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Published as Issue No. 102

April 6, 2014

Community Gathers: On Sunday 17 local people attended the quarterly meeting of the Houghton Valley Progressive Association, joined by three city councillors. Full minutes of the meeting will be posted on the website shortly, highlights included;

• Thirty years on from when she first took on the role of hall manager, Trish Leith has retired. Without her efforts and those of treasurer and husband Hugh (who is stepping down at the July 20 AGM) the hall would have been lost to the community.
• Bus services: submissions on the modified (modified) proposals need to be in by this Friday, May 9. A draft of the Association’s next submission, prepared by Linda of View Rd is attached. [No attachment]
• Thanks to an extraordinary community effort the exterior of the hall has been repainted and some minor repairs carried out for the total sum of …. $2,545.15c!
• If “Boot camp for beginners” or “Zumba” is for you, two new groups have just started to use the hall, see below.

Lifting the Creek Project: As result of increased interest from the community about ‘Lifting the Creek’ and to prepare for a visit from Council worker Nicci Woods, sessions to share ideas and find creative solutions are being held every Friday at Hornsey Road from 7 – 8.30 pm. For more information please ring Miranda.

Boot-camp for beginners: Is a fun fitness class being held in the community hall on Thursdays 9.05 – 10.05 am. It incorporates weight training, aerobic fitness, core strengthening, boxing and self defence. No drill sergeants! Everyone welcome. $10 casual or an introductory price for 10 trip card $70.

Bus Review: Linda advises that we are still waiting for feedback from Martin Hanley (President of the Newtown Residents Association). He has indicated that residents from Newtown, Berhampore and Mt Cook are willing to support our submission. We haven’t had long to prepare the submission and given it is due on Friday there won’t be time to make a lot of changes. I therefore suggest letting people know that they can also send individual submissions if they have comments and suggestions – the deadline is this Friday, 9 May.

The website link to the bus review is no longer current.

Norman

Published as Issue No. 101

1 May, 2014

In 1929: The New York Stock Exchange collapsed, but on the other hand the Houghton Valley Progressive Association held it first meeting.

The next meeting this Sunday, 4 May at 4 pm will be attended by three Wellington City councillors Paul Eagle, Sarah Free and David Lee. This is a good opportunity to find out how our relationships with the council can benefit the community.

All welcome, meetings are brief; there will be an opportunity to talk to them afterwards over a cup of tea. Further information ring Ken.

Norman

Published as Issue No. 100

No date April, 2014

100 and Counting!

In August 2010 four people received a group e-mail about starting a community garden. Ninety-nine e-mails later this edition of the (grandly named) Houghton Valley Community Newsletter went to 202 households.

Some had a sense back then that people living in this special part of Wellington wanted to connect more with each other, build community, and together address a range of concerns about, e.g. our environment, traffic and damage caused by southerly storms.

The group e-mail grew fast and in January 2011 morphed into the newsletter. Its role evolved to informing about local activities and as a platform to share information. Now there are many contributors.

Remember the archaeological dig, the traffic roundabout at the beach (which locals designed in collaboration with the council), the erection of signs in the View Rd / Te Raekaihau Park, Piebe’s seat, meetings at the school on a range of issues, the ice cream stall on View Rd? The newsletter helped make these happen and bring into existence the Houghton Valley website and Facebook page.

In turn this led to the development of a grand editorial policy for the Newsletter, which emerged over cups of tea at the aforementioned community garden – Something Every Second Week.

Here’s to the next 100!

From All to All.

Published as Issue No. 99: Special Issue

April 15, 2014

On our Buses: For two years Houghton Valley and Southgate residents have been involved with the Wellington Bus Review, with Christine Fowler, chair of the Houghton Valley Progressive Association and Linda Cameron attending meetings and leading the preparation of a substantial submission.

