Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community

Grey Lynn 2030 Monthly Meeting : Meet the Candidates Evening

Wednesday 8 September, 7.30pm

Grey Lynn Community Centre

There has been a lot of uncertainty about the “super city” restructuring but as the date fast approaches for the first Auckland Council elections the time has arrived to get informed. Who do you want to represent you? What are the election issues? What is the voting process?

Come a long to meet the candidates standing for the Waitemata & Gulf Ward and the Waitemata Local Board.

All are welcome to come along. Please bring questions for the candidates.

2010 election information is available on the new Auckland Council website www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

We are excited to announce that we’ll be screening the documentary …

Garbage Warrior

A crew of builders explore off-the-grid sustainable building design in the New Mexico Desert.

After the county shut down an ‘Earthship biotecture’ community while under construction,  the founder, Michael Reynolds, went on a quest to get the state to pass a law for a  Sustainable Buildings Test Site.
Earthship n. 1. passive solar home made of natural and recycled materials. 2. thermal massconstruction for temperature stabilization. 3. renewable energy & integrated water systems make  Earthship an off-grid home with no utility bills.
Biotecture n. 1. the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for sustainability. 2. A combination of biology and architecture.

When: Saturday 28th August

Starts: 7PM sharp

Where: Grey Lynn Community Centre

510 Richmond Road

Entry: $2

Come join us for a drink on a cosy winter evening.

Garbage Warrior (the trailer on You Tube)

A very special screening with an introduction by the film’s director Simon Marler!

Saturday, 31st July at 7pm, Grey Lynn Community Centre

$2 entry

New Zealand 2007 / 80min. English, Te Reo Maori with English subtitles.

Director Simon Marler / Producer Simon Marler, Mairi Gunn, Karen Browne

How do you resuscitate the land?
This is a question Simon Marler’s beautiful documentary, Restoring the Mauri of Lake Omapere poses.
Mauri, meaning life spirit, is contained within all objects; trees, rocks, rivers, lakes, us too? Marler takes us back through the history of Lake Omapere, a small Northland Lake effected by colonialism, deforestation, farming, modern agriculture and the resource management policies of government. Through that history Marler shows us the impact we as a people have had on the environment and also the spirit or Mauri of places effected by human behaviour such as Omapere. It also serves as a timely reminder to consider the way in which current conventional agricultural practices and environmental policies are impacting on habitats, natural waterways, living systems and communities as a whole. The issues explored in this film are really a microcosm for much wider systemic trends and problems that are being faced in regions nationwide and around the world. Marler does a good job of showing the multi layered consequences of not exercising greater attention and awareness in the way we treat the environment.

Certainly it’s a thoughtful documentary and artfully produced, one of the questions being posed is whether the voluntary management being undertaken and developed by Lake Ompere’s Trustees, its Kaitiakitanga; meaning guardians for sky, sea and land, will be enough to breathe life back into the lake’s still waters? It’s a poignant thought that also raises the issue of indigenous people and local communities having a greater say in how their natural habitats are managed and whether that can offer greater care and preservation of our natural resources.

Trailer: http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/restoring-the-mauri-of-lake-omapere-2007

We had a lot of interest in the Grey Lynn Business Association kick-off meeting held on 14 July.  It was a great turn out of a diverse range of Grey Lynn businesses. We were really pleased to have David Tippitt there to share his knowledge and provide continuity with the former Surrey Cres Business Association

We see the establishment of a Grey Lynn Business Association as a logical extension of our vision of a connected, vibrant, local community.  We are proposing that a ‘GLBA’  is part of Grey Lynn 2030 so it is important to us that the Business Association shares our sustainable vision and suits the unique character of Grey Lynn  which includes lots of people working from home who are not usually part of a traditional business association.

Some initial ideas for a Business Association that came out of the meeting (What would make you want to join?)

