandy will get all items to Air Pacific/Stella Travel Services by Tuesday, 27 January.

---

 Are you looking for a new website?  I can design and write you a website for a comparatively modest sum including basic optimising . . . .  Email me HERE

---

20/1/09 WHAT THE beautiful few do: Marc Ellis and wife Agustina Mon are back from a month's holiday in Argentina and, according to my admiring spies, Marc has lost heaps of weight and is looking fit, tanned, and drop-dead gorgeous all the better to appear as co-host for the return of Top Town alongside Mikey Havoc and Hayley Holt. (Agustina always looks gorgeous so nothing to report there.).  Sunday Star Times Good : he can make me a coffee any day soon hopefully - Bobbie

---

20/1/09: 'Tough lady' minister breaks up mall fight :  Social Development Minister Paula Bennett waded into a maul of about 30 young people outside a shopping mall to break up a fight.

Ms Bennett was about to enter West City in Henderson about 4.30pm on Saturday when she saw 30 or so youngsters aged from about 11 to 17 in Catherine Place. NZ Herald here

---

I've heard an international circus school or something applied to have a gathering at Stedfast Park, in March 09, but the Management turned it down as it was too big or something.  Evidently this decision has been overridden by ARC polititians !!!  Gee, if this is true, then why have a Manager?  We are bound to hear about it because 'local consultation' has been promised.

---

  Yes: we're in the Heroic Garden Tour again this year.  See our garden in the catalogue right here and in last years here .  We are looking forward to having West Coast Artists display in the garden again and we're probably having a string quartet too !!! 

---

  Piha Community Library now has their very own website: 

All you need to know and more about the Piha Community Library:

http://www.pihacommunitylibrary.org.nz/Home.htm.  

If anyone has articles or photos to add to the site please don't hesitate to contact the The Webmistress here 

---

  Piha Ratepayers and Residents Meeting this  coming Sunday January 25th: 

I was at a dinner party recently when the subject of the Piha Ratepayers and Residents came up.  It was interesting to listen to various opinions.  One of the most interesting aspects discussed was 'what should the Piha R&R's priorities be?'

To summarise, and I hope I do this correctly, it was that the ARC look after their patch and Piha is under the custody of WCC so what does that leave the R & R?  The  environment seemed to be the agreed top of the list but equally as important was informing their members of their political submissions on their behalf and any important issues well before the event.  In other words maybe some mandates should be asked for at the AGM .....

We talked about the Beach Valley Road (BVR) Project: a WCC initiative and from most accounts very successful.  I thoroughly enjoy being the Coordinator of it and have relationships with WCC staff now that I would hope go beyond the project. 

The pleasure and support of the many people who walk BVR's full length or via Sylvan Glade or the Milk Track is a constant source of pleasure. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the majority of the 2008 R&R Committee. 

The few on the Committee who wished to show encouragement and support were outnumbered.  It seemed the majority's priority was one of 'control' rather than 'support'.  Most of their involvement was one of demanding that they be allowed to 'police' what was happening: how, when & what etc.  I, as the Coordinator, am pleased to say I relented to none of this . . . we have 30+ properties in this project and that's enough consultation for me!    I didn't wish to allocate more time to a second layer of beurocracy since WCC (our only layer of beurocracy)  is in control.  Rather just getting the job done, with our trusty crew of 'experts' allocated to our project from WCC, is what its all about.

Could I please ask all of you to think carefully what you want from the R & R in the future.  Think carefully who is going to do that for you and vote for them at the 2009 AGM.  If you don't know how Email Me HERE

Look at our project photos here - how could you not support this?  This is how a Community can work together . . . . And its not nearly finished . . . .   Beach Valley Road Project Photographs

 

---

2009 Hyundai National Surfing Champs at Piha:  Wave by wave coverage of the Open final at the 2009 Hyundai National Surfing Champs. Matt Hewitt from Mt Maunganui took first place with Daniel Kereopa from Raglan a close second.  Watch video of final here on surf2surf.co.nz

---

 Are you ready for the Decision from the Environment Court due any day YES for a Cafe in Piha !!!                  Oh, please, give us a Cafe

---

18/1/09 Wild West worst for theft:  It's New Zealand's self-styled eco-city, with neat streets nestled in the foothills of its verdant ranges. But Waitakere in West Auckland is the burglary capital of New Zealand. Read here on NZ Herald.  Bob says its a matter for Police - I disagree.  It's a matter for all of us. 

