15 July 2023      phil.pennington@rnz.co.nz

New research shows how water with a lot of toxic nitrates in it is moving under and through South Auckland.

The levels detected in the new GNS study in groundwater and streams around Pukekohe and Bombay are as high as 19mg per litre, eight times the ‘national bottom line’ in rivers.

It also shows just how long nitrates hang around: Even if all polluting stopped tomorrow, they would not be gone from groundwater till as late as 2080.

Auckland Council intends to use the GNS study to help with long-term planning in Franklin, where housing and horticulture were in tense competition.

“Concentrations exceed the Maximum Acceptable Value for drinking water and the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 national bottom line for nitrate toxicity in rivers,” said the study, which councillors were briefed on this week.

Above the bottom line, algae and cyanobacteria growth can kill off freshwater fish and invertebrates.

“If nitrate loading stopped in 2024, improvement to below NBL (national bottom line) would only be seen by 2050 for Pukekohe and by 2080 for Bombay.”

The government agreed to exempt Pukekohe from the nitrogen toxicity targets when new water standards were introduced last year.

The high-nitrate water was not used for drinking, except maybe from a few private bores, but it was crucial for managing the environment to know more about it, and this new research was a big plus, council manager of natural environment strategy Dave Allen said.

“It certainly gives us a lot more understanding of the the age of groundwater … of the flow regimes and where some of the levels are high … and other areas where they’re low,” Allen said.

Levels tended to be higher upstream, and more diluted downstream.

“It will then give us a much greater understanding as to what mitigations we might need to consider in certain geographic areas, and what land use activities should be considered for some change,” he said.

Public health researcher Marnie Prickett, who is part of an environmentalists’ campaign for a stricter limit on nitrate of 1mg/litre, agreed they already knew levels were high – now this showed how the water moved.

“These are really, really big numbers,” Prickett said.

The study showed a lot of nitrates ending up in the Manukau Harbour.

“For many Aucklanders, perhaps the most distressing impact of this would be the harm to the health of Manukau Harbour.

“It also talks about the fact that it is partly coming from horticultural land … and the Auckland Council itself says that those horticultural systems are often over-fertilised.”

Horticulture NZ was approached for comment.

The study said: “Market gardening dominates the Pukekohe and Bombay basalts, which are subject to nitrate loss into groundwater… High nitrates from the springs dominate nitrate concentrations in receiving streams.”

The council was sending the study to mana whenua and growers, and Allen said it would help them discuss what to do together about it, including regulatory and non-regulatory responses to land use.

The area had competing demands and values, he said.

“We’re trying to, you know, look at how we can improve some of the environmental values here.

“The horticulturalists … have indicated that they have been reducing their fertiliser application over some decades.

“The question is, well, how do we track that, and how do we ensure that any changes that are proposed can actually be illustrated as having a positive bearing on the future state of nitrates within the groundwater resource of the Franklin area.”

They still needed other tools for that tracking, he said.

“We’re obviously very aware that the urban development into the South Auckland area will also have a bearing on some of the sort of outcomes for water.”

Prickett said there had been “very little pressure” on growers to reduce nitrogen loss “but it is absolutely possible”.

The national bottom line of 2.4mg/l was set in last year’s freshwater standards, alerting councils to not let the nitrate level in rivers rise above that.

Experts had said a Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DIN) level of 1 mg/l was the best way to protect rivers.

The Ministry for the Environment had said it was considering the possibility of a 1 mg/l bottom line in the next year.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/493742/high-levels-of-toxic-nitrates-in-water-moving-under-and-through-south-auckland-to-harbour-research-shows

The purchase of 7.6 hectares of land as part of a regeneration programme for Te Puhinui Stream has been welcomed by Manurewa Local Board chair Glenn Murphy.

Eke Panuku Development has bought the land, part of the Manukau Super Clinic site.

Murphy says the area is the only land along the stream path not publicly accessible, and it will become part of the Puhinui Stream corridor programme.

“This is a game­ changer, a chance to reinvest in what has become a largely urbanised catchment that flows into the Manukau,” he says.

“Eke Panuku has worked hard to guarantee restorative work as we clean up our streams, a priority for the board, mana whenua and the community.

Over time, the land will form part of a three-kilometre connection along the Puhinui from Botanic Gardens to Hayman Park in Manukau.

