Auckland Central, Auckland

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Read posts from interesting Kiwis on our Know Thy Neighbour page.

1272 days ago

Help Us Save Queen street from a return to Last Century

CCRG from Auckland City Centre Residents' Group - CCRG

Residents - quick only 20 hours left to do the survey! (they only gave us 48 hours...)Things have regressed quickly re Queen street, the agreed plan we thought we all had, well there's a new push by one loud litigious stakeholder to undermine and derail all the hard work that had produced a … View moreResidents - quick only 20 hours left to do the survey! (they only gave us 48 hours...)Things have regressed quickly re Queen street, the agreed plan we thought we all had, well there's a new push by one loud litigious stakeholder to undermine and derail all the hard work that had produced a pilot scheme for part of the street, that so many of us all (including residents who live here) could get behind.

Please have your say on latest 'Alternative' plans for Lower Queen st and the Fort Street Parklet.
The new alternative proposal is labelled an 'alternative' 'iteration' - in reality its a big backward step away from the previous agreed Original plan - caving in to one stakeholder group that got special treatment to present their own plans to prioritise traffic/cars, and de-prioritise Public Transport & walking and spaces that all people including residents would enjoy to spend time in, and live near by.

The Original plan was the agreed co-design process that met some good CCMP outcomes. And prioritised people, PT and deprioritised unnecessary vehicle and private vehicle movements, but still ensuring essential un/loading that we all need too - there's not just businesses in the city centre.

One stakeholder group got special treatment to present their own plans to prioritise traffic/cars, de-prioritise PT& walking. This is a thinly disguised aim for more vehicle parking/circulating & making it easier to drive and park on Queen Street, at people's expense.

The new Alternative Plans for the little Fort St parklet are a degrading of the fine original community pocket park space plans, all to enable commercialisation of precious and rare public space in the area by businesses, and should be rejected out of hand and kept as public space.

That this ' process' actually occurred and with a 48 hour window to take the survey, is pretty shameful and upsetting, there's no doubt about it.

So, Please take the survey and support the retention of the original plans and lets see off this utter undermining of the integrity of this co-design process. And the ongoing de-prioritisation of residents in the city centre.

here are the original and new alternative plans side by side for comparison: bit.ly...

Click below for the survey and if you agree with our voice:

Select STRONGLY AGREE on the Original Plans

Select STRONGLY DISAGREE on the Alternative Plans

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1273 days ago

recycling seed pots

Joel from Grey Lynn

Hi! I have a bunch of tiny plastic seedling pots, free to a good home, or if someone knows a place that wants/needs them, please let me know!
I have gotten many responses about King's Plant Barn...they have now been dropped into the collection bin. Thanks everyone!

Free

1273 days ago

Guide for Carers

Office for Seniors

The Ministry of Social Development has recently updated the Guide for Carers, a valuable resource for those who care for family, whānau, āiga or friends with a health condition, a disability, an injury, or a physical or mental illness.

It covers a range of topics such as financial help, … View more
The Ministry of Social Development has recently updated the Guide for Carers, a valuable resource for those who care for family, whānau, āiga or friends with a health condition, a disability, an injury, or a physical or mental illness.

It covers a range of topics such as financial help, assessing needs, getting help at home and being able to take a break from caring.

The Guide for Carers is available online now: bit.ly...

For more information about resources like this and other advice, read our SuperSeniors newsletter: bit.ly...

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1273 days ago

Open Day at NZ Opera

Ali Davies from New Zealand Opera

Our Open Day is on again! Join us at our Parnell headquarters and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the creation of our brand new production of The Marriage of Figaro. Hear the genius of Mozart's score brought to life by our talented performers on the rehearsal room floor. Marvel at the … View moreOur Open Day is on again! Join us at our Parnell headquarters and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the creation of our brand new production of The Marriage of Figaro. Hear the genius of Mozart's score brought to life by our talented performers on the rehearsal room floor. Marvel at the wardrobe, wigs and makeup teams in action. Entry is free, so bring the whole family.

Saturday 22 May, from 12:30 to 2:30pm

New Zealand Opera, 5/69 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell

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1275 days ago

Covid-19: Auckland city Sky Bus patronage down 80pc post-pandemic

Caroline Williams Reporter from Central Leader

Passenger numbers on a bus between Auckland city and the airport are still down 80 per cent compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sky Bus was forced to suspend its Auckland City Express and North Harbour Express services in March 2020 following the Government-imposed border restrictions and … View more
Passenger numbers on a bus between Auckland city and the airport are still down 80 per cent compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sky Bus was forced to suspend its Auckland City Express and North Harbour Express services in March 2020 following the Government-imposed border restrictions and first Covid-19 lockdown.

