Your city, your say Partnership to protect the Waikato River

MARCH 2012 // CITYNEWS
Partnership to protect
the Waikato River
Back on track
A financial reality check for Claudelands
will see more realistic financial and business
targets set for the city’s prime events,
conference and exhibition facility.
Council has moved quickly to address
budget shortfalls highlighted in an
independent Council-commissioned review of
the facility’s 2009 business plan which shows
unrealistic business, revenue, pricing and
operating costs forecasts.
Councillors agreed future shortfalls would
not impact on the annual 3.8 per cent annual
rate increase proposed in the 2012 10-Year
Plan, and instead will be met from within
existing Council budgets and by making
further organisational efficiencies. The
approach to the current year’s budget shortfall
will be discussed at this month’s Finance and
Monitoring Committee.
A Councillor working party is also
keeping a close eye on Claudelands’ current
performance, with the facility the further
focus of Councillors at an April workshop
looking into its operating structure, business
model and service delivery.
Looking forward, the fledgling facility
which is still in it’s first year of operation, is
showing a steady increase in revenue over the
next three years based on future bookings.
With some exciting events booked in the
next two months, including El Caballo Blanco
stallions from Spain and Armageddon,
Claudelands is making its mark in the city.
• www.claudelands.co.nz
Last laps for
ITM400 Hamilton
LEGACY FOR TAMARIKI: Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker and Waikato-Tainui’s Tukoroirangi Morgan sign an historic agreement heralding a new era
of joint care of the Waikato River. Restoring the health and wellbeing of the river is central to the agreement, which will see both organisations working
together as they co-manage the river and what happens on and around it. Hamilton is the first Council along the length of the river to sign the required
full joint management agreement with Waikato-Tainui, following the 2010 Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act.
Your city, your say
CONSULTATION on HAMILTON’S 2012-22 DRAFT 10-YEAR PLAN GETS UNDERWAY ON 19 MARCH.
• What do you think about setting
rates increases at 3.8 per cent each
year for the next 10 years?
• Do you agree with selling assets to
pay off debt?
• Would you pay higher rates to keep
services from being cut?
• What is your view of cuts to services
and grants, and more user pays?
Make sure you share your view of
Council’s plan for your city for the next
decade. Later this month we’ll be sending all
homes a summary of the city’s draft 10-Year
Plan, which gives an easy-to-read overview.
It covers how Council will live within its
means, return to surplus, cap debt, consider
asset sales, spend rates, provide for growth,
manage future rate increases, and prioritise
the new projects planned to make Hamilton
a better place to live. It also has details of
community information events in March and
April to share the Plan, how you can find out
more, as well as how to have your say.
Council has worked hard to make the
Plan readable, relevant, and understandable.
It wants residents to know what is planned
for their city, and to make their views known.
Formal consultation runs from 19 March to
19 April so make sure you get online and
share them at www.hamilton.co.nz . Your
views will be considered by Councillors as
part of the decision-making process as they
work towards the Plan going live from 1 July
this year.
If you’ve never been to the ITM400
Hamilton, this is your last chance.
Hamilton’s streets will reverberate to the
sound of the highly tuned V8 Supercars in
April during what will be the final event in
the city.
The first V8 Supercars race was held in
Hamilton in 2008, but in September 2011,
V8 Supercars and Hamilton City Council
announced the 2012 race would be the last.
This year’s event will be held from 20-22
April, and it’s the last chance for the drivers
to have their name etched on the Mark
Porter Trophy alongside previous winners
Jamie Whincup, Shane van Gisbergen and
Garth Tander.
The popular Rock‘n’Race format will
also see a performance by international rock
legends INXS.
Chance to win!
City News has an ITM400 Hamilton
prize pack to give away, containing four
Rock ‘n’ Race three-day passes, plus an
official ITM400 Hamilton merchandise pack.
Altogether, this prize is worth almost $700.
