MDCA : Varieties of planning- Advanced Care & TRMP

(Tasman Resource Management Plan)

 

Māpua & Districts Community Association’s November meeting provided a significant time-slot for  members to brainstorm  together in groups considering  :

• What is special about Māpua as it is now?
• What aspects do we want to see retained ?
• What changes/ new developments would we like to see in future ?

A summary of these thoughts and suggestions  is provided  elsewhere in this edition and will also be posted on MDCA’s Facebook

 

Hot topic for the Month – Advanced Care Planning (ACP)

This kaupapa was introduced by Carla Arkless -Advance Care Planning Facilitator, Nelson Tasman who holds the responsibility  in the District for ensuring that :

• people are aware of & encouraged to engage in the process of developing an ACP &
• doctors and nurses are encouraged and helped to have conversations with their patients about the process

Carla stressed that creating and ACP was appropriate for people to address and complete at any age ; ‘” anyone could contract pneumonia tomorrow” ….and stressed the importance and value of people :

1. considering how they do/don’t want to be treated if/when they are no longer able to communicate this to professionals and
2. having conversations with family and “ significant others” about their wishes on treatments/arrangements and any advance directives

Process of creating ACP

Plans accessible on line or available from health/medical centres

1. Discuss with family/carers the most important things you want them to know about in terms of your wishes . Focus on “ what matters most to me while I am living “ Especially important to ensure have set up Enduring Power of Attorney ( which ensures that ACP cannot be over-ridden)
2. Fill in as much of the plan as possible then ask for an ACP appointment
3. Discuss plan at this meeting ; especially S6 relating to Advance Directives – professional will ensure that you understand your choices and their consequences
4. When finalized ,sign and medical professional will also sign
5. Plan then uploaded to digital NHS Record which is then accessible to all levels of Emergency Services ( Ambulance etc) as well as hospital /respite/palliative care records in the South Island

Suggestions for publicizing; Accessing & Updating ACP

• Orange fridge magnets available to indicate have such a plan
• Keep a copy in the car and always take a copy with you when away from home
• Review annually – is a living document which can be updated at any time ; may not have thought of current circumstances when making the original decisions
• Consider having doctors/nurses assisting in such a review
• Changes in paper copy will result in changes made to uploaded digital copy

Some MDCA members present at the meeting who had ACPs, confirmed what a positive process thinking/talking  through this process had been and encouraged everyone to address this for themselves.

 

A video broadcast of this full presentation is available on MDCA Website

 

MDCA “ Good Sort “ for the month

November Noted that the nomination of David Mitchell as the November “Good Sorts” had attracted the highest number of “ hits” on Facebook for the month as well as posts noting many other ways in which he had contributed to the community.

December : Jan Patterson nominated a group of GOOD SORTS  whose combined work means that Māpua School now provides an exciting and colourful entrance to our beautiful seaside village. This wonderful masterpiece Toi Whakaira Pou Whenua – is a gathering  of prominent posts, created through the art of wood carving, to show/mark possession of an area and our school is the first in Aotearoa/NZ to have provided such a taonga. As this was the work of not one, but several the group of Good Sorts includes

• Gordon Toi, a local artist and parent, renowned as a ta moko artist and master carver.
• Sarah Trolle, teacher at Mapua School, who applied for funding through an MOE ‘Creatives in Schools Project’ to partner a local artist with students and teachers in a significant art project.
• Kerry Rivers, a local sculptor who created two significant metal sculptures to enhance the pou.
• The pupils of Māpua School who were involved in all stages of the planning and creating of these colourful Pou. They walked and explored -to the shore and estuaries, to the Wharf and Grossi Point, along pathways and tracks – and they sketched and painted. Then they spent time in Gordon’s back yard and at school putting together all they had discovered

For more information about  the elements and meanings of Toi Whakaira Pou Whenua –see information on MDCA Facebook and elsewhere in this edition

Also in relation to Māpua School , Esme Palliser noted that Mike Turnbull’s photo collection of living with COVID was being sold @ $10 per copy as a fundraiser for the School – in lieu of funding usually raised from the Easter Fair ( not held this year due to COVID lockdown)

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

Heritage  trees –noted that  a get together will be  organized to focus on how significant trees can be retained and developed .Noted that “ protected tree” applications need to come from the landowner with approval from neighbours ; process of assessment and achieving a successful application takes 2 years

Housing intensification & further developments

CAN ( Citizens’ Action Nelson) presentation on housing intensification by Barry Johnston & Jacqui Deans  was reported on by Bridget Castle noting that:

• All the initiatives referred to required changes to RMA ( due to be repealed in 90 days)
• TDC can only act in response to what hears back from the communities – important when considering what residents see/ wish for as the unique identity of Māpua

