AROUND ROSKILL AND NEARBY NEIGHBOURHOODS ROSKILL DEVELOPMENT BRINGING BACK BAREFOOT NEIGHBOURHOODS LIVING TAONGA WENDY JOHN: THE QUIET REVOLUTIONARY MIXING IT UP IN MT ALBERT CHINOISERIE SIGNATURE DISH ISSUE #1 SUMMER 2019–2020 WITHIN THESE PAGES 2 The Roskill Development WHAT’S IT ABOUT? THE CHANGES COMING TO OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS 12 Living Taonga WENDY JOHN – THE EXTRAORDINARY GUARDIAN OF OUR AWA 18 Signature Dish GONG GONG NOODLES – SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT IT ALL IN ONE BOWL 24 Puketāpapa MAUNGA LOVE – HOW LUCKY ARE WE TO HAVE THIS MOU NTAI N ! 28 What’s On LOCAL HAPPENINGS – FUN STUFF TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE Welcome to Roskulture, a local magazine for the people of Roskill and nearby neighbourhoods, produced by Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities. Kāinga Ora is running TWO (OF MANY) STAR CONTRIBUTORS the Roskill Development, a programme Our thanks go to these two for their work on this issue: which will bring 10,000+ new homes to Mt Roskill and surrounding KATHY HUNTER, WRITER Kathy has lived in many parts of Auckland and areas over the next 10-15 years. This describes anywhere she can write about ‘movers and shakers’ in local communities as her happy magazine is one of the ways we keep place. The Roskill region’s diverse mix of cultures in touch with the community and let has been especially inspirational and she’s keen to find out more, “especially about the food,” she people know about the changes coming says. (Ed: noted). to their neighbourhoods. TEZ MERCER, PHOTOGRAPHER We also have a website at Tez was born in Blackpool, England and has lived in London; New York City; Billings, Montana; roskilldevelopment.co.nz and Taupo and Tauranga. The thing he likes most about Information Centres at Auckland is Aucklanders – specifically their laid back attitude. He loves to take photographs because 142 May Road, Mt Roskill, and “it’s a good way to meet fascinating people”. 116–118 Hendon Avenue, Ōwairaka. ROSKULTURE IS PUBLISHED BY KĀINGA ORA – HOMES AND COMMUNITIES BRINGING BACK At the same time, the government resolved to take a bold step toward alleviating Auckland’s housing shortage by building more affordable homes to sell on the open market. The aim was (and still is) to use the scale of the programme to bring the cost of developing BAREFOOT down so that Aucklanders would have more choice and healthier and more affordable housing. The programme is now underway in several parts of Auckland, including Mt Roskill and its neighbouring suburbs. Kāinga Ora’s Urban Development team (previously HLC) is in NEIGHBOURHOODS charge of overseeing these projects, including the Roskill Development. Nobody wants urban sprawl Karla Beazley grew up in a state To accommodate growth the city needs more houses and more/better infrastructure (services house on Glass Road, Mt Roskill. like drainage and amenities like parks). The In the 1960s when she came on the challenge any growing city faces is finding the scene, the last of six children, the houses on land to build on. Aucklanders don’t want to see her street were new; in fact the street itself their precious coast and bush developed, or all was brand new and everyone was new to of the productive land on the margins of the city the area. The mainly Māori families living that is used for growing food. It is also smart to in her neighbourhood quickly formed a build where there is existing infrastructure. tight community of which her dad was the unofficial kaumatua. From the lounge room Kino Beazley dispensed advice, gave free Where the land is coming from haircuts and hosted fundraising meetings The new homes are being built on land from for the local kids’ rugby team. There was which old state homes are being removed. Our no spare cash for luxuries – you grew veges, Tenancy Liaison team rehouses our tenants – traded food and favours and helped each often nearby if they have ties to the community other out. The sense of belonging was strong. such as whānau in the neighbourhood or children at the local school. Tenants are guided In those days, Karla says it was through the process and we pay all reasonable normal to play outside until costs associated with their shift. Priority is given to retaining land in every neighbourhood your bare feet turned green for state housing so that Kāinga Ora can replace with grass stains. its aging housing stock with new, healthy homes and increase the number of homes available It was equally common to walk to school and to people who need housing assistance. Those never see an adult along the way and to move homes will range in size from one-bedroom to freely between friends’ houses until the sun six or more, giving us more scope