As the 2024 plan is still being debated, social housing won't get a look-in for funds until 2032 if Council staff recommendations are adopted.

The Council currently houses more than 3000 tenants across 1900 homes through housing provider Te Toi Mahana.

Deferred maintenance

When it meets on Thursday to vote on the long-term plan, the Council would like councillors to defer social housing upgrades.

Citing the need to cut back, staff note overall savings from the social housing upgrades would be $61.3 million. That money would be used to create a disaster fund and to contribute to the $500m the Council needs to address its under-insurance gap.

The upgrades include work which the Council must undertake as part of its Deed of Grant with the Government. They include work like seismic strengthening, insulation, ventilation, fencing and lighting, as well as kitchens, storage and laundry facility upgrades.

The Government funded $220m for this in 2007. In return the Council was to remain a social housing provider until at least 2037 - and upgrade its housing portfolio to modern standards.

Tenants deserve better

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau says it is Councillors' responsibility - not Council staff's - to decide where savings come from.

She wants an amendment to the staff report to remove the recommendation for deferring housing upgrades.

"This will mean tenants can get the safe, dry homes they deserve" she says.

Social housing is one of the "non-negotiables" Whanau is firm about.

A different model

In Auckland, Council staff help support Manaaki Tangata, a hospitality and care facility.

The collaboration between Auckland Council, Eke Panuku and Maori Wardens responds to the needs of those experiencing homelessness in the city centre.

Council staff say the facility means "Our most vulnerable can ... have a shower and some food, store their belongings, and ultimately the hope is we can connect them to other services available to help them".

"For some, it might be their first time on the street, they've done something to get themselves kicked out and they literally have nowhere to go. It's a very scary reality having nowhere to go."

Some mightn't start on the streets with a drinking or drug problem but, to survive, they end up with one, says a Maori warden.

"That's where we come in ... sometimes just getting people that help, helps them to make that good decision."

Source

• Our Auckland
• The Post

The request includes broadcasts on the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks and during two major Islamic festivals, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.

The decision comes after Mayor Tory Whanau introduced a proposal earlier this year to review noise limits for both music venues and religious broadcasts.

As part of the review, the Wellington City Council is exploring whether mosques and other religious buildings should be allowed to use loudspeakers for public calls-to-prayer.

Community concerns addressed

Some community members voiced concerns regarding how often and how loud these broadcasts would be, with one anti-Council leaflet urging Wellingtonians to "take back your city!"

However, documents from the Council clarify that the call-to-prayer would last only about one-and-a-half to two minutes and would not be a neighbourhood-wide broadcast.

Instead, the sound would be contained to the mosque forecourt using a sound system for the benefit of those attending.

"We can commemorate the events that happened on that day and mosques won't have a noise restriction, much like church bells" Mayor Whanau said when addressing concerns on Newstalk ZB.

Proposal goes to Council for approval

Councillors discussed the proposal at Thursday's Environment and Infrastructure Committee meeting.

Under the current plan, the call-to-prayer broadcasts would not require resource consent as long as the sound is kept to two minutes or less.

However, any future request to broadcast the call on a regular basis would need Council approval.

"Should the intent change in the future and mosques seek to broadcast call-to-prayer on a more frequent and regular basis, resource consent would be required" Council documents confirm.

Mayor Whanau also noted that broadcasting the call-to-prayer multiple times a day would "probably not" be reasonable, reassuring concerned residents that daily broadcasts are not on the agenda under current rules.

The Council will make a final decision after Thursday's meeting but, for now, the proposal aims to allow limited, respectful broadcasts during significant Islamic events.

Source

NZ Herald

The pamphlet claims Wellington City Council wants mosques to broadcast the Islamic Call To Prayer throughout the city.

The Better Wellington campaign group behind the pamphlet expected 80,000 of them to be delivered this week - but posties are refusing to do so.

What the pamphlet says

The pamphlet asserts that "the Council wants the city's six mosques to broadcast the Islamic Call to Prayer across the city".