---

18/1/09:  The Surfing Champs are over : what a fabulous week so a big thanks to those that did all the hard work  and congrats to the winners.   

The gig last night was packed at Barnett Hall.  A great vibe and music so big thanks to Foug .......... some pics I snapped. Left Foug's sister on guitar.

  

  

   

---

17/1/09 This is Piha and this is Summer

click on images to get neat large photos of Piha Beach

          

             

---

 17/1/09 Hewitt Conquers All Comers. Thomas Takes Title Too at National Surf Champs Piha Beach Seventeen-year-old surf sensation Matt Hewitt of Mount Maunganui won the biggest event of his short competitive career today after holding off his fellow competitors to win the Hyundai National Surfing Championships presented by Quiksilver held at Piha Beach, Auckland.  Get all the results on the National Surf Champs, Piha, here on surf.co.nz

---

16/1/09 A total revamp of our Residents & Ratepayers may be a wonderful thing for Piha.  I came across this  group of people who I think would represent us all incredibly well on many levels.  Don't be fooled by their looks.  These people are incredibly intelligent, serious and love Piha to bits.

At their first meeting each will draw a 'position' out of the hat and this will be repeated every other month so no one gets bored or complacent in their job. Isn't that a good idea?  I'd like to know what you think: Email me here what you think ....

I am even thinking we could toss a coin and nominate one for the 'Lord Mayor' of the new Auckland : that's the one with executive powers !!! 

 

---

16/1/09 How many drownings are there at Piha Beach?  We've all seen Piha Rescue and now, as if we need it, the Best of Piha Rescue.  It is surely a sad thing that so many Aucklanders and NZers have this totally inaccurate picture of Piha as seen through the dramatisation of a TV show, namely Piha Rescue.

So lets look at some some figures 2008:

• 96 people drowned in NZ for 2008
• 148 people drowned in NZ in 1998 - ten years ago.
• The 2008 number of drownings in NZ equates to 2.4 per 100,000 and the third highest cause of accidental death behind road vehicle crashes and falls.
• Of the 96 drownings in NZ 2008
  • 60 were recreational drownings
  • 29 were non-recreational drownings (this is where there was no intention to be in the water for recreational purposes
  • 7 were suicides or road accidents
• There have been 31 drownings in the wider Piha area in the period 1980-2004 - that is a14 period:  United North Piha Lifeguard Service & Piha Surf Club (inc Piha, Lion Rock, North Piha Beach, Whites Beach & The Gap)
  • 1 was an emersion accident - (falling off the rocks into the water, (but would excluded intentionally jumping off)driving a car off a bridge and being trapped inside it
  • 2 were shellfishing
  • 15 were swimming (outside flagged area)
  • 11 were angling
  • 2 were rescuing others

Piha is not a 'killer beach'.  It is a west coast beach and for that reason alone is not as safe as most east coast beaches - the Firth of Thames is pretty dangerous!   All beaches are dangerous if not respected or the guidelines of SLS Clubs are not followed.  So: swim between the flags, do keep checking you're inside the flags, put your hand up before you're worn out and enjoy!

A Year in Review - Water Safety 2008 Report here

---

16/1/09 Surfing: Quinn and Koops to defend their titles Jay Quinn and Angie Koops will defend their titles in the men's and women's finals at the national championships at Piha.

Quinn (Gisborne) yesterday secured a come-from-behind win while Koops (Kaikoura) had to settle for second in her heat after Laura Rishworth (Mt Maunganui) stormed through to her first national final. Fellow Mt Maunganui surfer Matt Hewitt also shone scoring 19.0 in his semifinal - the highest heat score of the event that also included a perfect 10-point ride. read NZ Herald article here

---

16/1/09:  Only five (5) more days of President Bush 

---

14/1/09 17:45 Kaka on Piha Road:  3 or 4 Kaka have been seen flying around 146 Piha Road feeding on the Rewarewa and making quite a noise.  I'd get up there and photograph them but trying to finish my GST - damn but this is what Kaka look like  would love a photo if someone sees one.

A reader from Glen Esk Road  sent:    Hi Bobbie,I have attached a really bad photo of a Kaka in the tree behind my place, taken a couple of months ago. A terrible pic but I can assure you that it was a Kaka. They make such a noise!