Impressions were that :

• TDC concepts are broad – Developers see their land & what they want to do – Residents  are in between with no say – need some way of communicating directly with the developers
• Cr Anne Turley confirmed that if the community wants to influence creation of open-spaces/ walkways etc, then they need to engage directly and have a say with developers ; TRMP is still in place and the process is not occurring within a vacuum

 

COMMUNITY WELLBEING

1. Māpua Willing Wheels has only 1 month left in the trial period, -Māpua and Ruby Bay Community Trust have allocated funding to cover the last month of operation . In relation to researching possible reasons for the current low number of recorded rides, the current membership sub will be dropped to see if this makes a difference . Grant applications will be made for supporting the service into next year in anticipation of passenger uptake increasing
2. A Coastal Corridor Route ( Motueka through Tasman/Māpua to Richmond) will be addressed and researched next year. A TDC Community Services Grant will provide funding for a co-ordinator for 3 months to confirm demand; research possible vehicles; routes and timetables
3. Community Hub– see separate newsletter article elsewhere in this issue with details of projects and progress

 

 COMMENTS FROM WARD COUNCILLORS

Cr Christeen McKenzie noted that :
1     MDCA needs to make a formal submission to TDC re the classification of Aranui Park and Dominion Flats Reserve as scenic reserves

2     Councillors had been told that no workshop on development of a Boat Ramp would be held until the New Year

Cr Anne Turley noted that

• In relation to developing allotments,
• Richard Hilton had not been part of this conversation ;
• no suitable land was available for growing vegetables
• if such land were identified, it would need water and safety resources

2     that if the community wants to influence creation of open-spaces/ walkways etc, then they need to engage directly and have a say with developers ; TRMP is still in place and the process is not occurring within a vacuum

 

FUTURE HOT TOPICS:

December –   “ Hot Topic” :celebrating the year past & choosing topics for the year ahead

Share food and meet others

January  –      no meeting

 

Be sure to attend/ join in our next monthly meeting:  Monday, 14 December  at 7 PM (content & format to be confirmed on MDCA Facebook & Mailchimp mailout )

MDCA works closely with TDC to ensure our community functions in a way that suits the majority of our residents. To have a vote that counts, become a financial member of MDCA by simply paying a $10 membership fee to our NBS account 03-1354-0356471-00 with your name & phone number as a reference.                                                        

Submitted by:  Elena Meredith

MDCA :   Tasman Resource Management Plan(TRMP)      –November   2020 

Māpua & Districts Community Association’s October meeting  was held immediately following the TDC drop-in session for community input on TRMP and primarily focused on the issues raised and processes to be followed . For those interested in more detail,   please note that a full recording of the presentation is available on MDCA Facebook Page while the video and power-point slides are posted on the MDCA Webpage

Kathy Fletcher ( (TDC Principal planner) noted that :

• the title and theme of the Draft plan is Aorere ki uta; Aorere ki tai – Tasman area from the mountains to the sea which recognizes all living things and how they can co-exist and interact .
• there were 7 waahi ( districts) in the region and 9 iwi holding mana whenua status which means that consultation and input process takes time and covers a wide range of issues and opportunities for change. The focus would be on developing partnerships “ by the community; for the community” as “we need to get it right”

Residents were thanked for the issues raised & ideas suggested at the drop-in session prior to the MDCA meeting. Local input & engagement is recognized as being essential in terms of how to meet and balance these needs while also looking to the future and ensuring a balance . Information and input would be gathered from each district and co-ordinated into a whole regional plan in which local issues would be addressed and plans for regional development would be set.

The TRMP will set broad policies ( guidance ) as well as include regulations ( the rule book) –  “we need a pause in paddling to ensure that we are all travelling in the same direction”

 

Jeremy  Butler (TDC Team Leader for Urban & Rural development)  

explained the purpose of the plan in relation to Resource Management Act ( RMA) & TDC’s Long term Plan ( LTP) which is to combine all of these into  a “user friendly plan” which is why “a ground-up  community consultation process  is essential .”

It was noted that “ planning is a slow process” & that if there are pressing issues, these need to be addressed in other forums noting the role of elected members [Ward Councillors] here

Māpua & Districts was described as  a:

• “ sensitive cultural area”
• “ hot-spot for future growth”

recognizing the   importance of identifying where future commercial growth should be . This means an in-depth investigation of future development plans . The character of amenities of this area have not previously been defined

 

Issues raised by those attending related to :

• Zoning- seen as a primary issue – a reminder that all maps relating to “top of the South” will be posted on MDCA Website [under “ community planning”]
• Indicative roads
• Development/ felling trees / identifying & saving “ significant trees”
• Retaining diversity in the area
• Addressing & engaging with climate change issues
• Possibility of plan changes between now &end of planning period [this takes up to 2 years.] Jeremy noted that  organizations such as MDCA can use TEP for a private plan change { this needs to be paid for)  but that  “ if you continue to do rolling time changes we won’t get anywhere.”