To enter our competition, you need
to name two Kiwi drivers in the 2012 V8
Supercars Championship. Email your answer
to [email protected], along with your
full name, address and phone number to be
in the draw to win. The deadline for entries
is 31 March. Our winner will be notified by
phone on 2 April.
www.hamilton.co.nz
MARCH 2012 // CITYNEWS
SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR COUNCIL
eBooks and more at
a library near you
Keeping up to date with the ever changing needs of library customers is the
focus for Hamilton Libraries.
CITYDESK
The Waikato River has been at the
heart of Hamilton for nearly 150 years, but
today the central city has largely turned
its back on it. It’s time that changed, and
as a city we embrace the river. To do this
we must develop a River Plan that sets out
a vision for how the river will look in the
future and what development and projects
are needed to make it the focal point of our
city. Other cities have such a plan; Auckland
revealed its waterfront plan last year and
opened Wynyard Quarter, and over the last
decade Wellington has been redeveloping its
waterfront based on their 2001 plan.
At the Mayoral Vision Summit held
more than a year ago, community and
business representatives listed the city’s
connection with the river as a top priority.
Some of the suggestions discussed were
developing a high profile river access point,
a walking bridge, transportation on the river,
tourism opportunities and the preservation
of natural vegetation. And last year children
from Room 22 at Rototuna Primary School
came to Council and presented their
ideas for a river project completed in the
classroom, which included a glass bottom
bridge, flying fox and gondola.
To make any of these sorts of ideas a
reality, we want to develop a River Plan.
In the past there have been several reports
completed for Council involving various
aspects and opportunities on the river;
however there has not been a comprehensive
plan setting out how the river will be
developed over the coming decades. There
are many factors that affect what we might
be able to do, such as the stability of the river
bank and the balance between development
and preserving the natural environment.
Under the co-management partnership
agreement with Tainui, the city is required
to ensure the river’s health and well-being in
the future.
I see the River Plan as a plan that involves
the citizens of Hamilton, as I know it will
have a huge impact on our city’s future, so if
you have ideas please let me know.
Julie Hardaker
Mayor
E. [email protected]
eBooks are the new kid on the block at
the city’s six libraries following their launch
at the end of February, with an expected
2,500 titles available to be downloaded, for
free, from the end of June.
The eBook service will give customers
24/7 access via the Libraries website to
Wheelers ePlatform to download ebooks
for up to two weeks. They can be read on
computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones
and dedicated eReader devices (excluding
Kindle eReaders). For those wanting to
try out eReaders, the libraries also have a
limited number of Kobo eReaders for hire.
Libraries Director Su Scott says, “It’s all
about keeping up with people’s reading and
information needs no matter the time of
day or night.”
Libraries have undergone something of
a transformation over the years, becoming
a busy, bustling focal point for communities
where not only books are borrowed. Step
inside any of the libraries - Garden Place,
Chartwell, Dinsdale, Hillcrest, Glenview
and St Andrews - and you’ll find free
internet, Skype and wi-fi, readings, author
talks, playgroups, family quiz nights, puzzles
and toys, genealogy research evenings,
writers workshops, newspapers and
magazines, and more.
“Libraries are about being at the heart
of communities and offering something for
everyone, of all ages. We call our libraries
‘living rooms for the city’ because we believe
libraries are a place for people to enjoy
coming together to socialize, a place of
relaxation, a place for leisure and recreation
as well as learning” says Su.
The libraries have strong connections
with schools, working together to encourage
children from a young age to build a
positive relationship with their library.
There’s also a service for those who are
homebound, where for a small monthly fee
library staff will visit those unable to get to
their library with a selection of books and
NEW CHAPTER: Dinsdale Library Customer Service Representative Jessica Dinnington with a
Kobo eReader ahead of the launch of the new eBook service at Hamilton City Libraries.
“Libraries are about
being at the heart
of communities and
offering something
for everyone, OF
ALL AGES.”
Su Scott
other resources, based on their likes.
With March being New Zealand Book
Month, look out for all sorts of activities
including author talks by cook and writer
Allyson Gofton, crime writer Paul Thomas
and fiction writer Sue Orr, and a literary
pub quiz.
