Category: Waitakere Ranges
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Why the Unitary Plan threatens the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area and what can be done
I blogged this week some initial thoughts on the Unitary Plan and its effect on the Waitakere Ranges. The first thing that I noticed was the change to the Rural Urban Boundary. Because of the proximity of the land in question to rail stations, particularly in the case of the CDL land in Swanson, I found…
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The Unitary Plan and the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act
The Independent Hearings Panel has released the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan. How Council handles it from here will be interesting. The plan provides for levels of intensification well above those levels which caused near riots in the leafy suburbs recently. The removal of the pre 1944 overlay and the removal of a list of sites…
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Auckland’s ethnic diversity
One of the more pleasurable jobs I have as a Local Board member is to attend citizenship ceremonies. The Waitakere ceremonies are very well put together. They are held in the old Waitakere City Council chamber. Candidates and their families are invited to attend. The ceremony starts off with a traditional Karakia and Waiata. Kaumatua…
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An interview with Bob Harvey about eco city
Photo (c) Fairfax NZ Bob Harvey has concievably had a greater effect on West Auckland politics than any other politician ever. He started his working career as an advertising guru back in the 1960s and was the brains behind Labour’s 1972 “Its time for a change” campaign. This was radical for its time and propelled…
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Oil drilling in Maui’s Dolphin’s habitat
Recent events have shown an unfortunate variation in the way that the Government handles issues concerning wildlife. During this month it has expressed willingness to house a couple of pandas at great cost while at the same time it has shown disregard for the future of Maui’s Dolphin by again offering Auckland’s west coast up…