Your Council

Womens soccer score: North Shore City has taken a further step to strengthen New Zealand’s warm relationship with Chile. North Shore Mayor, Andrew Williams signed an agreement with Chilean Mayor Senor Pablo Zalaquett from La Florida to promote mutual understanding of women’s football in both New Zealand and Chile. The two countries are hosting FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments this year – New Zealand at an Under 17 level in October and November and Chile at an Under 20 level in November and December. Under this agreement the two countries will support each other’s football initiatives including exchanges, fixture swaps and learning from each other. North Shore will host the final and runners up final of the Womens’ World Cup competition as well as the Pool A round of the tournament. More Information

Waste scheme becomes launch pad for council innovation: The official opening of a major upgrade to the Rosedale wastewater treatment plant has been the launch pad for the first North Shore City Council on-line video report. Two of the council’s communications staff joined The Mayor and around 400 residents for a tour of the new look wastewater plant to tape to produce the two minute report now featured on the North Shore City website. The Mayor, Mr Williams told those present that North Shore ratepayers had felt the pain of improving the facility over the past ten years, but that in doing so they had future-proofed the city's waste water structure for the next fifty years. More information

North Shore features in honours list: North Shore City congratulates the five local recipients of The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2008. Mayor Andrew Williams says they have all contributed greatly to the community, and the awards are appropriate recognition for outstanding achievements in their field. This year’s local recipients are: businessman Peter Maire, who has been made a Distinguished Companion of the Order of Merit (D.C.N.Z.M.); journalist Warwick Roger is now an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (O.N.Z.M); lawyer Christopher Darlow is now a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (M.N.Z.M); Councillor Dianne Hale has been made a member of the Queen’s Service Order (Q.S.O); and Police officer Paula Enoka has received a Queen’s Service Medal (Q.S.M.). More information

Two places in by-election: As the result of the resignations of Peter Burn (on 30 April 2008) and Adrian Tyler (on 12 May 2008), two extraordinary vacancies exist in the office of an elected member of the Birkenhead-Northcote Community Board. Given the extraordinary vacancies have occurred more than 12 months before the next triennial general election (October 2010), the Local Electoral Act 2001 provides Council with no option but to fill the vacancies by conducting an election. A single election will be held, "polling day" being Thursday, 31 July 2008. More Information

Community Investment Plans: North Shore City has called for applications for its Community Investment Scheme which enables not-for-profit organisations to provide services and programmes that meet an identified community need. North Shore City Council has two funds currently available for application.

Strengthening Communities Fund - Applications are requested for the 2008/09 funding round from community organisations with a citywide focus, or for localised projects over $5,000. Not-for-profit groups can apply for services, programmes or projects that meet an identified need within the North Shore community.

Local Initiatives Fund – for the Albany, East Coast Bays, Glenfield, Takapuna, Devonport and Birkenhead/Northcote Community Boards. Each community board has a fund to support local activities and projects within their catchment area of up to $5,000. Applications are requested now for the 2008/09 funding round. More Information

Oral Submission to Commission: The Mayor of North Shore City has told the Royal Commission deciding Auckland's future governance that his council wants to be left alone, with no boundary changes and retention of its current structure of elected councillors and community boards. Mr Andrew Williams told Commissioners at public submissions that the Council does not want a Super City but an enhanced regional authority with greater powers. This would include one body to manage Auckland's transport and environment. Mr Williams said an enhanced regional authority should have 22 members with half appointed from councils and half elected at large under a ward system. The Mayor or Chair should be elected by that body and not by the population at large, thus avoiding presidential-style elections. More information

Council staff in PR Award: North Shore City Council communications staff have been named in an award for “inter agency communications”, along with representatives of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority and Transit NZ’s public relations firm. The achievement was announced at the Public Relations Institute of NZ 2008 Awards for work by the three organisations in the launch of the Northern Busway on the North Shore. The judges praised the campaign’s creativity and clarity. More information

What's On in North Shore City
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Matariki Programme launches on North Shore: The North Shore is participating in the annual Matariki Festival launched this week . The city was a centrepiece of the Matariki celebrations with the launch of the book Te Kahui o Matariki this week. The book presents images of artwork, photography and poetry and short writings on Matariki. The Matariki festival celebrates the Maori New Year and features a series of events and activities to showcase contemporary Maori culture. More information