Manurewa-Papakura ward Councillor Daniel Newman says the move will be welcomed by Waiohua iwi as part of the environmental programme *Te Aka Raataa, itself part of Te Whakaoranga o te Puhinui, a wider plan.

“Te Aka Raataa will bring wetland development, with community feedback already informing design plans.”

Te Akitai Waiohua chair Karen Wilson says the deal is step towards what Te Waiohua has long envisaged, returning the land as a wetland and ngahere.

“It will help realise the intent of Te Whakaoranga, to return ora to the people and places of Te Puhinui.”

Eke Panuku priority location director Richard Davison says the deal will deliver more open space and a cycle and walking route to Manukau from the Gardens.

“And because this site is flood-prone, the focus will be on water-sensitive design to ensure it improves the health of the stream and supports residents during adverse weather.”

The Puhinui runs through the southern edge of the site, home to two areas of regenerating native bush planted by volunteers more than 10 years ago, which will be enhanced in the new park.

• Waiohua iwi gifted the Te Aka Raataa name to acknowledge the landscape and white raataa vines that grew around the site. The vision is for a new climate resilient park through naturalising the stream to create native habitat.

https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2023/07/land-purchase-welcomed

A citizens’ assembly tasked with deciding what should be Tamaki Makaurau’s next future water source has determined direct recycled water would be the best solution to meet the city’s water needs beyond 2040.
 
The assembly – a group of 37 Aucklanders representative of the people of the city – based on age, gender, ethnicity, education and home ownership – presented their recommendation to our senior leadership team and board chair Margaret Devlin at Auckland University on Saturday. This follows a series of workshops in which the group explored six different options, and the implications of each.
 
The group’s report of recommendations reads: “We recommend the implementation of direct recycled water as the next source of water for Auckland. Engaging the Auckland public in education on the safety and quality of the water is necessary to facilitate acceptance.”
 
The group reached the conclusion that this option was “cost effective in relation to other options, environmentally friendly because it assists with reducing wastewater” and it “provides another source of water to secure Auckland’s water supply”.
 
Direct recycled water – where wastewater is treated to drinking water quality – is already used for drinking purposes in Singapore. It is not yet used as a source of drinking water in New Zealand.
 
Chief customer officer Amanda Singleton says the group’s recommendations will now be reviewed and considered by our team, before a formal response is made.
 
“Right at the beginning of this process we made a commitment to our assembly members, that we would have to have a really good reason to not go ahead with their recommendations. We’ll take a bit of time now to digest all the recommendations before we formally respond to them.
 
“We know the group hasn’t reached their decisions lightly. A huge amount of time has been spent learning about the water and wastewater industry from independent experts in the field. 
 
Over a period of eight weeks they have been exploring all the potential options, and the pros and cons that come with each. They’ve talked to mana whenua to make sure the views of Maori are considered, and the principles of Te Mana o te Wai are understood.
 
“They’ve really put their hearts and souls into this process to make sure they found the best path forward for Auckland’s water future. I think for many assembly members it’s been a really rewarding experience that’s given them not just a new appreciation for the water that comes out of their taps, but also for the views and perspectives of their fellow Aucklanders.”
 
Other recommendations include:

• Watercare continues to investigate the feasibility of desalination
• Watercare provides education and resources to consumers in reducing water usage.

A minority report also recommends two or three people from the assembly sit on a Watercare steering committee focussed on future water sources.
 
It’s understood to be the first citizens’ assembly in New Zealand for public decision-making of this kind.
 
Singleton says, we opted for a citizens’ assembly to deliberate on Tamaki Makaurau’s next major water source as it’s a decision that will impact all Aucklanders far into the future.
 
“This will impact all of us, and our children and grandchildren for decades to come so we really wanted to know what future water sources sits most comfortably with our customers. For a decision like this, it was never going to be enough to send out a survey or encourage people to submit their views online. With a citizens’ assembly, participants have the time to delve deep into the topic, deliberate over the different solutions and then come to a consensus decision.”
 
The assembly is designed and held in collaboration with Koi Tu: The Centre for Informed Futures at the University of Auckland. The workshops were held at the university’s Fale Pasifika.
 
A core part of Koi Tu’s work is exploring how different forms of citizens’ engagement could work to support better policy conversations and evidence-informed debate in New Zealand.
 
Koi Tu deputy director Dr Anne Bardsley says processes based on deliberative methods, such as citizens’ assemblies, emphasise the importance of talking issues through with access to expertise and evidence. They are designed to sit alongside and compliment traditional structures and methods of consultation.
 
“It was not an easy journey but the fact that the assembly members reached a consensus on something that was initially very contentious shows how powerful a process like this can be.
We’ve learnt a lot about how citizens approach these complex issues when given time to ask questions, deliberate and work towards a consensus.”
 
Dr Bardsley says the citizens’ assembly is one of a range of new innovative approaches the team is exploring at Koi Tu, as they seek to engage citizens in the discussion about the complex issues facing Aotearoa New Zealand.
 
She says traditional consultation by submission does not reach the diversity that exists in Tamaki Makaurau or in Aotearoa.
 
“We know that many citizens do not participate in consultations because of structural inequalities, language or educational barriers, or mistrust in the ‘system’. Opening up democracy to different voices should lead to more balanced, inclusive and well-informed outcomes.
 
“These inclusive processes might help us to make better decisions on complex issues where we face numerous trade-offs and uncertainties, and where the decisions have long-term consequences on how our future might play out.”

Click here to read more about the final recommendations.

Click HERE to listen to the Broadcast

From Nine To Noon, 9:20 am on 3 May 2019

Conservationists and locals living near Manukau Harbour’s Port of Onehunga want a new independent entity, like the Hauraki Gulf coalition, set up to protect its failing health. New Zealand’s second largest port is an uninspiring, silt filled, polluted, wasteland. Despite years of disapointment and competing agendas Jim Jackson, the Chairman of the Manukau Harbour Restoration Society, is hoping that a success story in the US – could help spark a transformation. He joins Kathryn Ryan with Rich Batuik, who shares his 30 year experience of the US EPA Chesapeake Bay Program.

Auckland is a public transport mess. The very serious transport failures that are occurring daily in Auckland display the extreme difficulties and frustrations that travellers face: frequent breakdowns causing serious motorway delays, bus and rail services not coping or cancelled. The introduction of regional taxes, fuel surcharges, reduced speed limits in the CBD, stopping red light running and whatever other measures not yet even conceived are just ad hoc sticking plasters that are unlikely to make much impact on the short term problems.

There is a stunning silence on how long this situation may continue whilst planned upgrades to road and rail are being constructed, but it is certain that the distress the Auckland travelling public will have to endure is years of waiting and even when completed the planned upgrades are likely to be severely stretched due to population growth.

Auckland is a “water” city, a city that physically is extremely unsuited to land based transport systems, being long and skinny, but conversely has excellent access to harbours and waterways. Similar and much larger cities around the world such as New York, Hong Kong, Sydney and San Francisco amongst many other “water” cities all operate excellent ferry services that are growing, are constantly under review and are being extended by public demand. Ferries are not, and cannot be, the remedy for all transport problems but they certainly offer a considerable contribution to ease the glitches and frustrations of land based travel. When asked by the author, the Director of NY City Department of Transport Planning, Carl Weisbrod (now retired) said: “Ferry services are always an important and integral part of our public transport planning and services”.

Auckland Transport statistics regularly confirm that ferries have the highest reliability and punctuality rating of all public transport modes. In the environmentally conscious world of today and in the future the impact of water ferries is likely to be much less than that of road and rail transport systems.

In recent years since 2016, and as part of, the Auckland Transport Alignment Plan (ATAP) the potential for developing ferry services as a fundamental part of the Auckland public transport system has been badly neglected, to the point of being barely mentioned. Ferries were not even included in the ATAP terms of reference.

Compared to other “water” cities the deficiency of developing ferry services in Auckland is both a mystery and censure of the planning process: more importantly, the Recommended Strategic Approach document derived from the ATAP, in 48 detailed pages contains no reference whatsoever to ferry services, only investment in road and rail. The proposed upgrade expenditure of $28 billion is a massive investment; in the interim funding tranche of some $16.5 billion announced in June 2018, only $50 million was tagged for ferries, less than 1% of the total amount; at the same time some ferry essentials, such as funding for future terminal development, were specifically excluded.

The widespread failure of Auckland MPs, Auckland Councillors and Auckland local boards to question what has happened is an indictment in itself, and their apparent ready acceptance of the planning situation is likely to be to the detriment of those who elected them in good faith. In this criticism must be included Phil Goff as the Mayor of Auckland and Simon Bridges, Minister of Transport in the previous National government, who jointly signed off the original Auckland Transport Alignment Plan.