The Sky Bus Auckland City Express, which departs downtown Auckland and travels to the airport via the northwestern motorway, resumed in July with a limited timetable.

However, current patronage for the 40-minute service is down 80 per cent compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic, Kinetic head of New Zealand operations Calum Haslop, who manages Sky Bus, said.

Meanwhile, the Sky Bus North Harbour Express service, which was north Aucklanders’ only direct link to the airport, is yet to resume.

Click 'read more' for our full story.

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1274 days ago

A new way to live

It’s a time for fine-tuning your skills and pushing the boundaries, catching up with your mates and heading off on new adventures at the drop of a hat! No, we’re not talking about your 20s, we’re talking about your retirement.

Ross’ retirement saw the beginning of his musical journey … View more
It’s a time for fine-tuning your skills and pushing the boundaries, catching up with your mates and heading off on new adventures at the drop of a hat! No, we’re not talking about your 20s, we’re talking about your retirement.

Ross’ retirement saw the beginning of his musical journey where his passion quickly evolved from making music, to crafting guitars. It all started when Ross and some mates joined a music group where the camaraderie and togetherness were just as important as the music.

Living in a Ryman village, Ross can continue living life to the full in his retirement because they are places where you don’t retire from life, you find a new way to live .
Learn more

1275 days ago

International Cultures

Jeanny Zamora from Red Cross Shop Karangahape Road

Whether it’s a sari, dirndl or piupiu, we celebrate international dress and cultures. We also have a wide range of everyday clothing in store for you to select from.

Come and visit us at 191 karangahape Road to have look 😃

See you all 😄

1275 days ago

Does your partner work at the border or in an MIQ facility?

Caroline Williams Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi neighbours, Are you the partner of a border or MIQ worker but don't live with them? If so, have you been offered the Covid-19 vaccine? If you haven't, does this cause you concern? If this sounds like you, please email me at caroline.williams@stuff.co.nz

1275 days ago

Electrical cable falls on motorway, diversions in place

Neighbourly.co.nz

UPDATE
May 12
3.15pm

Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has reported that all lanes on the Upper Harbour highway are open. Expect delays as traffic eases.
_________________________________________________________________

Auckland motorists are told to expect delays to their afternoon commute after … View more
UPDATE
May 12
3.15pm

Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has reported that all lanes on the Upper Harbour highway are open. Expect delays as traffic eases.
_________________________________________________________________

Auckland motorists are told to expect delays to their afternoon commute after electrical cabling fell on the motorway.

The southbound Upper Harbour highway off-ramp is currently closed as contractors work to clear the blockage. Police have reported that this is currently impacting city-bound traffic and diversions are currently in place.

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1276 days ago

Auckland Transport gives car transporters loading bays after years of illegal parking

Caroline Williams Reporter from Central Leader

Car transporters have been thrown a lifeline by Auckland Transport, which plans to provide four new loading zones on a busy arterial road in attempt to put an end to illegal parking.

The organisation has been unable to clamp down on car transporters, which currently load and offload vehicles into … View more
Car transporters have been thrown a lifeline by Auckland Transport, which plans to provide four new loading zones on a busy arterial road in attempt to put an end to illegal parking.

The organisation has been unable to clamp down on car transporters, which currently load and offload vehicles into oncoming traffic while parked on the roadside and flush medians of Great North Rd in Grey Lynn.

Tickets and fines have not been effective in deterring the illegal parking.

Auckland Transport is proposing to fix the issue as part of its recently announced Great North Rd improvements, which aim to make a section of the road between Crummer and Ponsonby roads “safer for all road users, especially people walking and on bikes”.

The project, estimated to cost between $15 and $19 million, will see four new loading bays suitable for car transporters.

Click 'read more' for the full story.

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1277 days ago

Million-dollar dumps: The Auckland car park worth $82.5 million

Caroline Williams Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Downtown Auckland is going through huge transformation with its various streetscape and transport projects. But in stark contrast, several plots of land worth hundreds of millions of dollars have sat as car parks since buildings were knocked down in the 1980s.

The Elliott St car park sits on a … View more
Downtown Auckland is going through huge transformation with its various streetscape and transport projects. But in stark contrast, several plots of land worth hundreds of millions of dollars have sat as car parks since buildings were knocked down in the 1980s.

The Elliott St car park sits on a 4417 square metre plot of land, valued at $82.5 million.

The land has sat undeveloped as a car park - where an hour will cost you $19 - since the Royal International Hotel was demolished in 1987.

It was purchased by Singapore company NDG Asia Pacific (NZ) Limited for $53m in 2012, and in 2017 the company was given approval by the Overseas Investment Office to build and operate a 52-storey, five- star Ritz-Carlton Hotel, with 300 guest rooms, four floors for hotel facilities, six for retail and five for car parking.

