Kia ora everyone,
It’s been a good start to the month with the owners of the Firth property reopening public access along the Takapuna to Milford coastal walkway. This incredibly popular walk was sorely missed by so many last summer and throughout the year, and we’re thankful to the owners for enabling this to continue.
After just approving our work programme for the current financial year, we’re back on the treadmill again looking at what we can deliver in the 25/26 financial year. While other local boards around the city gained greater operational and capital budgets, we were one of the very few boards whose financial position hasn’t changed. We now have the unenviable task of prioritising what we can do according to asset condition and need. It’s one of the most difficult parts of the job, not being able to meet the expectations of different groups in the community. With approximately $5million in annual capital expenditure to renew every single council asset in need of investment in the area, there’s so much that simply doesn’t get done. This also means that the budgets to fund new items, such as the Francis-Esmonde shared path, or a Milford estuary boardwalk, need to be found through the optimisation of underutilised assets, or by investigating a targeted rate. The board keeps an open mind on these matters and continues to investigate options.
Last month we had the pleasure of distributing over $100,000 to community groups to support them in meeting their own aspirations; making our patch of paradise more vibrant and abundant with opportunity for people to come together and enjoy life. This included funding to the Liz Soper Foundation of Care Trust which is leading a colour run at Allen Hill Stadium, support for the renewal of the Milford Senior Citizen’s Hall kitchen, a contribution to the Takapuna Beach Cup event, funding towards a new glasshouse at the Ngataringa Organic Garden, support towards the Milford Rotary Club’s volunteer work planting all the flower pots in Milford town centre, funding for new lane ropes to support Takapuna Grammar School’s pool upgrade, funding for the Devonport Peninsula Trust’s kids' athletics series, new blinds to keep the heat in at the Glenfield Rugby League Club in Sunnynook, funding towards Ecofest, North Harbour Budgeting Service, Devonport Arts Festival and many, many others. There was over $400,000 worth of requests from 70 applicants, which shows you what a wonderful, busy and connected community we have, with huge amounts of volunteerism powering each organisation. Goodwill and community spirit is something that we have in abundance. Let’s keep it that way.
Enjoy the finer weather, our stunning open spaces, and remember to shop local as your mind starts turning towards Christmas. We’re just about there!

Toni van Tonder, Chair, Devonport-Takapuna Local Board
toni.vantonder@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz