It feels rather strange to be writing a monthly report when really, there is only one thing on all our minds at this time. I’m cognisant that you might be feeling inundated with so much COVID-19 information at this time, so I have intentionally put this toward the end of my report. I hope you and your family are all doing well.
Dying ducks in our waterways
In March I had a lot of people contacting me about a large number of dead ducks and eels in waterways around the Bays. Ducks only live 5-7 years, so there it won’t be uncommon to see the odd one, but this was on a larger scale. Over the summer drought we experienced (and still are experiencing), waterways and ponds remained stagnant without any rainfall which caused issues for ducks and eels.
Botulism is a bacteria which lives naturally in ponds, but problems arise during the summer months often due to high water temperatures. It can be spread by ducks eating maggots which have fed off dead ducks. The issue is made worse when well-meaning people feed bread to the ducks, which is unhealthy for them and will be left rotting in the water.
On one occasion I tested out Auckland Councils ‘Report It’ online tool to report an issue at a waterway around Scarlock Avenue and Celina Place. I was very impressed that I received a phone call within an hour, and a couple of hours later a phone call from a staff member on-site. He was very knowledgeable and knew the area well. He spent a long time on the phone with me talking through what he had been doing that day in the area, what he will follow up with and answered all my questions. He thoroughly checked the waterways around the area and found no unnatural pollutant issues.
I was very impressed with the responsiveness from Auckland Council and the knowledge of the staff. They monitor waterways regularly (and more so in summer months) and will respond to animal welfare concerns and remove dead ducks within a couple of hours.
One interesting thing the staff member told me was that brown water is not always a problem – many stream’s can often be brown due to natural iron content which can colour the water.
If you ever have any concerns about water quality and/or animal welfare, please contact Auckland Council ASAP. If you have reported a problem and there has been no action – send me the details and I will follow it up. I want to keep abreast of issues in the community and ensure Council staff are responding appropriately, so please keep me in the loop on any matters.
Auckland’s water quality under the microscope
The Environment Select Committee has initiated an inquiry into Auckland’s urban water quality.
Auckland’s waterways have some of the worst e.coli levels in the country – this hit home over summer for us when Browns Bay beach was closed for some time after a stormwater outlet at the northern end of the beach registered e.coli levels thousands of times over acceptable levels.
I am very concerned about the lack of regular programmed maintenance of our water and wastewater pipes. I’ve been told that this infrastructure had routine scheduled maintenance under North Shore City Council – but with the amalgamation of Auckland Council, this has been lost in favour to a more ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’ approach where infrastructure is investigated when problems arise (like wastewater all over our beaches…). It appears that Watercare is not placing enough importance on programmed maintenance of their assets and favouring spending more on new infrastructure from Council’s targeted rate.
It is appalling that the best asset of our city- our beautiful beaches are often un-swimmable. I am looking forward to this inquiry taking place. I suspect it will unearth some major systemic issues that the Governing Body (the mayor and 20 councillors) will need to take drastic action on.
I will let you know when the Select Committee’s inquiry opens, as there will be an opportunity for public submissions.
Council-Controlled Organisations Review – Local Board feedback
I mentioned in my February report that an Independent Panel is underway reviewing Council-Controlled Organisations (e.g. Auckland Transport, Watercare). Consultation is now closed for the public and I’ve just finished up writing the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board’s feedback to this review. A rather lengthy 5-page letter detailing feedback in theme areas of:
Scope of the CCO review (the scope should have been wider to include aspects of the CCO governance structure of Auckland Council, and there should have been greater opportunities for the public to give feedback – there was only one drop-in session north of the city!).
CCO model, roles and responsibilities (some CCO’s should have wider imperatives and clearer expectations. The Panel should consider what operations could be better brought in-house).
Accountability (the Governing Body should have greater oversight and involvement in the setting of CCO’s Letter of Expectations and Statement of Intent, and greater monitoring of their performance. Local Boards should also have some CCO oversight and reporting available to them).
Engagement (a concern that CCO’s are not responsive to and engaged enough with communities and that there needs to be greater communication between CCO’s and CCO-to-Council).
Culture (CCO’s to be more cognisant of the communities affected by their work and to ensure when consulting that they undertake meaningful public engagement).