Not true, FIANZ's Abdur Razzaq said. In fact Better Wellington's statement was so far from the truth that he initially thought it was a prank.

But it's not a joke though. It's not even just misinformation. "It's malicious misinformation" Razzaq said.

What the Muslim community actually asked for

Razzaq said Wellington's Islamic Association had approached the Council on 15 March about the possibility of broadcasting the adhan, or call to prayer.

The adhan was to commemorate the 51 people who were murdered in the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019.

It was to be a one-off adhan and the Muslim community has no desire to do it more often than this, he says.

Better Wellington's statement reinforces anti-Islamist sentiment and risks provoking others into action.

"This is not free speech. Coming out and telling this kind of lie and trying to incite hatred against a community. It's wrong, plain and simple. They should actually apologise" Razzaq said.

Better Wellington's view

A Better Wellington supporter disagrees the pamphlet risked calling up anti-Islamic sentiment.

It just regurgitates media reports about Wellington Council and the Call to Prayer.

He said "left wing" councillors are undermining Better Wellington's efforts, in order to distract the public from the other issues.

"It could be an Anglican faith having hallelujah doing the same thing. We're a secular organisation and a secular country. We take no position in regard to Islam or any religion or faith."

Posties refuse delivery

National co-president of the Postal Workers Union, John Maynard said the Union supports the posties who refused to deliver the pamphlet.

"We considered that New Zealand Post has an obligation under the State Owned Enterprises Act to exhibit a sense of social responsibility in regard to the interests of the community and we think they [Better Wellington] are doing exactly the opposite ..." Maynard said.

Leaflets are not posted into boxes which show a No Circular notice unless they are from a government authority - though posties were asked to deliver the pamphlet to everyone.

ACT Party leader David Seymour doesn't think the Postal Union has the right to choose whether or not to deliver items.

"People have a right to express themselves ... It is absolutely not the right of any union to tell the public what they can and can't hear" Seymour said.

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau told RNZ she is proud of Postal Union members who refused to deliver the pamphlets.

She will be seeking advice about how best to deal with a growing disinformation problem.

Source

• RNZ

That and a catalogue of other Fire and Emergency (Fenz) safety problems with the council's cycleway programme have been detailed in an official information response from the council. The emails between Fenz and the council cover much of 2023. Read more

Whanau was on air at the time talking to The Platform's Sean Plunkett.

"The Platform has received quite a bit of feedback regarding the district plan vote Thursday on the broadcast of the Call to Prayer" Plunkett said to Whanau.

Plunket understood the council discussion to broadcast the Call to Prayer was originally in the name of Whanau, however it was switched to Councillor Rebecca Matthews.

When Plunket sought confirmation on where the idea came from, Whanau told him to talk to her office.

Pressed, Whanau said "Jesus Christ Sean, umm, I'll come back to you."

Civil harmony

On Wednesday, Wellington Councillor Nicola Young also discussed broadcasting the call to prayer with Heather du Plessis-Allan on NewtalkZB Drive.

In a respectful conversation, Young said she feels allowing calls to prayer would make Wellington the laughingstock of New Zealand - and would be offensive to most people.

"Because New Zealand is a secular country ... I think we're the third-most atheist country in the world" she says.

"Why would we start having prayers being broadcast?

"A lot of people would find it incredibly offensive" she told du Plessis-Allan.

When asked about the Capital's church bells, Young said "They play once, on a Sunday, which is rather different from five or six times a day, every day.

"Allowing mosques to broadcast their call one day a week and churches to ring their bells once a week would be ridiculous" she said.

"We have to stop this."

She refers to the Education Act 1877 which speaks of harmony and keeping religion private.

People are outraged, she says.

Sort out the water leaks and fix the sewers

Feedback suggests the Council should focus on infrastructure rather than "distractions" like this.

Young calls the Mosque's "Call to Prayer" request a distraction for the Wellington City Council saying such issues aren't what they need to consider.

The City Council should stick to its municipal role, things like dealing urgently with water and sewage infrastructure Young suggested.