• www.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz
Fast facts
›› 1.2 million visits were made to
Hamilton libraries last year
›› 366,530 items make up the
libraries collection
›› 27,250 reservations were made
last year
›› 83,572 people are active
library members
›› 3,842 magazine titles are held
›› 338,124 virtual visits to
www.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz
were made last year
›› 74 years is the longest someone
has been a library member
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETING DATES
Meeting dates for March are:
›› 15 March – Extraordinary Council
(10-Year Plan)
›› 21 March – Operations and Activity
Performance Committee
›› 27 March – Finance and
Monitoring Committee
www.hamilton.co.nz and
www.facebook.co.nz/hamiltoncitycouncil
All meetings commence at 9.30am with a
public forum, unless otherwise stated.
Links to meeting agendas are available on
Please note: Hamilton City Council’s committee
meeting cycle has now changed from monthly
to six-weekly.
P. 07 838 6976
Your EAST ward Councillors
CITY NEWS ONLINE
www.hamilton.co.nz/citynews
EDITORIAL
Communication and Marketing,
Hamilton City Council.
07 838 6679, [email protected]
WHAT’S ON HAMILTON
List your event free of charge at
www.whatsonhamilton.co.nz
Gordon Chesterman
Deputy Mayor, Councillor: East Ward
E. [email protected]
M. 021 922 927
Margaret Forsyth
Councillor: East Ward
E. [email protected]
M. 021 616 562
Roger Hennebry
Councillor: East Ward
E. [email protected]
M. 021 318 439
Peter Bos
Councillor: East Ward
E. [email protected]
M. 021 285 7019
Pippa Mahood
Councillor: East Ward
E. [email protected]
M. 021 809 964
Daphne Bell
Councillor: East Ward
E. [email protected]
M. 021 341 767
www.hamilton.co.nz
MARCH 2012 // CITYNEWS
Kowhai theme for
play area upgrade
Fast Forward:
What you
need to know
The historic Parana Park playground is getting a
much-needed revamp.
You will soon be hearing more
about Fast Forward, Hamilton’s District
Plan Review.
So what is it and why should you care?
City News put these questions to Councillor
Pippa Mahood, Chair of the District Plan
Review Steering Group.
Work on a major upgrade of
the Parana Park children’s play area on
Memorial Drive has begun, and will include
installation of a new water feature for preschool children.
Acting Parks and Gardens Manager Sally
Sheedy says the upgrade has been made
possible by a significant grant from Potter
Masonic Trust, and the project is a muchneeded refurbishment of an ageing play area
which remains popular with families with
young children.
Miss Sheedy says: “The play area dates
back to 1960s, so an upgrade is vital to ensure
it meets the needs of the families of today.”
The water feature will be extended
and the water pump and filtration system
replaced. The refurbished facility will also
have a strong kowhai theme, with a kowhai
leaf-shaped viewing platform looking over
the Waikato River, a kowhai seed-shaped
300-jet fountain and a slide shaped like a
kowhai flower.
Other features of the upgraded park
include paths with varying surfaces and
obstacles, tui chick and egg interactive
sculptures, a small amphitheatre and a
playhouse. It is designed with pre-school
children in mind and will be the first of its
kind in Hamilton.
Q: WHAT IS THE DISTRICT PLAN?
Cr Mahood: Put simply, the District
Plan defines what activities people can carry
out on their land and how they go about
it. It affects everyone living in the city and
covers everything from urban growth and
the protection of environmentally sensitive
areas, to how close buildings can be built to
property boundaries.
Q: WHY IS THE DISTRICT PLAN BEING REVIEWED?
Cr Mahood: The current Plan dates back
to the mid 1990s, and over the years it has
been amended 21 times. The vision for our
city has changed significantly since the 1990s,
and this review ensures we have the right
skeleton or backbone in place to shape our
communities around.
Q: WHERE ARE WE UP TO WITH THE REVIEW?
Cr Mahood: In late 2010 we asked the
public for their comments to help feed into
the new District Plan. We are currently
finalising the preliminary Draft District Plan
and will soon go back out to the public for
feedback to help fine-tune the document,
prior to formal consultation later this year.
• www.fastforwardhamilton.co.nz
JUST BRIEFLY
CITY TO MAKE FIFA BID
Hamilton will make a bid to host international
football matches during the 2015 FIFA Under
20 World Cup. The decision by Council
follows strong commitment of financial and
in-kind support from Hamilton and Waikato’s
business and sporting communities. The
business and football communities have
committed to funding half the $809,000 cost
of hosting up to eight matches, including a
quarter-final, at Waikato Stadium as part of
a Category 3 bid. The bid proposal to New
Zealand Football will include clauses to ensure
further costs are not added subsequent to the
bid being accepted.
WATER CONSERVATION
It may not be the warmest and driest
summer on record, but there is still a need
for residents to keep a close eye on their
water usage. Weather conditions are just
one of a range of factors taken into account
when determining the appropriate water
alert level and restrictions for the city during
the summer months. Other factors include
current water consumption levels and annual
trend data. Information on Hamilton’s
current water alert and restrictions are
available on the Council website.
• www.hamilton.co.nz/smartwateruse
Meet your Mayor
Monster mania hits
Waikato Museum
City bylaws
under review
MONSTER MASH: Head down to Waikato Museum now to gain a rare insight into the various
stages that go into creating monsters and creatures for the film industry in ‘How to Make a
Monster, the Art and Technology of Animatronics’. This is the only New Zealand showing planned
for the exhibition, which is on tour from Australia and was created by leading Australian creature
effects company, John Cox’s Creature Workshop. On display until 15 July, the exhibition is also
supported by competitions, monster storytelling, after-school pottery classes, clay animation
workshops and live sessions with exhibition creator John Cox and Weta Digital’s Sam Doyle.
Admission fee applies. Visit www.waikatomuseum.co.nz for more information.
www.hamilton.co.nz
This month the public are invited to
provide feedback on proposed changes to
the Hamilton Cemeteries and Crematorium
Bylaw - one of eight bylaws under review
this year.
It is proposed the current Hamilton
Cemeteries and Crematorium Bylaw 2008
be replaced with the Hamilton Cemeteries
and Crematorium Bylaw 2012, with the main
differences between the two being that the
new bylaw introduces provisions for natural
burial and the disinterment of bodies, and
is clearer on penalties and breaches of the
bylaw.
Copies of the proposed new bylaw will be
available from 29 February from the second
floor of Council’s Garden Place building
and all public libraries within the city, by
phoning 838 6537 or by visiting
www.hamilton.co.nz/consultation.
Public submissions on the proposals
will then be received until 29 March, with
hearings expected to be held in April.
Council has 15 bylaws in total, with
other bylaws under review in 2012 including
Traffic Skating, Parks, Domains and
Reserves, Cultural Recreation and Facilities,
and Speed Limit Amendment.
Mayor in the Square is an open forum
where residents can come along and talk
to Mayor Julie Hardaker about our city.
All are welcome to come and share ideas,
aspirations or concerns with Mayor Hardaker
at her monthly drop-in sessions at Garden
Place’s outdoor reading room. It’s a great
opportunity to talk face-to-face about the
topic of your choice, with chats lasting 5-10
minutes. Sessions this year take place from
12.30-1.30pm on 1 March, 5 April, 3 May,
7 June, 5 July, 1 August, 6 September, 4
October, and 1 November.
This year Mayor Hardaker will also be
available for chats in various locations around
the city. Catch up with her in Frankton on
13 April, Te Rapa on 22 June, Melville on
6 July, Hillcrest on 10 August, and Chartwell
on 21 September. Keep an eye on
www.hamilton.co.nz for more details.