 

The TDC Timeline :

• 2020- meeting with communities
• options with solutions ; “ discussions with elected members”
• 2021- come back to communities with draft plan ( engagement round 2)
• 2022- future unclear with abolition of RMA ( engagement round 3)
• Presentation finished with their reassurance that “we are committed to coming back to you and keeping you updated: – thankyou let’s do this together”
• Residents were urged to get involved and “help us[TDC] plan how to look after our district for generations to come” through :

Web: environmentplan.tasman.govt Email:  environmentplan@tasman.govt   Phone: 03 543 8400

Chair Marion Satherley thanked presenters  for their time and engagement – “ your job has been done”

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

Dominion Flats –attention was directed to 2 photographs of the same area 2014/2020 noting the

significant difference over the years. These can be seen on MDCA Website

Heritage  trees –noted that identifying and listing these was a project the community could undertake with MDCA co-ordination – Ward Councillors will locate & forward information on the process

COMMUNITY WELLBEING

1. Community volunteer drivers’ service –   Māpua Willing Wheels is now up and rolling – with only 2months left in the trial period, it is vital that the service is well used –“ use it or lose it”-please spread the word!!
2. Community Hub– see separate newsletter article elsewhere in this issue with details of projects and progress

Projects

Community Seating  noted these should be ready for public use by the end of November

SOCIAL MEDIA

Noted high levels of engagement with postings on live presentations from September monthly meeting and “indicative roads” posting.

 

 COMMENTS FROM WARD COUNCILLORS

Cr Christeen McKenzie noted that :
1     TDC was working on the 3 year review of the LTP   ( Long tem Plan ) and

2      she will locate and send the A4 sized diagram showing how all TDC’s different documents are named and interact with each other

Cr Anne Turley reassured members that in relation to Councillors’ level of  involvement with issues of climate change :

1. all TDC reports included the implications of climate change
2. tTwo TDC staff & councillors attend the regional Climate Change Forum meetings

 

FUTURE HOT TOPICS:

November –  Advanced Care Planning – what is it & why is it important ?

December –   celebrating the year past & planning for the year ahead J

 

Be sure to attend/ join in our next monthly meeting:  Monday, 9 November  at 7 PM (content & format on MDCA Facebook & Mailchimp mailout)                                                    

Submitted by:  Elena Meredith

Significant Trees and  preparing for TRMP     –October   2020 issue

 

Māpua & Districts Community Association’s September meeting  was held at the start of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and the mana of this taonga was acknowledged with  a plea that the “ week” be extended into months and years so that our tamariki experience a bi-lingual living and learning environment as “ the norm”

The primary focus of the meeting was preparing members and the community to be fully informed for the coming consultation with TDC on the Tasman Resources Management Plan (TRMP) to be held in October This would ensure that the focus of the consultation would be on “what the community wants”

Different speakers explored ways of ensuring that members and the wider community were “ informed so we can influence {TDC} at a high level” with a particular focus on trees/ green & recreational spaces as well as ways of moving around the district – roads; walkways and cycle trails.

Comments along this line included :

• “is impossible really impossible or just a problem waiting to be solved “
• “the time has come for us to have some influence here “
• “We need to understand the process so that we know if we can change the process in order for the community to be involved earlier and have input into such processes as non-notifiable consents “
• “ we need to be starting the conversation before consultation with TDC “
• “ look at the process so we know what is going on” –
• we need a “planning for dummies” training session for TDC staff

Cr David Ogilvie provided a broader framework to the korero considering   :

• The estimated population growth in the next 8-10 years is from 2,000-4,000 residents which will result in a likely increase in traffic from intersecting roads onto already very busy roads ( Aranui & Higgs)
• How close to the coast do we develop ?
• How much input did MDCA have on past developments in the area?
• A process of information gathering and involvement could be

1. Is the information useful ? if yes- can it be made available?
2. How can we engage more effectively with TDC in terms of focus/ “lines in the sand”?
3. How can we most effectively engage and become informed ?