Julia Parfitt and I worked together to ensure that the feedback included an array of local examples to illustrate the feedback we provided (e.g. under the second theme, we talked about Watercare and the Browns Bay beach e.coli contamination over the summer). It wasn’t all criticism though – we made sure to highlight the things that are working well (e.g. Auckland Transport and Watercare have dedicated Local Board liaison staff who do an excellent reporting job and are highly responsive to us in dealing with local matters. Recently, AT’s CEO took a phone call from Julia during the weekend and resolved a very urgent matter that same day).
A damming report: The Hauraki Gulf is suffering
What a way to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park – a damming report detailing its decline and revealing that bugger all has been achieved to protect or enhance the Hauraki Gulf.
The State of the Gulf 2020 was produced by the Hauraki Gulf Forum (a body established by the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act (2000) and which reports triennially). National media referred to the report as ‘grim’ ‘shameful’ and ‘embarrassing’. It was even picked up internationally, with The Guardian labelling it a ‘collapse of NZ’s landmark ocean park’ and noting that ‘the creation of the park has failed to prevent ecosystem collapse’.
The Hauraki Gulf is under significant pressure from human activity – probably more than any other coastal marine area in NZ. One of the biggest health issues for the Hauraki Gulf arises from contaminants from land ending up in the Gulf. Sedimentation is one of the biggest threats to our marine habitats. Despite Council regulations and ‘enforcement’, sedimentation run-off continues to be a serious issue which they seem to not be able to effectively control the compliance of. High inputs are still occurring in estuaries – including our local Okura estuary.
Here are just some of the low-lights from the State of the Gulf 2020 report:
The seabed is suffocating with plastic and sediment.
Waterways leading into the Gulf are sediment-choked and polluted.
The rivers in the Hauraki Plains (dairy farming area) still pump fertiliser and effluent into the Gulf each year – including 3,700 TONNES of nitrogen.
Water quality at many of Auckland’s urban beaches regularly poses a health risk for swimmers.
Potentially toxic algae blooms are now common.
Commercial fishing is up 30% on the previous 3-year period.
Potentially toxic algae blooms are now common.
It remains legal to drag dredges and trawls across the seafloor, even recreationally.
Dredging has stripped the seafloor of mussel beds (crucial for filtering the water).
Commercial fishing is up 30% on the previous 3-year period.
Commercial fishing company Danish Seiners are regularly fishing in prohibited areas
Reef-dwelling crayfish are now functionally extinct.
As a result of no crayfish (which feed on kina), kina is taking over and destroying kelp forests.
The number of small fish is significantly down
Snapper and Tarakihi stocks are overfished or depleted.
Scallops are at very low levels.
Dolphin numbers have plummeted 97% from historic levels.
Mass mortalities of fish and shellfish are now common. There have been 10 recorded mass mortality events in the Gulf over the last decade. Four of these events were in Whangateau and Okura Estuaries, where shellfish populations appeared to be stressed by adverse environmental conditions.
22% of seabirds are now classified as threatened, up from just 4% 20 years ago
Black petrels are dying at an unsustainable rate due to commercial fishing
Credit: State of our Gulf 2020, Hauraki Gulf Forum, p23Credit: State of our Gulf 2020, Hauraki Gulf Forum, p113.
I don’t want to be too negative though, so here are some positives in the report (blink and you’ll miss them):
40 islands in the Hauraki Gulf are predator-free due to eradication campaigns.
Fewer Bryde’s whales are dying from ship strike (due to a voluntary reduction in speed of large commercial ships).
Grim, indeed.
The Hauraki Gulf Forum is calling for urgent, drastic changes to the Gulf’s management. They’ve suggested that the legislation that establishes the Marine Park should be revised – arguing that the balance is tipped too far towards development and utilisation over the protection and enhancement of the Hauraki Gulf.
They are seeking an extension to the size of the Marine Reserve – which protects only 0.3% of the Marine Park. In 20 years, the Marine Reserve only increased by 0.05%! And that was due to an application that was submitted before the Gulf was entrenched as a Marine Park.
We need bold action now from our political leaders.