If you would like the Mayor to come to
your neighbourhood for a chat, email
[email protected]
Zoo welcomes red panda
A red panda cub is the latest addition to
Hamilton Zoo. The cub is one of two born
at Hamilton Zoo on 9 December to first-time
parents, mother Tayla (4) and father Chito
(9). The second cub failed to thrive after birth
and died. Hamilton Zoo Director Stephen
Standley said red pandas are one of the
few species with a global captive breeding
programme, which Hamilton Zoo is part of
and which has seen some animals released
into the wild. “We are pleased to be able to
contribute to the survival of the species with
this breeding opportunity,” he said.
MARCH 2012 // WHAT’S ON FEATURE LISTINGS
FIND IT
PROMOTE IT
ENJOY IT
Family event
Free
Outside Hamilton
Events & Festivals
■■Camper Care Motorhome &
Caravan Show
Your dreams and adventures start here!
If you are interested in Motorhomes,
Caravans, Camper Trailers, Pop-Tops,
Campervans Fifth Wheelers, Tents or
any RV and Camping accessories;
then this expo is a must for you to visit.
Come and experience for yourself what
this wonderful lifestyle can offer. The
Motorhome & Caravan Show offer a
unique experience for motorhome and
caravan enthusiasts and exhibitors alike.
Adult: $15 Child (Under 16): Free (must be
accompanied by an adult)
Liberty Pass: $20 (Entry into the Expo
all 3 days)
Claudelands Event Centre
2 March to 4 March
■■Beads of Courage Family Fun Day
A fun day of activities for the family in
support of the Child Cancer Foundation
Beads of Courage Family Fun Day for
Child Cancer. Come along and enjoy
More FM DJ & Face Painting Team,
Jurassica Bouncy Castle (for the little
ones), Rampage Obstacle Course, The
HYC Sailing Experience, Presto the
Clown & his Amazing Balloons, Live
Music with the talented Nick Kraenzlin,
Battens-Up Spinning Wheel for the
adults Merry Go Round for the toddlers,
Pony Rides, Model Sailing Boats, Fire
Engine & Highway Patrol vehicle photo
opportunities, The Altura Coffee Sack
Races, Waka ama canoe rides. Take
the family out for this fabulous fun day
of music, activities and the magic of
Hamilton Lake with all proceeds going to
the Child Cancer Foundation. 10.00am to
4.00pm. Activities individually priced. All
proceeds to the Child Cancer Foundation.
Hamilton Lake Domain
11 March
Soundscape
The award-winning sellout street party is
back on 10 March, and with more than 50
acts Soundscape is bigger and better than
ever. Featuring top international talent
playing alongside leading New Zealand
acts the festival now features eight zones
including; live bands, dubstep and drum
and bass, electro, commercial house,
tech house, hip-hop, hard house and a
UV zone. And on top of all of that, the
carnival rides and circus performers make
a welcome return. The last Soundscape
sold out at 4000 people and event
organisers are sure that this will be the
best festival to date. Tickets available from
www.1-night.co.nz/soundscape
Various venues, Alexandra Street
10 March
Hilltop Sunset Concert
Kids Carnival Finale
The fourth and final carnival in the
MORE FM Kids Carnival Series. This
carnival is chock-a-block full of kids
entertainment, carnival rides, bouncy
castle, face painting and street theatre.
Live shows include; Mad Hatter at
12.30pm and Captain Ricardo’s Pirate
Show at 2.00pm.
www.summeringardenplace.co.nz
Garden Place
10 March
The event of the summer! Seven hours
of fine wine and beer, great music and
a fantastic Waikato view. Super star
line-up Sola Rosa, Cornerstone Roots,
Billy TK, Jnr Swamp Thing, Paul Ubana
Jones, Ashley Knox. Relax and watch the
sunset at Hilltop while enjoying a vintage
selection of NZ’s finest exponents of Jazz,
blues and roots music. You can even
wander through the vines and munch on
the sweet grapes. Gates open 2.30pm,
music from 3pm - 9.30pm. Tickets $59.