Local Mosques reportedly asked the council to change noise control regulations so they can play calls to prayer over outdoor speakers as is done in Muslim countries.

Investigation underway

The Wellington City Council voted to use ratepayers' money and instructed the council officials to investigate how calls to prayer could be made.

It wants to know if changes to noise rules would need to be made to enable the request.

A council spokesperson says any rule changes would be subject to public consultation.

• NewtalkZB
• The Platform

The concern follows media exposure of numerous shameful examples of migrant workers coming to New Zealand and finding themselves without work, money or suitable accommodation.

On Monday, INZ said it had received 711 complaints against accredited employers, with 154 being investigated for criminal offending.

Of these, INZ said 52 employers are being assessed to have their accreditation revoked. By mid-last month, six had already been revoked and five suspended.

Steve Watson, INZ's general manager of immigration compliance and investigations, said 151 of those complaints have been referred to INZ's compliance department as they relate to migrants working in breach of visa conditions.

Employment New Zealand is examining another 406, as these were about breaches of employment law and migrant exploitation.

Migrants exploitation - the many ugly faces

Multiple investigations over migrant exploitation are underway.

It is just three weeks since 115 workers from India and Bangladesh on accredited employer work visas (AEWV) were found living in crammed and unsanitary conditions. They said they had had no income for months.

In May, the Herald reported hundreds of Nepalese may have paid up to $30,000 for visas to non-existent jobs.

Up to 250 migrants from South American countries paid large amounts for visas to come here on a false promise of residency-leading jobs.

There are ongoing concerns too, that not enough is being done to tackle worker exploitation in the alcohol industry.

Newshub's Nick Truebridge found 40 migrants "holed up" at a Papakura house without food.

He says the migrants were subjected to these conditions after trying to find a better life under the Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme.

RNZ's Lucy Xia tells migrant exploitation stories too. She speaks of migrants allegedly exploited and left all but destitute after being told they were heading into decent jobs.

Immigration Minister Andrew Little says migrant exploitation has resulted in over 200 offshore migrants' visas being cancelled.

He says 10 migrants were stopped, turned around at the New Zealand border and their visas were cancelled.

INZ confirms the Minister's comments in this respect, but says he's mistaken about INZ cancelling the visas of 193 offshore migrants caught in a scam.

They haven't been cancelled.

"These individuals have border alerts so we can ensure they do not board a flight and come to New Zealand until such time as their employment has been verified," INZ national manager Peter Elms says.

He also confirmed INZ had not cancelled any accredited employer work visas of offshore migrants whose employers have had their accreditation revoked.

1News says INZ investigations are focusing on "five to six" accredited employers who had about 400 visas issued to them, and on their mistreatment of 115 Indian and Bangladeshi workers.

Source

• RNZ
• NZ Herald
• 1News
• NZ Herald
• CathNews NZ

The article highlighting their plight has been pulled from the NZ Herald's website.

On Wednesday, Wellington NZ Herald reporter, Georgina Campbell, reported that migrant bus drivers have been brought to the Capital and are being put up without the bare essentials.

The migrant bus drivers lack basics like beds and mattresses, heaters, kitchen utensils, washing machines and fridges.

Campbell was responding to an appeal by a Wellington woman posted on a community Facebook page, saying she is helping 18 Filipino migrant bus drivers.

The woman says the drivers have been in the city for around three weeks and need help as they head into winter.

Daran Ponter, the Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman, confirmed he had received a screenshot of a Facebook post in a community group.

Ponter says he passed the Facebook screenshot on to the Regional Council's public transport arm, Metlink.

The post asked if anyone could lend household items.

"We are bus drivers here in Wellington. We are new here. Happy to pay if they are selling cheap. (sic.) Very much appreciated. Thank you," the post said.

Commenting on behalf of NZ Bus in Wellington, Russell Turnbull said all new drivers to the country employed by the company received settlement support during their first four to six weeks here.

This included accommodation provided by NZ Bus, Turnbull said.

However, the level of care is being questioned by neighbours of one of the migrant driver groups.