Thanks : I always enjoy receiving photos from V V Readers

 

---

 13/1/09 Park-buyers race to beat developers:  Nearly $60 million has been spent in an expansive phase for the Auckland regional parks network, and a falling property market means the ARC cheque book will be kept handy.  The regional council is racing against time to preserve open green space for public use before it is developer bait, said ARC parks chairman Sandra Coney. Read it here on NZ Herald

---

12/1/09 left: Piha's Elliot Paerata-Reid (11) surfed in the under 18 Surfing Nationals, at Piha,  today and won his Round Two heat surfing against Ben Poulter, Zen Wallis also of Piha and Brooke Moses.

"A shark attack at the age of 10 has not deterred a young surfer from competing in multiple age groups at Piha this week. Elliot Paerata-Reid, 12, punched above his weight yesterday in the National Surfing Championships, winning an Under-18 heat at his local break at South Piha. . . . .  "  Read about Ellior on NZ Herald here

 

---

12/1/09 Tannum boaties back in harness:   The Tannum Boaties have returned after their first weekend back on the water since before Christmas and have blown off the cobwebs ahead of what should be a big three weeks for the crew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Directly after finishing the Manly event the team will cross the ditch to New Zealand's notorious Piha Beach.  Read it here in the Gladstone Observer

---

Tut Tut:  Didn't anyone tell the NZ Herald that there is no such place as South Piha Beach.  It Is 'Piha Beach South of Lion Rock' !!!!   Just ask Helen, she knows.  "Rowan Ash (L) and Paco Divers compete in the open men's section of the surfing championships at South Piha Beach."

 

---

11/1/09 Kereopa and Quinn Do Battle   Daniel Kereopa (Raglan) got the upper hand over Maz Quinn (Gis) today when the two surfers placed first and second respectively in their fourth round heat at the Hyundai National Surfing Championships presented by Quiksilver.

The most anticipated heat of the event to date took place in excellent conditions at South Piha with the Open Men?s Division being held off until the low tide in the afternoon.  The low tide formed some perfect 1.5m ? 2.0m waves and the surfers put on an exceptional show all day. Full story and photos here on surf.co.nz    or here on stuff.co.nz

---

Reward has been increased again !!!  Another Piha Resident has added another $50.  So $200 for firm identification and $300 if it results in a prosecution.  Spread the word around . . . . .  

 Reward has been increased!!  A Piha Resident has added another $50.  So $150 for firm identification and $250 if it results in a prosecution.  Spread the word around . . . . .

A Reward has been Offered!  $100 reward offered to anyone that will identify the person/s damaging the Piha CoastCare Dune signsk, photo above, painted by local artist Mandy Patmore.  $200 if prosecution successful.  Just Email Village Voice, Piha, HERE

---

Am I mad?  Word has got back to me that a few people in our community think I am mad.  Well, well.  I've spent a couple of days thinking about this but its hard diagnosing ones own sanity or insanity - in fact that in itself is enough to think you are mad.

If publishing Village Voice is a sign of madness then, I suppose, I am guilty.  But it won't stop me.   As I have explained previously what does put my sanity on the edge is the underhand, backroom and autrocratic behaviour of some people - probably the very ones that are spreading the suggestion I am mad. 

Do I care?   Not at all.  While they're talking about me they're leaving you alone   

A great joke I heard today:  "Why do brides wear white?".   Answer: So they blend in the the kitchen appliances .......!

---

10/1/09 Death of village life as French cafes close:  But no cafe means no social life in the village. On December 6 last year, Meurquin hosted the local firemen's annual lunch.

Jean-Louis Lenoir, 58, said: "Even if you don't go there all the time, a village needs a cafe. You don't talk to people in a supermarket. You can't hold a lunch there.

"It's where everybody - young and old, from all social classes - mixes."   Death of village life as French cafes close on NZ Herald here

---

10/1/09 Opening day perfection for the Hyundai National Champs The opening day of the Hyundai National Surfing Championships presented by Quiksilver played host to near perfect conditions at Piha Beach today with a clean 1.5m ? 2.0m swell that the Open Men?s surfers relished the chance to compete in. read about it here on globalsurfnews.com

---

9/1/09 Surfing: Brothers dominate surf title predictions:   The early stages of the National Surfing Championships are set to be run in excellent conditions. A good swell is forecast to march up the west coast towards Piha Beach and easterly winds are predicted.

