Summer got off to a promising start, although late December and early January brought some cool, windy weather. That did not deter the usual crowds who came to the island for their holidays or to enjoy the island’s festivities, nor the corporate party-goers and overseas tourists who have been keeping local tour companies busy and happy.

The high numbers at Matiatia and the Downtown Ferry Terminal may have ruffled some feathers, but on the positive side, the renamed ‘Residents Lane’, only accessible to those carrying a monthly pass, 40-trip ticket or a resident’s ID card, has been working better for locals than it did last year. Thanks to Fullers for actively monitoring use of that lane and giving residents actual priority boarding where possible, and for the fantastic help that ferry staff have been giving to passengers getting their luggage on and off the boats – it’s been noticed and appreciated. However, commuters and residents travelling to Auckland are frustrated and upset about ferry delays or cancellations apparently caused by an increasing number of visiting cruise ships.

On the island, locals’ concerns about the new bus network continued into the New Year, as did the dispute about the new location of the taxi stand at Matiatia. The new arrangements are of course a trial and locals will have their opportunity to give feedback when the trial is completed in April this year. Meanwhile Save Kennedy Point (SKP) group members, already disappointed at losing their appeal for a rehearing in the Environment Court, are dismayed at the prospect of having to pay costs of more than $24K to Auckland Council.

Islanders and weekenders continue to fight the good fight for our environment and community. The best news this year so far is that local organisations Island Waste Collective and Clean Island have won the highly contested tender for Waiheke’s new $26 million waste contract, at last returning waste management on Waiheke to Waihekeans – congratulations and thanks to John Stansfield and his team for this major effort. They aim to increase waste diversion from landfill by at least 50% with a new approach to ‘resource recovery’. New Hope opportunity shop has also received funding to help them sell recovered resources back into the community .

A collaboration between island conservation groups and volunteers is aiming to eradicate stoats from the island. Native Bird Rescue has put out a call to help save our dwindling population of korora, and to help all our birdlife survive the  drought conditions of the past few weeks. And a new advocacy group, Protect our Gulf, is looking to submit to relevant authorities on environmentally hazardous projects.

The Beach Ambassadors project has been boosted this year with  Council funding, and an eco-conscious enterprise from the mainland, The Compost Co, is helping Waiheke’s restaurants to turn food waste into a valuable resource.

Council has also been working hard to minimise the impacts of tourism on our marine and Gulf environments, with regular bulletins to boaties and holiday-makers on being mindful of the waste loads that holidays add to the holiday destinations.

For our part, Project Forever Waiheke has been focussed on the MAD about Waiheke campaign, which has so far gathered together around 27 local environmental and community service group listings and, judging by the website statistics, gained a lot of interest from potential community helpers. With the addition of information on micro-volunteering for people with limited time, we can truly say there’s something everyone can do to make a difference to the island, its wildlife and people.