"They're new to the country and don't even know how to get rid of their rubbish," one man told CathNews.

The man who wished to remain anonymous said he shouted these migrants a roll of City Council rubbish bags and explained how the rubbish system worked.

"Their English was good and once they knew what to do they were fine."

Quick to retort, "But I'll shout them another bag again next week if I need to."

Before his neighbourly intervention, rubbish was left in black bags and not collected at the gate.

"It's really basic stuff and very unfair," he said.

CathNews contacted the man again on Thursday, asking if he noticed any change.

"Yes," he laughed.

"The City Council have visited and left a notice in all the residents' letterboxes saying that rubbish put out in black bags won't be collected."

Raising his eyebrow, he sighed, "Very helpful."

However, Wellington Regional Council Transport Committee chairman Thomas Nash told the NZ Herald that the well-being of drivers is important.

Nash said that the council is making every effort to ensure the migrant drivers are looked after and have a good experience.

He also acknowledged it wasn't easy coming to a new country.

"It's expensive, there are always set-up costs, and it's always helpful when employers, friends, family, community groups and neighbours help out.

"To everyone who is doing that for any new workers who are coming into Wellington, we are very grateful," he said.

The Wellington Regional Council is hiking rates by a massive 17.8% in part to attract bus drivers and further decarbonise its bus fleet.

The Capital is struggling to get on top of its shortage of some 125 drivers, which causes buses to be cancelled.

Bus cancellations also threaten the highly controversial multi-million dollar "Let's get Welly Moving" campaign.

Sources

• NZ Herald (Last accessed 19 April 2023)
• Reddit
• I Love Karori (Private Facebook group)

The accusation against the Council followed its decision to grant police the power to arrest Anzac Day protesters.

The issue came to light on Anzac Day last year.

Richard Noble arrived at a service at Wellington's Pukeahu War Memorial Park holding a "recognise Armenian Genocide" banner. The war memorial is owned by the central government and no action was taken against him.

It was a different matter later that day when he took his banner to the Ataturk Turkish memorial. The memorial is situated on Council land above Wellington's south coast.

A police officer warned Noble he would be arrested if he displayed his banner there.

Between 664,000 and 1.2 million Armenian people were killed by the Ottoman - now Turkish - government between 1915 and 1916.

Their killing is recognised as genocide by 32 countries including the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Russia. New Zealand does not officially recognise it as genocide.

Police authority

Police had been granted the authority arrest by Council chief executive Barbara McKerrow.

She wrote to the police just before Anzac Day 2021, giving them long-term permission to trespass people from council land at the Cenotaph and Ataturk Memorial Park on Anzac days.

She stressed police must not breach the Human Rights Act and act reasonably.

Genocide

Genocide is defined by the United Nations as defined acts, including killing, "with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group".

Last Thursday, Noble told the Council's Social, Cultural and Economic Committee that the permission to arrest protesters made the council "complicit in genocide denial.

"It is your authorisation, it is on your watch," he said.

Just hours later, an emailed statement from the council said it was liaising with the police about whether "any trespass delegation is appropriate and required".

The council says it supports people's rights to public protest as defined under the Bill of Rights.

All councillors were asked if the police authorisation should be altered.

"I strongly oppose this delegation given by council to police," Cr Iona Pannett says. "The right to peaceful protest against gross human rights is sacrosanct in our society and so should be rescinded."

Cr Ray Chung agrees: "I'm a very strong believer in the freedom of speech and as long as no damage is done and they're not inciting violence ... I'm fine with him being allowed to continue his protest without impediment."

Tim Brown, a paid member of the Free Speech Union, quoted: "I [may] disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it's important "historical injustices" like the Ottoman treatment of Armenian people were "acknowledged appropriately".

It supported "reconciliation" between Turkey and Armenia.

"For determining whether a particular situation constitutes genocide, Aotearoa New Zealand places great emphasis on the findings of international courts and tribunals."

Source

• Stuff

Eco-church NZ is one of five recipients in the Council's first round of the new Climate and Sustainability Fund today.

