Members Report for April 2026
At last weeks Howick Local Board meeting, my monthly report was accepted by the Board. While I'm doing weekly updates online, this provides a formal summary of what I've been up to and the issues that are in the top of my mind.
As elected members, we're accountable to the public we serve and I believe it's important that we communicate what we're doing on your behalf.
Howick Local Board - Members Report as of Wednesday 15 April 2026
Members Update: Damian Light
This is my second Members report for the term, with my last update covering up until 16 March.
Key themes:
Celebrating the Flat Bush Library opening
Capital funding shortfall impacting delivery
Ahakoa, he iti he pounamu — (Although it is small it is precious)
Flat Bush finally has a library! Earlier this month we opened the temporary Flat Bush library in the Ormiston Town Centre, providing a space for our community connect and learn. While it’s taken far too long for the full facilities to make the progress we need, this temporary service has been delivered at incredible speed. I’m extremely grateful to all the amazing staff and contractors who have worked tirelessly to deliver this project for our community. Thank you to local iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki for their involvement, bringing their aroha (love) into this project to enhance the space and make it truly unique. It’s wonderful to see the mahitoi (artwork) throughout, including the stunning central pillar that features carvings inspired by the footprint of Ngāi Tai. Thank you to Ormiston Town Centre for hosting us - their willingness to work with us to provide this community space has been amazing. We literally wouldn’t be here without them. With the ribbon cut and the speeches done, this space is now open for the community to enjoy.
While we celebrate this huge step forward for Flat Bush, I remain deeply concerned about the wider systemic issues around funding for local boards. We recently had a workshop on our future capital work programme which showed that the renewal demand for Howick is $302M over the next 9 years (up from the estimated $216.5M indicated last term). As we work to address the massive gaps in community infrastructure in Botany and Flat Bush, we need the funding to maintain what we have and what we build. While I support the intention to utilise non-capital solutions (like the Botany Library and Te Taiwhanga Taiohi Youth Space), this transition will take time and must be managed carefully. Thiis isn’t a theorical problem - already we’ve been forced to delay important projects (like public toilets for Riverhills) because of the funding gap.
The lack of community infrastructure will only be made worse through intensification which, while watered down in the latest Government legislation, will still enable massive growth in East Auckland. While we have not yet seen updated maps, I suspect that Botany and Pakūranga will continue to be the focus of intensification justifying by the significant investment into the Eastern Busway. To cope with the increasing demands, the community will need assets which we cannot afford. Despite the promises that growth will pay for growth, we must continue to fight for the facilities and services our community needs (and pays for).
Nga mihi nui | Kind regards,
Damian Light (he/him)
Mema au mō Botany | Elected Member for Botany
Te Poari a-Rohe o Howick | Howick Local Board
Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Council