This could mean that the Open Men's Division, featuring the likes of defending champion Jay Quinn and his brother Maz, could hit the water tomorrow, the first day of the event.  Read on NZ Herald here

---

9/1/09 Who will be representing us on the Piha R & R 2009?  Meeting 25th Jan

Nominations:

President:

• Tony Dunn: Nominated by Geoff Calvert/Barren Braden
• Mark Mitchinson: Nominated by Bobbie Carroll/Julia Woodhouse

Vice President:

• Baron Braden:  Nominated by Geoff Calvert/Tony Dunn
• Berend Westera: Nominated by N Andrews/Fiona Anderson
• Mark Mitchinson: Nominated by Bobbie Carroll/Julia Woodhouse

Treasurer:  Geoff Calvert: Nominated by Baren Braden/Tony Dunn

Secretary:

• Alberto Bonini: Nominated by N Andrews/Fiona Anderson
• Leonie Sudmersen: Nominated by K Allies/Geoff Calvert

Committee (alphabetical):

• Alberto Bonini: N Andrews/Fiona Anderson
• Barron Braden: Geoff Calvert/Tony Dunn
• Berend Westera: N Andrews/Fiona Anderson
• Claire Paterson: Geoff Calvert/Julia Woodhouse
• Fiona Anderson: Geoff Calvert/K Allies
• Gabrielle Lancaster: Sue Dunne/Tracey Skidmore
• Hannah Slade: Bobbie Carroll/Julia Woodhouse
• Helen Pearce: Geoff Calvert/Monique Davis
• Holger Behrendsen: K Allies/L Sudmersen
• Julia Woodhouse: Bobbie Carroll/Gabrielle Lancaster
• Karla Allies: Geoff Calvert/Claire Paterson
• Mark Mitchinson: Bobbie Carroll/Julia Woodhouse
• Monique Davis: Peter Hosking/Helen Pearce
• Paula Legel: Monique Davis/Tony Dunn

There are also 4 proposed changes to the Constitution

1. To stop proxy voting:   Monique Davis/Baren Braden
2. To limit proxy votes to one per financial member present  Bobbie Carroll/Graham Caley
3. To limit the amount of money the Committee can spend without going to a General Meeting Bobbie Carroll/Graham Caley
4. To have auto resignation if Committee members don't attend 3+ consecutive meetings  Bobbie Carroll/Graham Caley

Looking at various options to locate Piha Post Office

---

9/1/09 Beach Valley Road Project - Roadside Cleanup: 

As a part of our meeting with WCC Roadingwe asked that the sides of Beach Valley Road be cleaned up.

This will give the road back its true width - visual at least, so cars keep left. 

"No problems" said WCC and here its happening . . . thanks WCC

 

And no mickey mouse job either : here the 'stuff' is being shovelled to ensure it is all removed.

This corner is particularly bad - hope this will help.

 See our Pedestrian and Vehicle Safety information here

 

---

9/1/09 Breaking News in Piha:  Tom, who played Baxter in Shortland Street, was spotted doing a streak at the Piha Bowling Club this evening. 

---

8/1/09 Have you seen this on the deck of Piha's Community Library?

Rumour has it that this is the space that will be taken up by a 'shed' for the Piha Post Office if one of the options being put forward it acted on.

Wonder what the original architect would think ???

---

Callum, I love you!   I was down at the Piha Camp today and little Callum asked me "Is Fiona your Mother?".   I said  "Pardon", thinking I couldn't not have heard correctly.  "Is Fiona your Mother?" he asked again. 

"Callum, you wee darling.  Fiona is not my mother - she is my friend.   

Here is Callum, below, doing some pretty amazing hand stands.  First two hands, then one!

          

---

            

9/1/09 Writer draws on familiar places:  

Lost landmarks from Auckland?s past are remembered in Stephanie Johnson?s new novel. . . . . . . . .  The story also moves to Piha, Wellington and a timber mill in the Kaimai Ranges.  read about it here on Stuff.co.nz

 

 

---

8/1/09 Excellent Conditions Predicted for Opening of Nationals:   The early stages of the 2009 Hyundai National Surfing Championships presented by Quiksilver are set to run in excellent conditions.  A good swell is forecast to march up the West Coast toward Piha Beach and easterly winds are predicted.  The forecast could mean that the Open Men?s Division, the likes of defending champion Jay Quinn and his brother Maz, could hit the water as early as the first day of the event.    Read it here on surf.co.nz      or here on Surfervillage.com

 Budget Accommodation still available here

---

8/1/08 Working, in a positive way, with our Council - WCC.  On December 13th the Beach Valley Project had a meeting with WCC Roading to discuss various 'issues' with pedestrian and vehicular safety in Beach Valley Road - a particularly busy road in Piha.

