Latest news with #Kumeū
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Kumeū rugby field destroyed by burn-outs
The damage caused to the rugby field at Kumeū. Photo: Supplied A 19-year-old man has been arrested after burn-outs destroyed a rugby field in Kumeū. The Kumeū Rugby Club fields were found torn up on Saturday morning, covered in tyre marks. Police later identified a vehicle of interest after help from the public and arrested the car's owner. The Hobsonville teen has had his car impounded and been charged with intentional damage and other driving offences. He will appear in the Waitakere District Court at an unconfirmed date. Sergeant Graham Bennett said locals found the damage on Sunday morning. "A furore ensued on the community grapevines given a prized community asset had been damaged. "Information was quickly passed onto police which was followed up and a vehicle of interest was identified. Bennett thanked the members of the public who supplied the information. "It's a reminder about consequences, and we will not tolerate this behaviour in the community given the risks posed and damage created." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
16-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Demand increasing for land unaffected by Auckland's water infrastructure constraints
Dave Barr outside a retirement village development in Kumeū completed before Watercare constraints. Photo: RNZ / Luka Forman Demand is increasing for land unaffected by Auckland's water infrastructure constraints, which an economist says could push up prices in the city's central suburbs. Last year, Watercare [ released a map] revealing many areas of Auckland with water or wastewater restrictions which meant new builds in those areas might not be able to connect to the water network until necessary upgrades were complete. It meant some property developers were avoiding large chunks of Auckland affected by the constraints, putting more pressure on the property market in the city's central suburbs. Hopper Development had three projects in the Hibiscus Coast which were all affected by Watercare's constraints. The future of two of them was now uncertain, and one - a care home for the elderly, was scrapped completely because of the restrictions. Development manager Dave Barr said they would now pay a premium for any new properties which they were confident would have the necessary infrastructure. "Our business is changing, we're actively seeking properties with good infrastructure connectivity, because it means less risk for us, we can control outcomes better." That meant they would not be starting any projects in the Hibiscus Coast, Warkworth, North Shore, Beach Haven and Birkdale, Waitakere, Ōtara-Papatoetoe, East Auckland, and Beachlands-Maraetai. All of those areas had some kind of water or wastewater constraint according Watercare's map. "It knocks out a bunch for us and other developers, effectively deeming them no-go zones for developers." Watercare's map outlining capacity issues in wastewater network. Photo: Supplied / Watercare Rasvinder Singh, director of property development company Reliance Homes, recently bought a property at auction in Mt Roskill without Watercare restrictions, beating 12 other bidders. Knowing the property had no potential issues with water infrastructure made it more appealing, he said. "We did browse more of the properties over Auckland. We did shortlist. A lot of areas might be promising on paper, but if there's limited wastewater capacity you are stuck. Even if zoning allows development." Property economist at Cotality, Kelvin Davidson said this change in the areas developers bought in would likely push up property prices in areas that could connect to the wastewater network. "If you see increased demand for the same amount of land, you're probably going to see some increase in value. So I think that's a fairly standard expectation." Dave Barr from Hopper Development said the restrictions would have huge knock-on effects for the region. "It's the trades, it's the other service providers like Chorus... it's home affordability for young families, that whole pipeline stops effectively." Property consultant and ex Auckland councillor Michael Goudie represented a group of industry professionals called Housing Without Hurdles. He has been advocating to Watercare on behalf of some the affected developers, but said progress was slow. "We have put our case forward. We've had a face-to-face meeting, a couple of letters have been exchanged but that's sort of where it's fallen short. We find it incredibly frustrating just trying to get timely responses." With these constraints, and other council compliance costs, some developers were giving up on the industry - which Goudie said would tank housing supply in the long run. "It gets to a point where it's not about extra costs on each one of those lots. It's actually just about developers packing up their toys and leaving." In a statement, a Watercare spokesperson said it was working hard to navigate several complex challenges and was focused on the health of the environment and current and future communities. They said Watercare was focused on supporting growth in line with Auckland council's vision. Watercare would continue to engage with developers all over the city, answer questions as they came up, and support them through their developments, the spokesperson said. There were numeous examples where developments were moving forward, they said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
06-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Moving towns: 4 stories of communities facing relocation show the complex realities of managed retreat
By Stacy Vallis, Andrew Burgess, Ann Morrison, Imelda Piri and Priscila Bean* of The Ōpāwaho Heathcote River burst its banks during heavy rainfall last week. Natural hazards have long shaped our cities, the authors say. Photo: RNZ/Marika Hill Analysis : With large parts of New Zealand having recently been pummelled by ex-tropical Cyclone Tam and ongoing bouts of heavy rain, it is important to remember that natural hazards have long shaped our cities. Two townships in particular - Westport and Kumeū - have featured in national stories about floods since the 19th century. They are now among a growing number of places where flooding infrastructure is losing effectiveness and drastic actions have to be considered, including managed retreat. This raises understandable concerns about anticipated drops in land value and loss of social connection to a place. But managed or planned retreat is not a new concept nationally or globally. International examples can serve as useful references. These stories from four communities in three countries show how connection to culture and place can be either challenged or sustained when relocation becomes necessary. Back in 1956, the Australian township of Tallangatta in north-eastern Victoria was forced to move eight kilometres west because of the expansion of the Hume Weir. Originally, "old" Tallangatta was located at the meeting point of the Mitta Mitta River and the Tallangatta Creek. But this was subsumed by a significant water-storage facility, the Hume Dam (Lake Hume). During periods of low water levels, it is still possible to view the remains of the old town from a lookout. About a hundred houses and a few shops were relocated, including some Victorian buildings. Residents said there was no cost to the relocation, with relocated houses repainted and given modern plumbing facilities that did not previously exist. New public and commercial buildings were designed in the modernist architectural style of the era, and in 2016 Tallangatta was acknowledged as a "notable town" by the National Trust of Victoria. The blend of Victorian and mid-century modernist buildings characterises the new township and represents different eras in its history, including the physical and social upheaval of relocation. But while it can be possible to physically move timber buildings to a new site, characteristics such as original township layout and social connection to the surrounding landscape can be lost. Sweden's northernmost town of Kiruna faces a similar situation due to land subsidence caused by a huge iron ore mine. Its 18,000 inhabitants now have to move about three kilometres east. The town's rich cultural heritage includes a long Indigenous Sami history and a long period of industrial growth driven by the mine which saw it given national heritage recognition in the 1980s. The relocation process has not been without its challenges. One big question was how many historic buildings to move to help retain authentic connections to place. It was proposed that new building design would use the aesthetic qualities of the historic buildings. And there was discussion about either creating an "old town" within the site, or dispersing relocated buildings around the town. Eventually, local representatives and the mining company (which funded the relocation) decided about 50 of the oldest buildings would be relocated while the remainder would be demolished. Demolition has now taken place, along with construction of a new town hall to replace its predecessor, a heritage-listed building dating to 1964. Such decisions call for careful balancing of the impacts on local Indigenous cultural heritage, the economic role the mine has played in the town's expansion, and its contribution to iron production in Europe in general. A view of Kumeū from a helicopter during 2021 floods. Photo: Supplied / Christaan Head Climate change is making floods more intense and frequent. New Zealand's South Island town of Westport is a 19th-century coal mining and trading settlement that experienced severe flooding in July 2021 and again in February 2022. Although these floods were no larger than ones recorded in the past, their impact on homes and infrastructure was significantly greater due to Westport's expansion over the years. The July 2021 flood damaged more than 500 houses, resulting in a NZ$54 million flood protection plan. In 2023, the Buller District Council initiated a master plan to guide Westport's future growth and development. It focuses on the controlled expansion of the township to higher ground on government-owned Pāmu farmland one kilometre southwest of Westport. Flooding in Westport in July, 2021. Photo: Supplied/NZ Defence Force The council endorsed Westport's master plan in March this year, but some residents are still apprehensive about the changes . In the North Island, the township of Kumeū is close to Auckland, the country's biggest city, but still reflects its farming history. Following recent floods, as well as several major floods since 1926, Auckland Council and local leaders joined forces to devise a plan to improve the town's resilience. While the prospect of managed retreat has been raised, proactive river maintenance seems the preferred option, including regular debris clearance by local contractors to optimise storm water drainage. Managed retreat presents opportunities for improvement to Kumeū's infrastructure. But the long-established cultural relationships between people and landscapes in Aotearoa New Zealand also need to inform inclusive decisions about major relocations. Connection to heritage rests on relationships with place and setting. These can include buildings, landscapes and views, as well as the historical and cultural values associated with a given site. * Stacy Vallis is a Lecturer in Architecture and Emerging Technologies, Auckland University of Technology; Andrew Burgess is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology; Ann Morrison is an Associate Professor in Interactive Design, Auckland University of Technology; Imelda Piri is a Lecturer in Built Environments Engineering, Auckland University of Technology; Priscila Besen is a Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, Auckland University of Technology. This article was first published by The Conversation .