I am excited to have been nominated as our Local Board’s representative on the Auckland Council Hauraki Gulf Political Reference Group. I intend to lobby hard for significant action to improve the health of the Hauraki Gulf. Watch this space.
Murrays Bay Birdman – consulting and jumping!
The Murrays Bay Wharf Birdman event took place mid-March. Congratulations to the amazing volunteers, headed by Josie Adriaansen, who put on this fun community event. The Hibiscus and Bays Local Board had a tent set up and we spent the day talking with people and getting feedback on our Local Board Plan (the Board’s strategic 3yr document). It was great getting out and talking with locals about what’s most important to you. We had a range of feedback, but there were some commonalities – the Board should continue and grow its support for local family events, greater support for initiatives that enhance and protect our environment, and advocating for improved performance of CCO’s (particularly Watercare – improving programmed maintenance of assets so that our beach water quality is not compromised).
The day was especially fun for me as my sister and I were one of the 14 entries in the Birdman event. I can tell you that yes- it was a long way down! We jumped as part of a fundraising drive for North Harbour Community Patrol (NHCP), the charitable organisation we volunteer for. We didn’t win any prizes for our terrible jump, but NHCP felt like the real winners on the day – we reached our goal and got a much-needed second patrol car! Thank you to everyone who donated, and to our major sponsor North Harbour Vehicles Limited, with Harcourts Cooper & Co. We are also grateful for the support of New World Browns Bay and New World Long Bay.
COVID-19
Looking after yourselves in lockdown
Firstly, I sincerely hope that you and your family are doing ok. I know that many people may be feeling anxious, stressed, or worried. Your well-being, the well-being of your family and our wider community are so important during this time.
Please remember that there are lots of great services out there if you want to talk to someone. You can free call or text 1737 to receive support from a trained counsellor. 1737 – free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor. For a variety of different contacts visit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/in-crisis/helplines/
The Mental Health Foundation have suggested that limiting the amount of news you follow might be a good idea if you are feeling anxious and worried. Pick a source you trust (like the Ministry of Health’s website) and check it periodically. I’ve been doing this and have personally found that it helps me get through the week a little happier with my toddler while husband is front line at the hospital.
Where to seek help, or volunteer to help others
I am in touch with local voluntary organisations who are busy supporting people in our community who need help during this time (particularly the over 70-year old’s and people with disabilities). If you or someone you know needs help with shopping, prescriptions or perhaps just a friendly phone call – please let me know and I will connect you to people who will help. Likewise, if you’d like to volunteer to help, please let me know.
I want to acknowledge the owners and staff at our local supermarkets who are doing a phenomenal job – thank you. I’ve also just heard that the wonderful folk at Torbay 4 Square are doing free home deliveries to local people over 70 who need help.
Auckland Council’s response
Local Boards are continuing to operate. We’re still working hard on your behalf so please continue to contact us about any matters.
All 885 playgrounds are closed, and most toilets are closed with signage up. We’ve had some requests for further signage to go up at beaches and some parks to ensure people don’t touch or use street/beach furniture or exercise equipment – we’re following this request up.
Please remember that during this time, ALL dogs should be on a leash. We have had many reports of dogs being attacked and one this week dying on the way to the vet after being viciously attacked by an off-leash dog.
Kerbside rubbish and recycling continues as per normal. Pay-as-you-go tags will be left on the bin and not taken off by the collector. People will need to remove this themselves when they put a fresh tag on for the next collection. This is to minimise the contact collectors have with all the bins each day.
Community recycling centres are closed during this time.
A minimal amount of mowing is continuing to maintain essential vehicle accessways and paths so that people can continue to use for physical activity. Only essential tree maintenance will be undertaken.
Parks remain open but please remember the two-meter distance rule, stay local, and don’t touch any furniture, playground or exercise equipment.
All Council facilities are closed. If you have any library items, hold on to them and don’t return them until they re-open (you won’t accrue any late fines).
Mayor Phil Goff has set up a Mayoral Business Advisory Panel to help work through issued created by the lockdown.
20 Council staff have been redeployed to Auckland City Mission – helping to provide 400 meals a day, seven days a week to support our rough sleeper community and those facing severe financial hardship.
You can stay updated on Council’s Covid-19 response here: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/covid19/
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