It was a really pleasant and productive meeting - we all walked the length of the road and had a good old chat afterwards.

It's amazing what can be achieved when you work with your Council in a really cooperative way  

Today I got a phone call from the contractor to say they are going to 'road sweep' our road today - one of our requests.  Hey WCC - thanks !  Read and see photos " pedestrian and vehicle safety " meeting here

---

20th January 2009 - It will be a wonderful day for Americ and the World.  Only 12 days to go till we see the end of America's worst President ever  - Bush.  I personally hope he is charged with war crimes when he vacates the White House.  20th Jan - a great day of celebration!

---

"Only a woman can ventilate, scream and cry at the same time "  . . . .  How I love these stories.  Read in NZ Herald here - why?

---

7/1/09  Hi Bobbie,  Missing Gnome

It could be that after 17 years of living at 77 Glenesk Road our gnome has come to the conclusion that the world is a bigger place and there is more to life than watching the daily commuter traffic and allowing passing dogs to urinate on him. 

Perhaps we should expect a travel log sometime in the future, however, I doubt this because he is made of concrete and doesn't travel particularly well as a result.   Martin and I suspect a local prankster is having a bit of a giggle, I guess we should be OK with that as over the years a few smaller gnomes have mysteriously appeared on our property.   This gnome will be missed terribly in Glenesk Road. Children stop to admire him, and on occasion tourists can be seen taking photographs of him. We would love to have him back.  Thanks Heidi & Martin

---

7/1/08 TV series to star Mount lifesavers: TV series to star Mount lifesaversThere are more than 1600 rescues by volunteer surf lifesavers in New Zealand each year and this series aims to show surf action as well as behind the scenes footage. Mount Maunganui patrol captain Mike Copping said the series will not be another Piha Rescue but go even further. read Bay of Plenty Times article here

---

7/1/08 Calm seas a boon with beaches busy:  Although there were few hassles, Mr Robertson wanted to remind everyone that they should still adhere to basic safety rules - "people should be aware, swim between the flags, don't swim alone, and don't leave children alone around water."  read Gisborne Herald article here

---

7/1/08 Water sense pleases lifeguards:  Television "learn to swim" campaigns, combined with the popularity of prime-time show Piha Rescue and locally run beach education programmes, had raised awareness of water safety issues, Surf Life Saving Otago Southland district manager Phil Hudson said. read Otago Daily Times article here

---

Neil Finn's 7 Worlds Collide - Review:  It had variety. It had comedy. It had songs by the greats - Radiohead, Wilco, Crowded House, er, Thunderclap Newman.  But most of all this Neil Finn-facilitated dream-team line-up had a couple of things you don't see at big shows.  Read on NZ Herald here

---

5/1/09:  Either flax on the side of roads is a problem or it isn't - make up your mind! 

An extract from the Piha Ratepayers & Residents Minutes of October '08 Meeting:

'Motion 3:  To write to WCC to request the removal of flax bushes in Rayner Rd where obstructing vision and walking space and for WCC to check other problem spots in Piha?.  Carried Brown/Davis

 

Left: here we are trimming the flax and in Sylvan Glade. 

 

 'BUT'   . . . .  yawn yawn:  I wake up on Monday morning to a phone call from WCC.  Yes, you guessed right, a person lodged a complaint about trimming the flax.

 

Can you believe it?   It is truly unbelievable.  It is beyond ridiculous, its just sick. 

 

You see the person I suspect lodged the complaint is a member of  the very R&R Committee that wrote to WCC to "remove the flax on Rayner Rd and to check other problem spots in Piha". 

 

Duh!  I mean am I missing something here or what?  Flax on roadsides is either a problem or it isn't. So what is this all about?    The control some people try to exert in Piha is beyond the ridiculous and just plain amusing and it won't work with me and it shouldn't with you.

 

The reason I trimmed the flax, and will continue to, is:

 

·         To keep the roadside pathway clear for pedestrians

·         To keep the entrance to our property clear

·         To stop the roadside flooding where water is being held back by the flax

·         BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY because "WCC encourages the owners of properties to maintain Council berms" as told to the R & R Committee in the October Meeting by Renee Davis.

