Kia ora whānau, thank you to all those who shared their support at the Blockhouse Bay Markets yesterday and those who have also messaged about seeking change to the Kāinga Ora proposal. The outcome of the markets has been extremely disappointing. Kāinga Ora have been unprepared and unable to answer the questions. Their actions are bordering on ignorant and arrogant as they plan to go ahead with the proposal and not listen and engage with the community. If there is anyone in the community who would be willing to look at this as a lawyer pro bono or has media contacts could you please email me - benjinathan00@gmail.com it would be greatly appreciated.
To summarise the main points from yesterday:
- Kāinga Ora will not agree to delay submitting their s92 resource consent any further and will submit on Friday 31st March.
- Kāinga Ora make no plans to make any change to the proposed development plan to allow for pensioner housing.
- Kāinga Ora will not have a formal engagement with the community and other parties involved.
- Answers to questions will be available online Friday 31st March. https://kaingaora.govt.nz/developments-and-programmes/what-were-building/public-housing-developments/auckland-region/marlowe-road-and-bolton-street
Yesterday we were able to audio record and below is some interesting dialogue. I prepared a speech (attached in comments) and invited them to follow with their own statement before answering questions. Their response - “Lovely to have you all here again this morning, its good to see a number of familiar faces and thank you Benji your korero. I am happy just to take questions.”
“So no response to anything that was just said?”
KO - “No, I’m happy to just take questions?”
We were then told that the answers to our questions will be available online by Friday 31st March. When asked if the documents that I had found last week relating to the agreement and gift were the documents mentioned as unable to locate by Simpson Grierson their response was this.
KO - “I don’t know”.
When asked “Are you going to go back and retrospectively look at the documents to honour the gifting.?
KO -“No?”
“Why not?”
KO -“When we purchased the land it didn’t have anything that was encumbrance... In my words I am noting that we have an obligation to provide housing and we can do this on this site. We are utilising the land to provide homes for those in need, which was the spirit that Darby intended.”
“No it is written here… on a formal signed agreement and transaction statement that the gifting was done for pensioner housing.”
“So what due diligence was done in regards to the gifting of the land.”
KO -“I don’t know.”
“Where has the decision come from to not hold the formal community meeting that we requested?”
KO - “I think we have given enough answers.”
“Does the CEO, Andrew Mckenzie know about this?”
KO - “He is aware of the project and comfortable with what we are proposing”
“Have you talked to him since these have been found and sent to you”?
KO - “Not personally I haven't”
“Has someone talked to Andrew Mckenzie since these documents have been found and sent to you”
KO -“No.”
“What have you done about looking into the legal ramifications of these documents”
KO -“I have a legal opinion on it and I can supply that to you on the 31st March.”
Other things that were discussed were the implications of infrastructure particularly traffic, the proposed breakdown of sized properties whether Dr Deborah Russel had been in touch (this was interesting as Deborah has told me that a formal briefing has been requested, however the KO team there including the Regional Director knew nothing about this), the poor engagement and how it has been discriminatory by having it outside (standing up and in the hot sun), lack of transparency. We made it clear we are not against social housing but we want to see change to honour Darby’s gifting.
Finally, I leave you with this dialogue exchange. “So from today you are making no commitment to meet.”
KO - “correct”
“You are making no commitment to make change to include pensioner housing within the plan.”
KO - “correct”
“Having listened to everything you choose not to.”
KO - “yes”
Please continue to share with friends and family so that we can see change to the proposal planned and honour Darby’s wishes to have pensioner housing in the heart of Blockhouse Bay. Ehara tāku toa i te toa takatahi, engari he toa takatini - My strenth is not as an individual but as a collective. Today we are the strength of Darby.
Below are the emails of those present for anyone who may like to get in touch with Kāinga Ora.
Staff Present
- Taina Jones (Regional Director) - tania.jones@kaingaora.govt.nz
- William Parr (Senior Development Manager) - william.parr@kaingaora.govt.nz
- Jody Jackson (Community engagement and Partnerships)- jody.jackson-Becerra@kaingaora.govt.nz
- Aroha Sinclair - aroha.sinclair@kaingaora.govt.nz
Additional
- Andrew McKenzie (CEO) andrew.mckenzie@kaingaora.govt.nz
Please find link below to files containing the legal opinions regarding the selling of the property in 2003.