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62 days ago

Have you read Auck CC's LTP (long term plan)? Do you want to lose our Stadium?

Noel from Coatesville

It's a massive read! I've spent over 2 hours in 2 separate sessions, and still not completed.
BUT, the most pressing thing IMO is the loss of our Stadium.
Councillor John Watson has explained the situation:
" a proposal that could involve the demolition of North Harbour Stadium and the sale of the land. That proposal is being advanced by Tataki Auckland Unlimited (the council CCO which has managed the stadium since 2014).
If adopted this would mean the entire northern region of Auckland will never again have a stadium capable of hosting any major sporting, cultural or music event as occurred regularly under previous management (and this for the fastest growing node in Auckland with a population fast approaching 500,000).
By stark contrast from 1997 -2014 the stadium was managed by the North Harbour Stadium Trust. That Trust was very successful in attracting a wide variety of content to the stadium including All Black and Kiwi rugby league tests, NRL games, Super Rugby games, FIFA matches, an A-League soccer franchise and a whole variety of concerts and cultural events. The Trust also built up a healthy reserve fund to ensure the ongoing maintenance and capital replacement.
Around 2014, however, the Trust was persuaded by council directors that the transfer of the stadium into the new ‘Super City’ CCO would be in the best interests of the stadium going forward.

Since that time, however, the original trustees, along with many in the North Harbour community, have watched in dismay as TAU have not only failed to attract anything like the content that characterised the performance of the previous Trust but have severely compromised the use of the ground with some disastrous operational decisions.
The most graphic example of these failures was the $2.5 million spent in 2019 demolishing a large section of the western half of the ground to accommodate a baseball franchise that subsequently went bust owing money. In so doing TAU effectively removed the ability of North Harbour Stadium to attract major sporting events.
Remarkably no subsequent effort has been made by TAU to reinstate the western half of the ground despite there being a relatively straightforward fix - so now half of the stadium looks like an ordinary suburban ground while the other side retains the look and facilities of a modern stadium, the equal of any in NZ in fact.

Instead of addressing these glaring shortcomings for which they have been solely responsible Tataki Auckland Unlimited are now promoting the demolition of Auckland’s newest stadium, ironically one they themselves trumpeted a few years back as “the country’s finest mid-size community stadium.”

More messages from your neighbours
7 hours ago

The Tova Show

Jen from Stuff

Hello! Are you a …
- A student/young professional renting
- A young family, renting or owning
- An older New Zealander/retiree/pensioner

We’re reaching out from the Tova show, the flagship weekly politics podcast on Stuff, as we prepare for our budget coverage and how it’s affecting Kiwis - we’d love to hear from you.

We need a few people who are available the week before the budget (Wednesday 22nd/Thursday 23rd May) and on the day of the announcement (Thursday 30th May).

Please email tova@stuff.co.nz or comment below if you’d like to share your perspective with us. We give you our commitment to treat your experience with sensitivity and care.

Type NFP if you don't wish your comments to be used.

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19 hours ago

Share your New Zealand music memories...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

It's NZ Music Month and New Zealand really has some beautiful songs from artists that we call our own.

Whether it's April Sun in Cuba, Don't Forget your Roots, or How Bizarre or Bic Runga's 'Sway' - songs have a way of unlocking memories and evoking old feelings.

In honour of NZ Music Month, share a New Zealand song or artist that is special to you and explain why.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

11 hours ago

Homicide in Ponsonby

The Team from New Zealand Police

A homicide investigation is under way following the death of a man in Ponsonby on Sunday evening.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton, Auckland City CIB, says emergency services responded to reports of a firearm being discharged outside an address on Ponsonby Road around 10.18pm last night.
“Upon arrival, a man was located deceased.
“Our investigation is now in the early stages to determine the full circumstances of what has occurred.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton says the community can expect to see an increased Police presence in the Ponsonby area today.
“Road closures are currently in place on Ponsonby Road between Franklin and Richmond Roads and Police are assisting with traffic management.
“A scene guard has also been established and will remain in place today while our enquiries continue,” he says.
Enquiries to locate the person believed to be responsible remain ongoing.
“Police have been in the area overnight speaking to a number of witnesses who were in the vicinity at the time of the incident,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton says.
“While at this stage, no arrests have been made, Police are following lines of enquiry.”

A post-mortem examination and formal identification of the victim will be carried out over the coming days.
Police encourage anyone else who was in the area or has information to assist who have not yet spoken to us to please get in touch.

You can contact Police via our 105 phone service or online at www.police.govt.nz....
Please reference file number 240506/9353.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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