Gate sales (if available) $69. Tickets
available from www.eventfinder.co.nz
Hilltop Vineyard
24 March
SPORTS & LEISURE
El Caballo Blanco
Balloons Over Waikato
Don’t miss the opportunty to be part of
this great event. The Festival is a major
iconic event for the general public on the
annual calendar in both Hamilton and the
Waikato Region. Four times voted Best
Waikato Event by the public of Hamilton
and winner of the prestigious Business
Excellence Award for the Not-for-Profit
sector, this event is a must-do in the
Waikato events calendar. The Event runs
for five days from 28th March to the 1st
April at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake
and The University of Waikato. Most
Hamiltonians will have experienced the
awesome spectacle of a hot air balloon
floating over their home, workplace, or
school during event time. The Festival
provides the public of the Waikato with
entertainment with a WOW factor that
can best be described as ‘magical’.
Experience the amazing site of balloons
ascending through the Waikato sunrise
at 7.30am every day and don’t miss
Hamilton’s biggest night out at the
Nightglow at The University, where the
balloons glow to orchestrated music
finishing with the best fireworks display
in town.
Innes Common,
& The University of Waikato
28 March to 1 April
For more events and further information visit www.whatsonhamilton.co.nz
The magnificent white stallions of Spain
are dancing their way to New Zealand.
World-renowned riding master Rene
Gasser who, with the experiences of
seven generations, has recreated an event
only previously seen at the famous riding
schools in Vienna and Spain. The horses
of Spain are some of the most celebrated
in history, favoured for centuries by
European royalty, equestrian riders and
bullfighters and this performance will
celebrate the tradition, athleticism and
grace of these revered creatures. Along
with the magnificent stallions, Spanish
flamenco dancers will feature in authentic
costumes accompanied by the mellow
notes of a guitar to bring the sights and
sounds of Spain a heartbeat away.
El Caballo Blanco: The Dance of the
White Stallions will feature performances
involving the Andalusian, Friesian and
Lipizzaner breeds and the event is
dedicated to showing off the amazing
beauty and manoeuvres these horses are
capable of. To book visit Ticketek outlets,
0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
Claudelands Arena
10 March
Plunket Shield - Four day cricket
Yahoo! NZ Northern Knights vs
Otago Volts. Bring a picnic along
and watch some fantastic four day
cricket action. Your team, the Northern
Knights take on the Otago Volts from
the deep south. Family friendly relaxed
atmosphere, everyone welcome.
Best of all, it’s free entry! Gates open
10am, game starts 10.30am
Seddon Park
2 March to 5 March
MUSIC
Angelina Ballerina’s Big Audition
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is delighted
to be performing this enchanting
production. Angelina loves to dance and
dreams of becoming a famous ballerina.
Miss Lilly is her ballet teacher and Alice
Nimbletoes, her best friend – characters
that cannot fail to charm with their love
of colour and pretty costumes. Angelina
Mousling is a fictional mouse and the star
of some 20 enormously popular children’s
books, which became an animated TV
series in 2002, then a musical and now
a ballet. In this production Angelina
prepares for her most important
performance ever … in front of the
Camembert Academy judges. Definitely
one for all those budding ballerinas
and we guarantee you’ll love it too!
Guaranteed to charm an army of small
children. Showings at 10.30am, 1.30pm
and 3.30pm. Book at Ticketek
0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
Founders Theatre
31 March
PREVIEW
ITM400 Hamilton
The streets of Hamilton will spark into life
over three days for the ITM400 Hamilton
as the V8 Supercars Championship hits
the track for one final showdown from 20
– 22 April. Get ready to race by day and
rock all night as legendary INXS headline
the rocking Saturday night concert. You
can get to enjoy Saturday’s unrivalled
racing and rock concert double from
just $70. Make it a day out for the whole
family. Children 12 years and under are
free for general admission with up to two
children per paying adult, including both
racing and concert. They can enjoy the
racing, some great entertainment on and
off the track, and meet your favourite
drivers like kiwi legends Shane van
Gisbergen and Greg Murphy. General
admission is from as little as $25 on
Friday, while you can enjoy the three-day
action from the grandstands from $159.
To book visit Ticketek outlets,
0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
20-22 April