On 22 October, the Howick Local Board accepted my members report, my eighth report for the term (covering until 15 October).
While every local board member and our councillors have the opportunity to provide a written or verbal report, they don't have to. I think it's an important part of transparency, providing formal visibility of what we've been doing and the issues we are dealing with.
I've copied the text of the report here (for ease of reading), the images show the full report (3 pages, including pictures). The official version can be found here: https://aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/meeting/12504/106336?type=2&docId=54698
"This is my eighth member's report for the term and covers activity since my previous report presented in September.
Key themes:
• Celebrating Cultures Pop-up and CRC Howick Village HOP both successful
• Funding remains challenging
• Marking 1-year of the new term, with changeover of Deputy Chairs
It’s been wonderful to see the Celebrating Cultures Pop-Up at the Botany Town Centre. This collaboration between the Howick Local Board, Arts Out East, Te Tuhi, and Botany Town Centre has brought a wide range of free events and activities throughout the school holidays. It was fantastic to see people coming together to celebrate the incredible diversity of our rohe.
And the CRC Howick Village HOP brought record crowds to the Howick Mainstreet, with an estimated 45,000 people turning out to enjoy the cars, stalls, and entertainment. There was plenty to see, with both classic and modern hot rods on display. And the Howick Village Market bursting with food and crafts to enjoy, as well as the town crier!
There’s a huge amount of time and effort that goes into organising these events – thank you to everyone involved in making them happen. Especially to the volunteers and community organisations who go well above and beyond.
Funding constraints continue to place pressure on existing assets and services, while our growing communities expect the infrastructure and facilities needed to support them. With local transport decision-making returning to local boards, we are also facing increased responsibility for issues such as local roads, footpaths, parking, and pedestrian safety. We’ve been receiving briefings on the upcoming Long-Term Plan (LTP) which is due for consultation early in 2027. While it remains early in the process, it is already clear that difficult decisions will need to be made.
As we approach the end of October, we mark our first year of the new term. While there is still much to do, the Board has made steady progress over the past 12 months. This includes delivering projects initiated during and before the previous term such as Barry Curtis Playground, Lloyd Elsmore Skatepark, and the Flat Bush temporary library, while also developing a new Local Board Plan and progressing work on future Flat Bush community facilities.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Deputy Kai Zeng, who steps down from this role on 24 October 2026 (as part of the pre-determined arrangements from the start of the term). As one of the newest members of the Board, Deputy Zeng has approached the role with enthusiasm and dedication, making a valuable contribution over the past year. I have no doubt that incoming-Deputy Krish Naidu will bring his own skills and experience to the role, and I wish him all the best."