 

You can see the work I have done on Beach Valley Rd / Sylvan Glade here

 

Could we all start thinking very carefully about who we want on the R&R for 2009

 

A big thanks to all of those who stopped to tell me how great it is looking and have a chat

---

Mike Murane tells me he is doing a 'fundraiser' for his daughter, India, to travel to Equador representing the NZ Surf Team at Equador in this year if she gets selected.  If not then the money will go to the Bowling Club

Mike and his band will be at the Piha Bowler on Sunday 25th Jan, from 9pm - 1am.  Tickets, $20, available at the Bowler or phone Mike 8128 648.  Let's support Mike support India.

---

5/1/09 NZ Warrior feared drowned at Bethell's, Waitakere:   The young man believed drowned at west Auckland's Bethell's Beach last night is young New Zealand Warriors star Sonny Fai.  Read about Sonny here on NZ Herald

---

5/1/08 It is Spermaceti !  A marine expert from DOC advises that the 'blob' on North Piha Beach, just up from Lion Rock, is 'spermaceti'. 

Spermaceti is the semiliquid waxy substance found in the head of the Sperm Whale. The name derives from the late Latin sperma ceti (sperma is actually a loan word from Greek) meaning 'sperm of the whale' (strictly, 'sperm of the sea monster'). 

Te Papa have been notified.  It needs to be removed because, I have been told,  it will release a lot of oil that will attract dogs and  'unwanted nasties' to Piha - whatever 'unwanted nasties' are.

So there you have it!  You can read more on spermaceti here

 

---

By the way:  I do appreciate it when people call me with a Piha News item - I can usually get somewhere pretty quickly and then onto Village Voice.  Like this morning - this photo was taken at 9:26 am and onto Village Voice by 10am.  No need to wait for the 6 o'clock news  :-) 021 969924 phone or text.  Bobbie 

---

9:26am 4/1/09: Is it a bird?  Someone suggested whale vomit ?

That is my shoe on the stinking piece of something on North Piha to give an idea of its size.

Click for a much bigger picture.

 

Someone suggested this could be ambergris which is a highly valued substance used in the perfumery business but I can't image anything that smelt like this thing could be used in perfume.

Click on this thumbnail, left, for a close up photo.

  3news video on demand here

---

4/1/09  Do you think its possible to have a Ratepayers & Residents Committee that really represents us?  

Seems they're either this way or that.  Wouldn't it be nice if we have a group that just discussed/debated issue by issue thinking what we would really like or want and if they didn't know  then they  asked us.  It's not that hard or is it?

A good diverse group: young and older, live here or live there, Mums & Dads and singles . . . .  whatever but people that truly get out and find out what we would like from them .............  What would you like?   It's time to start thinking seriously about it - AGM 25th Jan.

---

Hometown win in surf series:   Drizzling rain stopped briefly during the race, which saw Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club beat hot favourites Piha, who took out the national series last year.  Read about surf series here on stuff.co.nz  or

``We're building up for a big month though with the NRCs and the Piha round _ the competitions are pretty quick-fire from here on in.'  The men's final was just as dramatic, as Titahi Bay edged the strong Piha boat into second in the final, with Mount Maunganui third.  ``Last year we lost here to Red Beach in a run up the beach so it was nice to get one back,' said veteran Titahi Bay sweep Paul McVicar, who was lured back from retirement for the round. Bay of Plenty Times here

---

Roadside Flax :  To do or not to do.  Flax is wonderful for our native birds but is it OK next to our walkways?  Have a look at what I'm doing here (you need to go to the bottom of the page) and let me know what you think ....  Bobbie's Project here

---

To Village Voice:  Yesterday at Piha 'The Vintage Car Club' drove 6 or 7 vintage cars to the Piha  Domain.   I took along an old black and white photo, which I found in a flea market, of an old car and driver at the duck pond at the Auckland Domain. It was an old 1910 Chrysler and there was an identical one in the collection at the Piha Domain.  As I was carrying the large photo over to the car, Val from the Camp said, "Oh my God, that's my Great Uncle Harry Smith in the first taxi in Auckland which he owned".  What a small world. Here is a picture of Val in the restored Chrysler and the photo of her Great Uncle Harry leaning on the car. . . Julia  - click on the thumbnail for a large photo of Val in the car. . .

---

Apologies for the inconvenience of all the flax on the eastern side of Sylvan Glade. 

This flax hasn't been trimmed for years and is encroaching badly on the roadside now as well as contributing to the roadside flooding in heavy rain so we're taking care of business.   It will be removed soon.  Bobbie

 

---

2/1/09 TONIGHTS Ratepayer and Residents Association Monthly Meeting cancelled 

---