 

Note: Three speakers addressed areas of concern and focus – a link to a video of their full presentations as well as  their accompanying power-point slides is available on the Māpua Community Association Facebook Page

This article will simply outline the main points raised by each

Paul McIntosh: – Planning Overview

• Maps indicated planned areas of future development and indicative roads planned for next 12-15years
• Avoid narrow focus on the roads alone- look at exits existing roads and potential “ choke points”
• Binary nature of access to village- only 2 main roads with impact on safety; noise; accessibility
• Need to focus on what community wants

Dave Briggs – Significance of Trees  – “ all trees matter”

for fuller text , separate article in this edition

• Main message is that this is “ a very small part of a much greater problem in Tasman”
• Our area is “ devoid of any significant trees” & what we have needs protecting so “please don’t chop your own trees down”
• We need to lobby for protection of current green areas and trees and for any sort of policy relating to tree-protection and planting
• Noted that national Carbon Neutral Policy is to be carbon neutral by 2050 – TDC has the responsibility to adapt and adhere to this requirement

 

Bruce Gilkinson { speaking for David Mitchell) – Significant trees in relation to 160 Māpua Drive

• Noted that there had been 8 significant 100 year old trees planted by a member of the Wells family who donated their land ( Aranui Park) initially to Lands & Survey – passed onto TDC
• Contractor stopped cutting once these were evident ( 2 destroyed)
• No protocol /requirements for consent or for trees to remain once land zoned “ residential “
• MDCA passed motion urging that Aranui Park and Dominion Flats be reclassified as scenic reserves to provide this protection
• Photos of damage by vandals driving through the park – suggestion that these be passed to police and that there be “ a beef up of protection for Aranui Park to stop “hoons” getting in in the first place”
• Issue of use of uncleaned contaminated soil (with potential levels of lead and arsenic) to build up the bank

Association agreed to send email to Dennis Bush-King asking “what is the current set of rules relating to the usage and remediation of contaminated soils ?” and asking to see data on the levels of toxicity in the soils being used

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

Dominion Flats – noted that planting for the season has finished –includes clematis and mamakū

2021 planting –grants applied for “ trees to bring in the birds”

Back to weekly weeding ; Tuesdays 9am with a “ leisurely morning tea”

Concern was expressed about regulations relating to developers’ rights and responsibilities in relation to

Native Bush Corridor on Mamakū Drive– TACA meeting focused on plan to plant  natives roadside between Mapua and Tasman with turn-offs into a native bush corridor

 

ROADS & PATHWAYS-

Wayne noted that work on the Māpua Drive – Dominion Flats footpath was due to begin in September

 

COMMUNITY WELLBEING

1. Community volunteer drivers’ service –   Māpua Willing Wheels has 12 willing volunteer drivers and is beginning to receive membership subs from prospective passengers. Leaflets have been distributed throughout the district and to all local businesses . Everyone was urged to inform prospective passengers about the service and to ensure that it is well used –“ use it or lose it”
2. Community Hub– noted significant progress on establishing the basis of a legal financial basis for the project in terms of a Trust ( see separate article in this issue) Work continuing on prioritizing building requirements and renovations to create a safe warm fit for purpose facility

 

Projects

       Community Seating  A group of local men have offered to dig out the foundations while at cost concreting has been arranged by Mike Kininmonth . MDCA will supply bolts and safety railing

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Noted high levels of engagement with postings on:

1. Application for Liquor Licence corner of Aranui Road and Māpua Drive ( 345 )

Most comments from people stating that there was previously a pub in that location.

One of the store owners objected to the graphic we posted so this was removed.

2. Margaret Cotter TDC services award 176 engagements as well as 107 comments and reactions

(all “thumbs up.”)

3. Decided we could post the police reports as long as members agreed not to take the report and

re-post it on Social media.  If that happened we would be prevented from putting further police reports on our web site.

 

 COMMENTS FROM WARD COUNCILLORS

Cr Christeen McKenzie :

• apologized had been unable to attend TDC Community Services Award Ceremony and congratulated Margaret Cotter on her receiving an award
• noted that under the 3 Waters Reform $3.7 million was allocated for signing up and engaging – mostly to be spent on fresh drinking water

Cr David Oglivie :

Could David Briggs’ presentation be made to full TDC Council – “ it will have far more impact than councillors’ reporting back”……….supported by Cr McKenzie – to negotiate with Dave

 

FUTURE HOT TOPICS:

October –       community consultation on TRMP- – first chance for input; Open Afternoon at Bowling Club 4-7pm followed by presentation /discussion at MDCA meeting

November –  Advanced Care Planning – what is it & why is it important ?

December –   celebrating the year J

 

Be sure to attend/ join in our next monthly meeting:  Monday, 12 October   at 7 PM ( content & format to be confirmed on MDCA Facebook & Mailchimp mailout )

MDCA works closely with TDC to ensure our community functions in a way that suits the majority of our residents. To have a vote that counts, become a financial member of MDCA by simply paying a $10 membership fee to our NBS account 03-1354-0356471-00 with your name & phone number as a reference.