"By funding them, we as a Council demonstrate our commitment to Te Atakura - First to Zero, the goal of becoming a net zero carbon capital by 2050," said Committee chair Fleur Fitzsimons.

Other recipients are

• Sustainability Trust - $95,000 to transform their existing eco-centre into a climate action centre.
• Wellington Chamber of Commerce - $50,000 to support 40 small-to-medium Wellington businesses to go through a "Sustainability Bootcamp"
• PlantMe Growathon - $5,000 to run a gamified online platform that tracks the carbon benefits of backyard food production in Wellington.
• Lodabike - $4,250 to undertake research on barriers to ebike ownership.

Grants were approved for a total of $174,250 from the $250,000 per annum fund. Continue reading

While St Gerard's future is ultimately up to the owners, the church - built in 1908 for the Redemptorists - could be deconsecrated so it could be used for events like weddings and funerals, suggests City Councillor Iona Pannett!

The monastery building - which was was added in 1932 - could also be strengthened and converted to housing, she says.

"Given there is a housing crisis, obviously we want to maximise the space that we have."

Pannet, who leads the city's heritage portfolio, says it is "highly unlikely" that St Gerard's will be demolished.

"I think there would be a public outcry," she says.

"It's very hard to demolish a listed heritage building. In that case finding a strengthening solution is really important.

"I love the building, it adds something to Wellington, and the council has supported them [ICPE] but that is not going to be enough," Pannett says.

She thinks costs to strengthen the buildings will probably go above $13m.

Pannett says Heritage New Zealand's rules will allow for changes to be made to the building and its inside does not have heritage protection.

Another Wellington city councillor, Nicola Young​ says the buildings are a significant part of Wellington's landscape.

She wants to see the buildings saved and hopes they can be repurposed into apartments or a hotel.

The big red brick Category 1 heritage building overlooking Oriental Bay has been "yellow-stickered" since the Christchurch earthquakes.

Its last service after 113 years will be held on Pentecost Sunday, May 23. It will be celebrated by the Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, Cardinal John Dew​.

From then on, the fate of the quake-prone church and monastery buildings - rated at 25 per cent of the New Zealand building standard - remains unclear.

Its owners, ICPE Mission New Zealand, tried to raise funds to get the buildings up to code but, by July 2020, had only raised $42,000 of the $11 million needed. It is understood the cost is now $13m.

ICPE Mission made the decision to close the buildings in consultation with the Archdiocese of Wellington.

"Both buildings have category 1 Heritage New Zealand ratings. The ICPE Mission has yet to decide their future," ICPE Mission New Zealand director Silvana Abea says.

She says the Covid-19 pandemic means for the second year running the ICPE's School of Mission could not take place, with overseas missionaries and students unable to attend.

"At the same time, the reality of a large building that needs serious earthquake strengthening has led the ICPE Mission to rethink our long-term presence in Wellington and look at new ways of being Christ's presence in the city."

Historic Places Wellington chairwoman Felicity Wong​ is full of praise for the ICPE.

"The ICPE have looked after that building, and have made it open and welcoming to the people of Wellington.

"The church has a special place in Wellington's landscape and is an important heritage building," she says.

Source

• Stuff
• Scoop
• Image: Flickr

Pannett holds the Council's heritage building resilience portfolio.

She said a special grant was one option the council had to offer some support, but ultimately the monastery may need to downsize.

She said the parish is going to have to make some tough calls about what it does with the buildings.

"It's a very painful process [relinquishing heritage buildings], but the buildings do need to be safe."

The monastery and church buildings are rated at 25 percent of the New Building Standard (NBS), and its owners have until 2027 to get them strengthened.

The buildings are owned by the International Catholic Programme of Evangelisation (IPCE).

St Gerard's is not the only catholic church in Wellington that has had to contend with earthquake strengthening costs.

The St Mary of the Angels Church on Boulcott St reopened in 2017 after a $9.3m upgrade.

Work will begin this month at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Thorndon.