It seems further effort is needed. What appeared to be a very good result for local people may not be as good after all. After Christine attended a meeting last week in Kilbirnie about the Regional Public Transport Plan on Wednesday, and received communications from former regional councillor Daran Ponter, she and Linda have commented about the proposed re-revised bus routes and timetables which:

“… have some significant variations from the earlier plans we were consulted on … it is very important the community be made aware of the revised plans for the bus routes as they may affect some people, for example:

• Travelling on both the Houghton Bay and Southgate services into Wellington City will require you to change buses at the hospital. At peak times 3 buses are proposed to travel direct to and from Wellington.
• The revised Houghton Bay and Southgate bus services will not travel through to the university, therefore travelling to the university from our suburbs at off-peak times will require you to change buses twice each way (and once each way if travelling at peak times).

We would encourage everyone who uses the buses to review the revised bus transport plans and to make a submission to Greater Wellington Regional Council if they are unhappy with the proposals. Information about how to make a submission is available on the GWRC website. Submissions close at 4pm, Friday 9 May 2014″

Linda and Christine are also considering updating the submission sent in last June and submitting that by 9 May, so if anyone would prefer to incorporate their feedback into this submission they are welcome to email information Christine with ‘Regional Public Transport Plan submission’ in the subject line.

Main points from Daran Ponter’s email.

“There are elements of the proposals that are quite positive. However, some communities will now find that they have taken a backward step and that where through routes were originally proposed, bus changes will now be required. Bus routes have also been configured in different ways. So ‘your’ bus may not take you to where you want to go. I would urge you all to carefully study the proposals and make submissions as appropriate.

You may recall that during 2012 we held a series of well attended meetings across the City to discuss and encourage submissions on the Wellington Bus Review. This led to more than 5,000 submissions on the proposals. The result was generally positive – the Council listened and routes and timetables were realigned to better meet community needs. The Regional Council has now re-issued the Wellington Bus Review for public consultation. In the process it has factored in its recent decision related to Rapid Bus Transit through the Wellington Spine(s). I am more than happy to assist groups in drawing up submissions to the Council.”

[Bus review links not current]

Houghton Valley Community Newsletter

30 August, 2012

What’s next for the Houghton Valley Newsletter?: From modest beginnings, as a means to keep a few people in touch about the community garden, the Houghton Valley Newsletter is now distributed to 165 households every two weeks.

To date content has been limited to items of general interest – the upgrade of the Houghton Bay intersection, proposed changes to the bus service, civil defence, reserve restoration working bees, the archaeological dig etc. The only ‘commercial’ information promoted a unit for households for civil defence emergencies.

The objective of this ‘think piece’ is to initiate a discussion about if the newsletter could also be used as a local buy/sell/swap or ‘free cycle’ communications channel. If you want to lease a garage for temporary storage, hire a student over the holidays for a clean up task, sell garden furniture or firewood or give it away – why not do that locally where possible? Another example in an earlier issue was where Miranda of Hornsey Rd was looking for a studio to rent for two days a week.

We believe a number of people would be interested and that it’s worth a trial. Opening up the newsletter in this way will require the development of some guidelines. One requirement could be the initiator should be a local person and the product or service likely to be of interest to local people. One possibility is to include all such information in an attachment so people can choose to look at the information or not.

What do you think? Feedback will be published in the next newsletter, meanwhile if you have a commercial notice you would like published send it in.

A message from Te Raekaihau Coast Care: “Now that the worst of winter is over we will be gathering on the Point to do our planting for this year on Sunday 16 September 10 am – 12 midday. We will also be participating in the annual Wellington-wide coastal cleanup taking place at the same time. Council has planted many more plants in the area we previously planted in to create a coastal shrubland. Large numbers of the plants had died, many went missing so the replacement species are different and hardier. Our planting this time will be to fill in and soften the boundaries between the carpark and the rest of the Point and help create a more natural looking distribution. Council will bring some grubbers to help with the hard pan that exists in some places. Bring along any tools you may find useful.

A recent development for our group has been the partnership we are in the process of creating with the Te Raekaihau Restoration Group, one of the several community groups in Houghton Valley generally, that come together regularly for their various activities. As the Point is part of the same landscape that TRiG are restoring it makes sense to work together and draw upon the local community for ongoing involvement and support as key individuals in our group move on.