to match a went down. “We’d play and play and when it home to a household’s needs. Some land is also started to get dark you’d hear all the mums used to build affordable and market housing. calling their kids in for dinner,” says Karla. KARLA BEAZLEY OUTSIDE THE HOUSE WHERE SHE GREW UP The development process Warm, dry homes needed The process is similar for each neighbourhood. Karla’s childhood home was a product Kāinga Ora’s Urban Development team begins of the last big wave of state housing development which occurred in the 1950s and 60s. talking to the community, including Mana Whenua, schools, business owners and the The majority of those homes are still owned by Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities local board. The Tenancy Liaison team notifies affected tenants and begins the process of (previously Housing New Zealand). They are now 50-60 years old and many of them are past rehousing them. Once the old homes are empty they are removed, the land is remediated, the their best and less able to provide people with a healthy place to live. streets and infrastructure upgraded and the new homes built. The government decided to replace a large percentage of the aging state houses with warm, dry, modern homes and increase the number of state houses available. 2 ROSKULTURE #1 SUMMER 2019–2020 ROSKULTURE #1 SUMMER 2019–2020 3 The Roskill Development more retail. It makes our cities more interesting and vibrant and fun.” Over the next 10-15 years the development will move through a dozen or so neighbourhoods in stages, creating Better housing 10,000+ new homes. The suburb of “We’re requiring a higher build standard Mt Roskill is at the centre of the ‘Roskill of all of our development partners than Development’ but the development the market typically would provide,” stretches from Sandringham in the north says Mark. “We’re requiring all homes to Waikōwhai in the south, and New to be at a level of 6 Homestar, which Windsor in the west to Three Kings in the is well above the building code. In east. Some of the neighbourhoods will get Auckland, if you built to the building code a few hundred new houses. The largest, requirements, you’d achieve in Wesley, will see 5,000 new homes 4 Homestar.” The higher Homestar built—mainly apartment style homes rating ensures greater energy and water near Stoddard Road. Work is underway in efficiency which makes your home Ōwairaka (Mt Albert) and Mt Roskill. more comfortable, easier to heat and cheaper to run. What to expect The construction process can be disruptive Upgraded infrastructure for our state housing tenants who go and amenity through the rehousing process. Kāinga Ora’s Mark Fraser, General Infrastructure is not a topic many people Manager Development - Auckland get excited about and yet it is critical to KIDS ENJOYING THEIR TIME AT THE OWAIRAKA DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION DAY Regeneration, describes a kind of moving our wellbeing and resilience as individuals front of staged development, ranging in and as a city. Because the development size from a couple of house sites through projects clear such large tracts of land to several neighbourhood blocks at one they provide an opportunity to upgrade “This is a once-in-a-generation outside and watch the neighbours go by. time. When there are big civil works infrastructure to accommodate the city’s opportunity to improve housing and, And the neighbours can see you and say projects such as new roads or upgraded growth. Kāinga Ora works with other therefore, life for people,” says urban ‘hi’ and know that you’re alright.” stormwater systems, work can continue agencies to maximise this opportunity. designer Hayley Fitchett, General for up to two years. The team has the “We work with Auckland Transport Manager – Masterplanning and Transport, walkability ability to control the speed at which the (AT) on roading connections and Auckland Placemaking for Kāinga Ora. “The development moves, and we’re focused Council on parks and stormwater and Roskill Development is about improving and local jobs on moving as fast as possible. “We are the provision of amenities like libraries housing in a way that solves many Hayley also says that she can promise planning for the sequencing of roading and community centres,” says Mark. “We problems for people.” people it’s going to get easier to get and infrastructure upgrades so it can be as work together to create great outcomes for The day to day benefits of a well around. “We’re pulling up roads to quick and smooth as possible.” these neighbourhoods.” designed neighbourhood are numerous build houses, so we work with AT to and make for happier, healthier people and provide better walking, cycling and Solving many problems stronger communities, she says.