HOUSING INTENSIFICATION
Hello Neighbours!
You are probably all noticing the housing intensification that is beginning to take place, with houses being torn down and multi story buildings taking their place – sometimes changing the entire character of long standing residential neighbourhoods. No one can deny that Auckland needs more housing, but a more thoughtful approach to development could improve HOW housing intensification takes place by focusing on development of scale on the main arterial routes for transportation, business, infrastructure AND affordable multi story housing before randomly beginning to dismantle quiet residential neighbourhoods.
It is a fact that in 2016 the Auckland Unitary Plan established building zones throughout Auckland for the regulation of urban development. For example, in my street most of Huntingtree Ave and Vancouver St are zoned as “Mixed Housing Urban”. This allows 3 story townhouses and low rise apartments to be built – with no consent from neighbours - on subdivisions of 300 square meters. Interestingly, many of the major 4 lane arterial routes are not zoned for any greater housing intensification than are nearby quiet residential areas.
You can find the map showing what your zones are at unitaryplanmaps.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz...
Click the + sigh to enlarge the map and scroll for the area you want to explore. (The more you zoom in, the more street names you can see)
On the left click on legend and click the little cone symbol across form unitary plan zones to see what each colour represents
To see what you can do in each zone, go to
www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz... consents/Pages/what-can-do-zone.aspx
In August of 2020, the government issued a new National Policy Statement on Urban Development (www.mfe.govt.nz...) that reasserted the need for greater intensification in urban areas, especially on major arterial routes where infrastructure is best located. I believe that a National Policy directive trumps (excuse the pun) local council. With a push for greater focus on housing intensification and associated infrastructure on main arterial routes, this might be an opportunity to collectively urge Council to reassess current zoning regulations that allow for three story, two story and even single story housing zones along some of our main arterial routes while three story buildings, that tower over existing single story homes, are starting to pop up randomly in quiet residential streets.
With the number of commuters who park in residential streets close to main transportation routes, many of those streets are already reduced to a single lane for cars to pass through, and parking for locals is restricted. Housing intensification in those streets would only increase that problem. (Note: Residential parking permits are generally something that local residents have to pay for)
From : Recommendations and decisions report on the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Statement on Urban Development:
An NPS has two main effects:
• local authorities must amend their regional policy statements (RPSs), and regional and district plans, to give effect to the NPS
•decision-makers on plans, policy statements, resource consents and other matters must consider the NPS as part of their process.
“The aim is to encourage more effective growth, particularly close to frequent public transport, and walking and cycling facilities. It is also intended to help local authorities make decisions that work for all communities, offering choices for diverse groups and listening to a wider range of voices in the urban planning system”.
I am reaching out for your ideas about what we can do collectively to improve the way intensification is taking place on our streets, in our community, and in other Auckland communities. And I am reaching out for your support in seeking a solution from Council. What other streets might be facing the same problem? Do you know anyone who could be helpful in seeking a solution from Council?
Would you be willing to sign a petition asking Council to amend the Unitary Plan to accommodate a sequence of development that focuses on increasing housing intensification on main arterial routes before encroaching on residential streets?
Let’s get a discussion going!
Kathy Torpie, Sandringham
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Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.
We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.
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83% Same!
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17% Would have liked to try something different
7 tips for buying your Christmas ham
It’s the centerpiece of the Christmas table, so when you’re peering into the supermarket chiller or ordering from the butcher, choosing the perfect ham can feel like a daunting task.
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing one to bring home with you.
1. What type of ham to buy
You’ve got some decisions to make when it comes to the type of Christmas ham you’re going to buy.
Cooked on the bone (COB) ham is the traditional Christmas ham. If you’re buying a half ham, you’ll have the choice of the shank or fillet end. The shank is the part with the bone sticking out that gives the ham that traditional look. The fillet end is the round part that gives more meat. If you’re deciding whether to get a whole ham or half, consider how quickly you’ll be able to eat it all. You only have about a week to eat an opened ham before it will go off, so it can be a good idea to get two halves. That way you can eat one half during the week of Christmas and save the other for January.
Champagne ham has had the bone removed and only has the hock left on, so it’s easier to carve.
Pressed ham – also known as continental ham – has had the bones removed and has been pressed, so it’s also easy to carve.
2. Check the pork percentage
The label on a packaged ham will say what percentage is actually meat. Hams are injected with brine, to keep them moist, and additives. The brine injection level for manufactured hams is usually between 10% and 35% of the ham's weight. A manufacturer that wants to produce a cheap ham will add more water to bump up the weight.
3. Know how to tell if it’s New Zealand pork
By far, most of the hams bought in New Zealand this Christmas will be from pigs reared overseas. New Zealand imports pork from about 25 countries. It’s frustrating for New Zealand pig farmers because this ham can come from farms that don’t have to meet the same animal welfare standards as we have in this country. As a result, overseas meat is often cheaper.
If buying New Zealand pork is important to you, look for:
words on the packaging like ‘New Zealand pork’ or ‘born and raised in New Zealand’
4. Have a good look at the ham
If you’re going to be glazing your ham, look for one that is covered in a finger-thick layer of fat. This will give you the thickness you need to make good score lines.
New Zealand Pork’s website also advises looking for a ham that has a meaty texture rather than one that looks wet or rubbery. It says the ham’s skin should be smooth with even colouring. “If the knuckle is sunken, it may be overcooked. If the rind is buckled or uneven, it may be a sign of dryness.”
5. Ask a lot of questions
If you’re ordering your pork from a butcher, you probably won’t be able to compare hams like you would at the supermarket. So, make sure you ask lots of questions, now that you know what you’re looking for.
You could ask:
Is the ham made from New Zealand born and farmed pork?
What will be its injection percentage?
What flavours will it have?
You could even ask if there’s a glaze the butcher thinks would work particularly well with those flavours.
6. Know what size you’ll need
If the ham is the only meat on your Christmas menu, New Zealand Pork advises allowing 1kg of ham for five people. Or if you’ve got other meat options, 1kg will feed about six to eight people.
7. Know the best hams in New Zealand
The best hams of the year were awarded at the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards earlier in the year so you can check out which ones got medals. Some of them are only available in the city the butcher is based, but a Farmland boneless ham available nationwide won a gold award and Woolworths bone-in and boneless hams picked up bronze.
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