The development is expected to cost $350m, with the start of construction dependent on the completion of City Rail Link. However, the resource consent for the tower is due to expire in October.

Click 'read more' for our full story.

1277 days ago

Queen St redesign: Businesses lose court bid to halt council redevelopment work

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

A group of downtown Auckland businesses have lost their bid to temporarily halt work on a planned upgrade of Queen Street, due to begin on Monday.

In a statement, Save the Queen Street said it was disappointed an interim injunction to delay work was unsuccessful, but said members would continue to… View more
A group of downtown Auckland businesses have lost their bid to temporarily halt work on a planned upgrade of Queen Street, due to begin on Monday.

In a statement, Save the Queen Street said it was disappointed an interim injunction to delay work was unsuccessful, but said members would continue to prepare for a more substantive court hearing, aimed at pushing back against the redevelopment plans.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff welcomed the court’s decision, saying the redesign would make Queen St more people-friendly and accessible.

The council intends to improve pedestrian spaces between Shortland and Customs streets, limit traffic to a single lane each way with bus priority in the evening peak, with work scheduled for the next six weeks.

Save Queen Street, which includes commercial landlords and retailers, argued that ongoing trials of new arrangement could run for years, damaging commerce in an already struggling strip.

“The current arrangement of the street has caused economic harm – business are up against it,” their lawyer Sam Lowery told Wednesday’s injunction hearing.

The council’s lawyer Padraig McNamara said given Save Queen Street wanted to stop the improvements to the 2020 temporary arrangement of plastic sticks and concrete blocks, its injunction bid was “counter-intuitive”.

Businesses have been hit by the absence of foreign tourists and overseas students, and from more office staff working from home, the court heard.

Lowery told the High Court foot traffic was down 40 per cent or more, 90 of 345 retail shopfronts are empty, and part of the problem is the council’s treatment of the street over the past year.

In a statement released after the court decision on Thursday, Goff said the council would continue to work with all stakeholders to progress improvements to Queen St.

While the court decision means work can begin as planned on May 10, Save Queen Street has put forward 10 further challenges that will be heard at a substantive court hearing. A date for that hearing has not yet been set.

The redevelopment will see pavements widened with high-quality decking, new street furniture and vibrant green spaces with native planting and a new pocket park.

Todd Niall.

Hi neighbours,

What do you think of the redevelopment plans for Queen St?

*Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.

K
1275 days ago

Mirror

Kelly from Kingsland

Free mirror. In good condition. Approx 92cmx52

Free

1276 days ago

Art in the Park hits Eden Park stadium

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Auckland's Eden Park stadium will host 100 artists in its debut showcase Art in the Park in July.

Painters, sculptors, photographers and print makers will meet members of the community from July 23 to July 25.

Art in the Park, in association with Auckland Unlimited, is part of the Elemental… View more
Auckland's Eden Park stadium will host 100 artists in its debut showcase Art in the Park in July.

Painters, sculptors, photographers and print makers will meet members of the community from July 23 to July 25.

Art in the Park, in association with Auckland Unlimited, is part of the Elemental Auckland festival- a program of arts, eats, and beats.

Visitors can meet individual artists, learn about their work, see them create, and take home the art which inspires them the most.

The event will champion the next generation of artists by showcasing some students from Elam School of Fine Arts and emerging professional artists.

Designed by directors Cary Cochrane and Sofija Matich, Art in the Park aims to bring communities together through art that enriches cultures.

"This show offers a new platform for New Zealand artists and a new opportunity to support the creative industries in New Zealand," Matich said.

1275 days ago

Are you living with foot pain?

Corrective Foot Solutions

Having foot and leg pain can bring life to a standstill. You might not be able to keep up with family or even complete basic tasks around the house.

Fix the problem so you can enjoy being active again.

Fortunately, at Corrective Foot Solutions, we use a gentle hands-on technique to … View more
Having foot and leg pain can bring life to a standstill. You might not be able to keep up with family or even complete basic tasks around the house.

Fix the problem so you can enjoy being active again.

Fortunately, at Corrective Foot Solutions, we use a gentle hands-on technique to effectively treat and fix foot problems without the need for surgery, orthotics or pain killers.

We use foot mobilisation therapy to correct the underlying causes of your foot pain by working on the misalignments in the foot, as well as strengthening the weakened muscles around the joints for long term relief.

We’ve decided to run a SPECIAL OFFER for foot pain sufferers.
“Foot Pain Assessment” for only $30 (Worth $85).
Offer valid 12/05/2020 - 12/06/2021.

Address - Level 3, 272 Parnell Road, Parnell.
Call us on - 09 212 9250.
Find out more

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