The Cathedral parish received a one-off 'out of round' contribution from the Council's Built Heritage Incentive Fund to help ensure the $3.3 million strengthening works proceeded.

Pannett says the Cathedral is one of only seven basilicas in New Zealand.

She said it is important that the Council is able to invest in important projects around the city, even in tough times.

"This is a well-thought-out project. Every building that comes off our quake-prone building list makes the city safer."

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• mcshwellington.org
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Council staff had recommended giving the church $200,000 to help with its $9.3 million earthquake strengthening project.

But city councillors increased their contribution to $400,000 on Thursday, and signalled as much as $500,000 be given to St Mary of the Angels.

Deputy Mayor Justin Lester proposed giving the church $250,000 from the Built Heritage Incentive Fund this financial year and pre-approving $150,000 from the fund for 2016-17, provided it ticked all the boxes with councillors during the Annual Plan process.

He suggested even more money could be found for the church from other budgets in next year's Annual Plan, taking the total contribution up to $500,000.

Before agreeing to hand over more funding, councillors heard from representatives of Chamber Music New Zealand and the New Zealand Festival, and St Mary of the Angels patron Sir David Carruthers.

In her report to councillors, Vanessa Tanner, the council's senior heritage advisor, had said St Mary of the Angels was a fine example of a late Gothic Revival-style church.

"The building is an enduring landmark on Boulcott and Willis streets and makes a strong contribution to the sense of place and continuity of its site and the streetscape."

St Mary's was one of nine heritage properties that received a slice of the $675,500 councillors dispensed from the Built Heritage Incentive Fund.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

When the Learning Connexion was based at the College, Mr Buck graduated from an art course there and developed a great affection for the history and design of the building.

He has begun a campaign on Facebook to save the endangered Category One historic building from being pulled down. He considers that it would be a disaster if the building were to be destroyed.

"Everyone has just been focusing on the cost of repairing such a structure, but no one has looked at the cultural and historical hole that will be left if it's destroyed," he said.

"People have to remember that once it's gone, it's gone, and we're never going to get it back."

Mr Buck has detailed the features of the inside of the building. This enables people not only to appreciate its condition, but also how beautiful it is in spite of its damaged state. He has sought support from Wellington City Council, Erskine's owners (The Wellington Company) and other organisations; there has been little response thus far.

"I'm just one guy without experience in running such a campaign, but it's a cause I hold really close to my heart. I'm starting to see the support base for this grow, so it would be great to really do something with it."

It is hoped that once the Facebook group has grown, an e-petition would be set up through the Council to encourage Erskine's owners to discuss possibilities for earthquake strengthening.

The cost of such strengthening could be offset to some extent by using the building as a film-set or wedding venue.

Mr Buck said that ideally the chapel and the former convent building would be saved and restored.

He said that saving the site was a big task and that getting discussion into the public arena was an important start.

"As long as Erskine is saved, I don't care how long it takes. I'm in this for the long haul."

Sources

• The Dominion Post
• Image: Wellington Scoop

Erskine College was a Catholic Girls School which closed down in the 1980s. It was used by an Art School until Feb 2009. The chapel continues to be used for weddings.

Once a building is classified as earthquake-prone, the building owner may choose to strengthen it, or if appropriate, demolish all or part of the building.

With restoration costs likely to be millions of dollars, property manager for The Wellington Company, Murray Anderson, said the council would have to go ahead with red-stickering the century old property.

Red stickers indicate a building is unsafe for people to occupy.

Erskine is protected by a heritage order. Any work to be carried out would need the written consent of its heritage protection authority, the Save Erskine College Trust.

Save Erskine College Trust was established in 1992 as the result of a public meeting held in Island Bay. It was recognised as a Heritage Protection Authority under Section 188 of the Resource Management Act (1991).

Trust secretary Maggie Kennedy said they had not been notified by the council of the impending red stickering, which raised concerns about what The Wellington Company had planned for the site.

"We're concerned they want to demolish the main building to put cheek by jowl townhouses right under the chin of the chapel, which would completely crowd it out", she said.

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: Panoramio.com