• Fun, funky, interesting, social
• Support for each others business.
• Networking, community focus
• Inclusion of retail shops and people who work from home (plus bigger businesses and property owners like Progressive)
• Sustainability, values based focus
• Local projects e.g waste minimisation, support for local schools
• Online register of businesses and services (with a range of categories to ensure all groups are able to be listed  such as the GL Community Centre)
• Local retail promotions e.g street markets like the successful West Lynn Street Party and Twilight Market we held in March (see the video here)
• Lobbying function to the new Auckland Council
• Beautification of Grey Lynn – for example the Grey Lynn Foodtown wall along Williamson Ave
• Set a vision for our area so we can work  with the new Local Board
• Shared resources for people working from home, school holiday programme

Further issues discussed:

Targeting Rates Cr Easte was able to provide insight into how the Mainstreet programme has developed and how becoming a Business Improvement District ( a BID)  involves targeted rates that won’t capture all the businesses in GL.

Advantages of using rates were discussed, such as being able to have a paid coordinator,  develop programmes (like crime prevention)  and pay for street improvements. A business association operating through the Council system can have associate members to ensure all businesses/groups can be represented.  A follow up comment was made that the GLBA idea should be developed so it fits the unique needs of GL rather than be made to fit Council requirements first.

What area should the GLBA cover ? There are various hubs in the Greater GL area but there was general agreement that the area of a GLBA could logically extend out to the Westmere shops on Garnett Rd and the Richmond Road shops (where Ripe is) as well as West Lynn and Grey Lynn businesses/shops on Surrey Cres.

Next steps

• Small working group formed  (interested people so far – Sunshine Yates, Ellie Tullet, Julie Falvey,Tania Miller, Brett, – Suzanne Kendrick and Pippa Coom supporting role and GL2030 reps)
• form an incorporated society  (Dave Tippitt has offered to transfer the remaining funds of $1200 held by the Surrey Cres BA to a new GLBA)
• working group to consider options to working towards being a BID/ Mainstreet (which will take a year)

Anyway interested in the Grey Lynn Business Association proposal can email Suzanne or Pippa at Greylynn2030@gmail.com. Updates will be made via our Monthly Community News.

Grey Lynn 2030 June meeting was a celebration of the artistic talent in our community. A big thank you to all the artists and members of the art community who participated.

Art in the Dark

Celia, Kat and Adelle gave us a presentation on the inaugural Art in the Dark event exploring and exploding the ideas of ‘Community, Environment and Utopias’.
Under the cover of darkness, artists will address these core values while exploring the implications of mobility, night, sky and light. Art in the Dark is a collaboration between artists, businesses and community initiatives in the Grey Lynn and Ponsonby area to celebrate and foster community.
Contact:  Celia Harrison, Creative Director  celia@artinthedark.co.nz www.artinthedark.co.nz

Louise Rive and Chuck Joseph – Edge City

Edge City
8 Garnet Road
Westmere
www.edgecity.co.nz
Studio open: Thursday & Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm, & by appointment.
ph, 09 3763692 m.0212088583

When the circus left town, we had a parade,

the band played on and floats were made.

I looked sideways as they passed,

these bits and pieces, they were the last.

We beat our chests

and cried out loud,

the Tui’s head looked dead, not proud.

“After the goldrush” Oil painting and words – Chuck Joseph 2010

Toi Ora

Bernadette Brewer and Erwin van Asbeck gave a presentation on what is happening at Toi Ora the live art trust

Currently there is a Drawing exhibition held at the Toi Ora Gallery space at 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn

Open Mon-Fri. from 9am-4pm for viewing.

Toi Ora are currently looking for Board members and artist who would like to mentor members.

Hanne Vibeke- rug maker

stripeworks@xtra.co.nz

Isla Osborne, Jeweller (with Tilda)  – more details about Isla’s I heart Grey Lynn project here

Jude Graveson

Peter Viesnik – Viz Glass

36a Monmouth Street, Grey Lynn

Tel:  09 360 0689
www.viesnik.com

And a special thanks to Jan-Claire Hughes for her enthusiastic support of the Grey Lynn art community.

Grey Lynn 2030 July Meeting: Grey Lynn Business Association Kick Off

Grey Lynn 2030 are looking to establish a Grey Lynn Business Association.

We want to hear your ideas on how this could best work for local business people.
Come along for an evening of networking and to share ideas.

Wednesday 14 July
7.30pm
Grey Lynn Community Centre