The continuation of our group is important and we invite anyone who would like to join us for occasional meetings and activity plans. Your continued support is appreciated. If you would like more information about or be involved with the restoration of the rest of the headland behind and up to the Point you can get more information about TRIG on their Facebook Group. [Now Te Ohu o Te Raekaihau] See you all then.” – Sunita.

Regards Norman and Grant

Houghton Valley Community Newsletter

2 August, 2012

Message from Christine Fowler, President, Houghton Valley Progressive Association: The chair of the Wellington Region Local Government Review Panel, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, has circulated an issues paper outlining the key questions the region is facing now and in the future. [No attachment]

Message from Kae Miller Trust and Te Raekaihau Restoration Group: A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between us and the City Council. It recognises the partnership for the purpose of realising the conservation and restoration of the Te Raekaihau Park (the headland that overlooks Princess and Houghton Bays and include the land around the Alice Krebs Lodge). If you would like to view the document email Grant.

Message from Jenny of Houghton Bay Rd: Join us for a planting afternoon near the Alice Krebs Lodge this Saturday, 2 – 4 pm.

Traffic Intersection update: The final plan was received on Monday.

Message from the Community Gardeners: Two years ago, a group of residents started the garden (and this newsletter). The gardeners plan to celebrate on Sunday 12th August. Feel free to join them for a cuppa from 2 pm onwards.

Message from Grant of Hungerford Rd: A (Skype) seminar is being planned with Houghton Valley residents for September. This follows my week in Sydney which included attending workshops where the Houghton Valley PhD project was discussed with philosophers Brian Massumi and Erin Manning (Professors at Université de Montréal) and PhD students from Montreal and Sydney. There was considerable interest in what we are doing in our community and as a result the 2 – 3 hour seminar will involve international students and all Houghton Valley residents interested in participating. Will keep you posted, for more about the PhD project see the Houghton Valley Community project Facebook page.

Regards, Grant and Norman

Houghton Valley Community Newsletter

19 July, 2012

This newsletter is missing.

Houghton Valley Community Newsletter

5 July, 2012

Message from Brenda (View Rd): Many local people don’t know about the Alice Krebs Lodge overlooking Te Raekaihau Point, and those who have discovered it while walking the headland tracks are unlikely to have seen inside. On Saturday July 14 we celebrate the founding of the View Rd South / Te Raekaihau Park as well as the Lodge built by Kae Miller for us all to enjoy. [Its available for hire]. Come and have a look between 2 and 4 pm, join us for a cup of tea and a look around; the recent energy retrofit includes the latest in underfloor insulation. This is also the opportunity to see the plantings and other work being done by the TRiG Restoration Group and take a walk over the various tracks on the headland. See map below:

Message from Christine (Buckley Rd): A reminder that the next meeting of the Houghton Valley Progressive Association will be held on Sunday 15 July, commencing 4 pm. This will be followed by the AGM, all welcome.

Houghton Valley School fair: “Donations of produce are sought to make preserves to sell at the Houghton Valley School Fair in October. Do you have, or do you know people who have more rhubarb, lemons, mint, feijoas (especially feijoas!), apples, quinces, chillies, tomatoes etc than you know what to do with? I am always keen to receive donations of produce to make into preserves and cordials to sell – no matter how small or large the donation, it is very welcome. Donors are given a jar/bottle of what I make as a thank you!” – Sarah

Message from Estelle, (Buckley Rd): White handmade knitted baby bonnet found along footpath of track on Mt Albert Road last week.

Close to Home: Around 80 organically grown broccoli seedlings which began life in the community garden are now growing in home gardens in Houghton Valley, including a number given to the new local Hornsey Rd garden project – Te Kawakawa Commons. Local people have each saved a few dollars which would otherwise have been spent at Garden Centres, saving petrol at the same time. At the community garden less work has been done over the last three Sunday afternoons as visitors provided the perfect excuse to stop to talk and have a cup of tea 🙂 .

Message from Jenny (Houghton Bay Rd): Next TRiG working bee is near the Alice Krebs Lodge July 7, (2 – 5pm).

Regards, Grant and Norman

Houghton Valley Community Newsletter

21 June, 2012

This newsletter is missing.