The most basic question remains, and must be: if so many similar other cities can successfully operate ferry services, why can this not be done in Auckland?  READ MORE: click to download PDF

 Download PDF

Help us stop NZTA and make them RETHINK the EAST WEST LINK. Have your say! Drop in sessions for FREE Assistance on making your submission will be held on the dates below
Thursday 9 March 6pm – 8pm at Onehunga Community Centre, Henderson Room, 83 Church Street, Onehunga, Auckland.

Saturday 11 March 1:30pm – 3:30pm at Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Tuesday 14 March 12pm – 2pm at Auckland Central Library, Te Marama Room, 44-46 Lorne Street, Auckland Central.

Wednesday 15 March 6pm – 8pm at Onehunga Community Centre, Henderson Room, 83 Church Street, Onehunga, Aucklan
Thx Onehunga Mainstreet Mangere East Community Centre, Onehunga Community News,Denise Lee, Friends of the Manukau Harbour, SAVE THE BASIN RESERVE,Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Boardkiekie, Auckland Future,

 — with Nogi Head.

SEAWEEK 2017 – GOODBYE GODWITS
Sunday 26 February 2017 from 11am to 2pm at Ambury Regional Park, south Auckland.

Bar-tailed Godwits are long haul champions with the longest known flight of any migratory bird traveling 11,000 km non-stop return from Alaska to New Zealand. Come and join us to wish these frequent flyers goodbye and good luck.

Event includes a walk and talk, suitable for all ages, and family activities.
Bring binoculars if you have them, suitable walking shoes, camera, water, sunblock and bring a friend!

Steam enthusiast’s heaven!

This unique event only comes around every 4 years, so bring the whole family and find something to fascinate all!

Experience the charm of earlier times, when the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, in conjunction with the Franklin Vintage Machinery Club, stage their Steam and Vintage Country Festival 2017 at Glenbrook.

See Clydesdale horses ploughing, ancient steam traction engines, vintage tractors and machinery in action, ride on a genuine steam train, view steam locomotives from around the country, sail on the lake in a classic steam boat, experience the silent power of steam cars, the fascinating sights and sounds of vintage engines operating, dance to Big Band music, watch rare vintage aircraft perform overhead, cuddle farm animals, enjoy a range of refreshments and children’s activities, and much, much more!
A truly informative and fun event for the whole family, not to be missed!

Entry $10 for adults, with all accompanied children under 14yrs FREE. Parking is also FREE.
Steam train and other rides are optional and are not included in the entry fee.
Further details at www.gvr.co.nz

We are launching a community connections plan. The Community Plan is an alternative East West Link designed to the current NZTA preferred plan. Maunkau Harbour Restoration Society, Aotea Scouts, OBA,TOES and many others support the community plan and we are seeking the support and input from local businesses and residents to stop the Aotea Scouts, Onehunga Port, Manukau Harbor and Onehunga Foreshore from being cut off from future use and development.
NZTA may not think the highly efficient community plan is worthy of further consideration but the question is do you agree? Community groups and many others have drafted their own Option X style Community Plan and are holding a community meeting to launch the plan, get local feedback and gather support from you.
The event is on 14th of November at Onehunga RSA. If you don’t come to the event we can all sleep walk into another NZTA design disaster.
For further information see www.toes.org.nz and www.savethebasin.org.nz

To view the Video click HERE

 Download PDF

Bernard Orsman – NZ Herald

A new city blueprint allowing for apartment living could be delayed after a late flurry of appeals in the lead up to a 5pm deadline on Friday.

More than 100 appeals were lodged in the Environment and High Courts against different parts of the Unitary Plan, which was passed by Auckland Council on August 15 and due to come into effect by September 29.

The plan takes Auckland into a new era of intensification on a scale never seen before. It turns towns like Kumeu and Pukekohe into small satellite cities and allows for 422,000 new houses to accommodate another one million residents by 2041.

Last night, Housing Minister Nick Smith said the large number of appeals was going to make implementation of the Unitary Plan quite complicated.

He said his officials would be working with Auckland Council this week to get an understanding of the significance of the appeals. Some would be site specific and have little impact.

…….. Full article and video HERE