HOT TOPIC
at the Māpua & Districts Community Association’s September meeting, was a presentation from Skye Davies assisted by Sandra Bishop on the Tasman Environmental Trust .(TET) This was established in 2000 and has an office in Richmond. It’s main mission is “connecting people to nature conservation in their environment”. Skye used the Tree image showing how TET was the trunk “connecting bureaucracy (funders & political systems) to the [grass roots] people doing stuff on the ground”. She noted that TET has 3 key themes
- Knowing our treasures – what is especially precious; what is under threat in our area. The Waimea Inlet was noted as a high priority system both nationally and also as part of the regional strategy for Te Tau Ihu o te Waka a Maui – Top of the South . The importance of telling stories to raise awareness about these is important
- Taking Action- thousands of volunteers have planted 35,000 native plants ;1.000 traps have been set around the Waimea Inlet for predator control . Skye noted here how much people enjoy these activities for the value of the result and also for the connections with other like-minded conservationist
- Connecting for greater impact –“ how to all pull in the same direction” ; aligning priorities and pooling resources . Taking the Waimea Inlet as an example she noted the involvement of Mana Whenua & Kotahitanga mo te Taeo; Moturoa Trainee Project; Battle for the Banded Rail; Forest & Bird; TDC & NCC; MDCA Currently TET is focusing on strategies for using the $1million granted from the Plant One Billion Trees Project
Those at the meeting were interested in how to make contact with TET and keep informed of its activities – Skye noted the Website and Facebook as ways to do this and also encouraged subscribing to the monthly Tasman/Nelson Conservation Volunteers’ Newsletter.
LOCAL MEET THE CANDIDATES MEETING – Māpua & Tasman Districts
At the meeting on 26 August, all 4 Mayoral candidates plus the 10 Ward Councillor candidates plus two Hospital Board candidates fronted up to a meeting of over 100 interested residents in the Mapua Hall. The evening’s proceedings were also live-streamed on MDCA Facebook’s site which was accessed by 873 viewers . It was encouraging to see the numbers of both women and younger candidates – the need for gender & age diversity being stressed by several of them. Each candidate had the same time slot to present their rationale for seeking election and respond to 7 pre-submitted questions. Processes relating to the contract and managements for the controversial Waimea Dam as well as ways of managing and contributing to effective councillor/staff relationships & communication systems were both high on the topics of interest.
Penny Griffith preceded these presentations with a short explanation of the STV (single transferrable vote) system for voting which will be voted on as a referendum at the coming elections. She urged voters to adopt this system.
Marion Satherley (MDCA Chairperson) thanked all the candidates for their contribution and staying power throughout a long intensive evening and we were all urged to “ vote in this region we love”
WHAT’S IN A NAME – MĀPUA ?
Many of us will have seen the information relating to the correct spelling ( and pronunciation ) of our district’s name – Māpua. MDCA thanked David Mitchell and Naomi Apōro for their time & work with the NZ Geographical Society to establish the correct format for this and a number of other names in the region . It was seen as especially fitting that this had been publicized and celebrated in Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) .There was discussion on acknowledging ( and using) the dual names for local regions such as Moturōa ( Rabbit Island) Motuiti ( Rough Island) Mamakū ( Ruby Bay)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Bruno noted the success of, and appreciative response to,the “Facebook Live” video casts of presentations such as the Candidates’ meeting – allowing many who cannot attend evening meetings to be informed and become involved . Another top posting this past month( 209 views) was on the issue of the school students needing to walk through a flooded underpass to and from the school bus stop on Mamakū Drive
For the first (and hopefully last!) time since being established, the site was hacked and used to spread spam around the world. Our Internet provider closed the site down so no one (not even our techie) could access it. It took a week of to-ing and fro-ing between the provider, techie & MDCA before the site was active again. We are putting things in place so this doesn’t happen again!!
MAPUA WATERFRONT & WHARF
Marion Satherley (MDCA rep on the Mapua Waterfront Working Group- MMWG) reported that there was much discussion between the member groups on the option of sharing costs to assist in the completion of the Ngaio Tree Reserve development. The Ngaio Tree sub-committee will work on possible ways forward and these will be reported on at the October MDCA meeting
DOMINION FLATS ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT
Helen Bibby reported on the possible plan to build a boardwalk through the underpass as a solution to school students getting wet when it is flooded .
COMMUNITY WELLBEING/TRANSPORTATION
The Reports of the Community Wellbeing Survey for Mapua/Ruby Bay & Districts and Tasman District have been widely distributed on line and paper copies also made available ( Mapua Community Hall & Library)
A Community Forum to follow up the 300+ suggestions prioritizing and time-framing them into action plans was held on September 19th. See elsewhere in this issue for details of that meeting
Elena Meredith stressed the importance of MDCA listening and responding to the community’s priorities
WATER /ENVIRONMENT
Bruno Lemke reported from the Ruby Bay Coastal Homeowners’ Group – noting that members had :
- met with Rob OI’ Grady ( TDC Engineering Project Manager) on a two hour “walkabout” around Ruby Bay viewing and discussing the seawall, coastal erosion and other drainage issues. The group members were impressed with his interaction with them as well as the detailed notes and many photos he took, He has undertaken to report back
- spent time with a TV1 filming crew looking at & discussing historical and current coastal issues. This footage was shown as a TV1 News Item Tuesday 14 September
AN AED IN RUBY BAY ?
Wayne Chisnall is working through the requirements to set up a “Give a little “ Page to be posted onto Facebook enabling Ruby Bay residents to support and help in the $2,800-$3,000 fundraising required to purchase and install an AED in the local area.
Future Hot Topics:
14 October – Project Janszoon
Mapua Dawn Chorus
Predator Control
11 November – Mapua Community Care Project ( see below)
Māpua Community Care Project (MCCP)
All members of the community were invited to attend both a community consultation meeting at Māpua Hall October 23 at 7.30 pm and their preceding AGM at 7pm
Te Tau Ihu International Generational Strategy Hui
Cr Anne Turley noted that these Hui are being held around the region – contact Naomi Aporo for more details
Be sure to attend our next monthly meeting: Monday, 14 October at 7 PM, Bill Marris Room, Mapua Hall.
MDCA works closely with TDC to ensure our community functions in a way that suits the majority of our residents. To have a vote that counts, become a financial member of MDCA by simply paying a $10 membership fee.
Submitted by: Elena Meredith