PFW Spring news roundup

Spring has sprung, and already the island is getting busy, with noticeably heavier traffic on the roads and already large numbers of visitors on the ferries. Fullers has continued to “navigate choppy waters” with delays in the rollout of their two new vessels, while Chris Darby’s petition to bring their ferry services back under the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM) gathered nearly 6000 signatures.

 Fullers introduced their summer timetable on 14 October, at the same time renaming the locals’ lane a ‘residents’ lane’, which they say will be policed more stringently this summer. A week later they announced a hike in ferry prices of two percent for commuters and five percent for visitors, resulting in a storm of protest from users and local politicians.

Meanwhile, island residents, weekenders and volunteers continue their great work in conservation, environmental awareness and community engagement. At the end of August the island welcomed Natasha Beletzky to the role of  park ranger at Whakanewha, and the Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrated their refurbished fire station . Vector announced the installation of 80 EV smart chargers  in homes across the island, furthering Waiheke’s goal of becoming the world’s first fully electric island. To that end, Electric Island Waiheke is running EV trials with Waiheke families, businesses and individuals throughout November.

Te Korowai o Waiheke continues its battle  against pests and predators that threaten native flora and fauna. Members of Extinction Rebellion Waiheke planted 21 pohutukawa at Owhanake and on Tui Road . A team of Waiheke High students formed a wildlife protection programme (‘Join the Dots’) to protect endangered dotterels nesting on the school field.

Some longtime Waiheke conservation heroes were celebrated in the Gulf News for their tireless efforts in eradicating predators, planting, clearing and weeding . And a group of Waiheke Resources Trust interns launched a new waterway monitoring project at Onetangi, Palm Beach and Oneroa.

In early September Auckland Transport presented a new plan to reduce congestion at Matiatia to the Local Board, which was later rejected by concerned locals on the grounds that it was too disruptive to current transport patterns and operators, and was also perceived to favour tourists over commuters and local residents. The Board instead endorsed an amended plan that aims to deliver a safer environment for residents and visitors alike, and an improved bus interchange. AT was also in the hot seat over Waiheke’s new bus network, which many islanders are very unhappy about

In late September, Save Kennedy Point Inc was back in the Environment Court carrying on its fight against the proposed marina at Kennedy Point. And a large group of Waiheke students, teachers, supporters and caregivers marched down Ocean View Road on the 27th, joining 170,000 other New Zealanders striking for climate action.

Finally, congratulations to returning Local Board members Cath Handley (voted Chair again at the Board’s inaugural meeting), Paul Walden and  Bob Upchurch (Deputy Chair), and newly elected members Robyn Tucker and Kylee Matthews. It is great to see the “tried and trusted” stalwarts of the Local Board joined by some fresh new faces (including newly elected councillor for the Waitemata and Gulf Islands ward Pippa Coom).  We look forward to a continuation of the Board’s good work, and some timely new initiatives in the coming year.

Read More

PFW Spring News

Welcome to Waiheke spring – freesias and jasmine on the roadsides, the busyness of birds courting and nesting, kids burrowing into end-of-year exams, and splendid long evenings.

As island residents and tourism providers alike gear up for Labour Weekend, summer visitors and the annual pre-Christmas party-goers, we’ve been delighted to see that Fullers has been giving priority queuing to locals wherever possible, and putting on extra boats to ensure that we all get to work and home again where it’s evident from the queues that not everyone was going to get onto the waiting ferry. Thank you Mike Horne and your staff.

On the tourism front, several Waiheke businesses have recently won awards for their unique products. Travel+Leisure magazine has announced Waiheke as the 5th-best island in the world to visit, and we will have another Headlands on the island in February. These all herald great news for Waiheke businesses, but a mixed blessing as visitors cram the ferries and beaches. Elsewhere in the world, high-volume tourist destinations are adopting a range of strategies for communities to cope with what is now termed “over-tourism”.

One major issue for Waihekeans is the struggle it becomes for some islanders to find a place to live over the summer and beyond, as so much of Waiheke’s rental housing stock is converted to Airbnb rental. Another bouquet to Bayley’s proprietor and long-time Waiheke resident Mary Curnow for becoming principal sponsor of the Waiheke Community Housing Trust, supporting less affluent locals to live in stable accommodation.

On that topic, Project Forever Waiheke is pleased to announce an event that will be of interest to locals. On 24 October, Professor Robin Kearns (an occasional local) and a group of his graduate students will be giving a presentation on Life When Renting on Waiheke – everyone is welcome (St John’s Hall, 5.30-7.30).

Project Forever Waiheke is working currently to support a range of monitoring and research projects on tourism impacts on Waiheke. If you are interested in taking part in these, please email Convenor Pam Oliver pam.oliver.waiheke@gmail.com to find out more.

Read More