Van hook-up for In2it: The In2it van will be cruising round the beaches and parks over the next school holidays rolling out portable skate ramps, music, giveaways and heaps of other activities. The council sponsored youth programme is also offering young people the chance to perform at a circus, and to come up with their own concepts for entertainment under the programme. More information

Writer’s Centre has public day next weekend: The Michael King Writers' Centre on Mt Victoria in Devonport will be open for members of the public to visit on Sunday 8 June, between 2 pm and 4 pm.
The Michael King Writers' Centre is the first full writers' facility and literary centre in New Zealand and was established in partnership with the North Shore City Council. The centre is located in the historic Signalman's House on Mt Victoria . A major renovation of the heritage house was completed last year. Facilities now include accommodation for two writers, an administration base and meeting rooms, and a separate working studio for the resident writer. (no link)

NZ Maori to meet Tonga for rugby tussle at North Harbour Stadium: New Zealand Maori make their IRB Pacific Nations Cup debut against Tonga at North Harbour Stadium next Saturday, June 7. The 2008 Tournament will be the first to feature the famous New Zealand Maori, who replace two-time champions the Junior All Blacks as New Zealand's representatives in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup. After the outstanding showing of the Tongan team at RWC 2007, and the strength of the soon to be selected NZ Maori, June 7 is shaping up to be a titanic battle between two teams that pride themselves on big hits, cultural flair and true passion for the jersey. Rugby fans can also ride selected buses and trains to North Harbour Stadium for free if they show their pre-purchased NZ Maori vs Tonga ticket. More information

Body Art Awards on soon:

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Your Neighbourhood

Browns Bay beachfront a beaut: Brilliant blue skies and perfect weather set the scene for a successful community event to launch the upgrade of Beach Front Lane, beside the beach at Browns Bay. Hundreds of people including many family groups turned out for the carnival-style launch, which was the culmination of nine months of work to make the area more people-friendly and inviting. Live music got the feet tapping, and the kids were kept happy by the antics of children’s entertainers StarFish, along with free face painting, rides and sausages. Mayor Andrew Williams cut the ribbon to formally launch the new-look beachfront. More Information

Plastic bags ousted from Council Libraries: North Shore Libraries are doing their bit for the environment by giving up plastic bags. The seven branches of North Shore Libraries are now introducing cotton bags which are sturdier than plastic and, although there is a $1.50 charge, the new bags can be re-used. East Coast Bays and Albany Village Libraries Manager Ann Hill says most of the libraries are using up the last of their plastic bag stock, and in the case of East Coast Bays Library the plastic bags have already gone. More Information

New Operator sought for Victoria theatre: The North Shore City Council will be re-opening the tender process for the operation of Devonport’s Victoria Theatre after negotiations with Lighthouse Cinema (Petone) Ltd, failed. Negotiations between North Shore City Council and Lighthouse Cinema ceased when Lighthouse Cinema pulled out citing the restrictions on the building due to its registration by the Historic Places Trust as a category one heritage building. North Shore City Community Liaison Manager Lisa Tocker said those involved are disappointed at the result of the negotiations.“ More Information

Wharf Agreement to be signed: The North Shore City Council has approved the signing of an agreement with the trustees of the Harbour Access Trust regarding the development of wharves on the Eastern Seaboard of North Shore City. Mayor Andrew Williams says the agreement takes the development of the proposed wharves at Takapuna Beach and/or Browns Bay one step further, putting wharves back where they existed 100 years ago. “It officially seals the relationship between the Harbour Access Trust and Council to enable the Trust to scope out the options and consult with the public on whether there would be support to proceed.” More information

Intercity Flight from North Shore Airfield: A new daily air service has been launched between North Shore Airfield and Whangarei. The Mayor, Mr Andrew Williams says it’s great news for the city. “It puts us on the map as an air travel destination and is a very innovative approach utilising a small rural airfield to the north of North Shore City". “The link with the Northern Busway provides travellers with a seamless connection to the North Shore and on to Auckland City. The service makes business and leisure travel to and from Northland so much easier and quicker.” He says. The service is being operated by Paihia-based Salt Air. There are three return flights daily between North Shore Airfield, Dairy Flat, and Whangarei and on Fridays the flights also go further north to Kerikeri. More information

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