Waiheke Local Board and De-Amalgamation Timeline
The Local Government Commission formally accepts Our Waiheke’s application to de-amalgamate from Auckland Council and form a Waiheke Unitary Council.
Our Waiheke formally lodge an application for Waiheke to de-amalgamate from Auckland Council
Visit to LGC by John and Carolyn, drafting and finalising application to LGC
Hawkes Bay rejects amalgamation proposal
Waiheke Hikoi to Piritahi Marae, speakers, celebration and hangi attracts approximately 200 people in support of Waiheke getting it’s own Council.
LGC decides not to proceed with amalgamations in Wellington and Northland, issues a proposal for Hawkes Bay
Volunteers and team distributing to and collecting signatures from households, on ferries and in public places. Online poll for Aucklanders.
Our Waiheke public meetings with Waiheke community and interest groups. Media releases, interviews, fundraising. Facebook page active. Online survey of Waihekeans shows major support.
Auckland Council cuts 1.4 million dollars from the Waiheke Local Board budget. Of these funds, $1 million were earmarked for a community pool.
Read newspaper article about local boards’ being ignored and enduring funding cuts
Auckland Transport ignores Waiheke Local Board’s request to alter road resealing to preserve a site of ecological significance, refuses the Board’s request for allocation of two Matiatia car parks to an e-bike company for its bike hire, repaves footpaths that don’t need repaving, but refuses to make a footpath for school children to get to school safely.
This might not sound like much but 5.6% compounded equals 70% increase plus the added capital gains. This has the potential to force low income earners to have to sell their property with the elderly being the most vulnerable in this situation.
Councils 10 year plan stating that they want to increase rates by 5.6% every year for 10 years.
Mike Lee is re-elected to the Auckland Council. Paul Walden re-elected to the Local Board, becoming chair, joined by Becs Ballard, Shirin Brown John Meeuwsen and Beatle Treadwell,
Amendments to local government legislation in 2012 now allow communities with fewer than 10,000 residents to propose ‘re-organisation’, which means Waiheke no longer has to join up with another council to de-amalgamate.
Waiheke resident Mike Lee is elected councillor for the Waitemata and Gulf Ward. Denise Roche, Faye Storer (chair), Jo Holmes, Don McKenzie and Jim Hannan elected to the Local Board. After Roche’s resignation on becoming a member of parliament for the Green Party of New Zealand in 2011, Paul Walden is elected in a by-election.
This decision was made in the face of much protest from Waiheke residents and loss of local jobs.
Waiheke Community Board member Nobilangelo Ceramalus campaigns unsuccessfully for Waiheke to secede from Auckland City. He proposes combining with Thames Coromandel District Council in order to reach the minimum of 10,000 residents needed for de-amalgamation.
A public meeting of 150 residents on 29 March 2008 shows strong support for breaking away from Auckland City. Islanders are asked to submit their views by 22nd April.
The Essentially Waiheke document is created in close consultation with Waiheke residents.
Auckland city residents vote in a democratic referendum against Waiheke breaking away.
Waiheke Community Board formally requested the right to de-amalgamate from the City.
The amended Local Government Amendment Act (1989) forces amalgamation. No referendum held or petition from Waiheke residents.
Part 9: Setting Community Boards in Context
Page 443
Waiheke and Great Barrier Islands differ very significantly. The nature of local government services is different, and yet from the viewpoint of preferred governance arrangements, their community board chairs reach similar conclusions. In the case of the Waiheke Community Board, the chair emphasised the following headline points:
From the submissions I have considered and discussion with the board chair, the most appropriate way forward for Waiheke seems similar to that for Great Barrier Island: namely, a community board or similar arrangement to achieve the following general framework: