Barrier’s pivotal issues relate to the physical environment, with the island community committed to these, evidenced by their putting in many voluntary hours on pest control, planting thousands of native trees, fauna and flora, maintaining the edges of the wetlands and trying to ensure the future of a healthy fish and shellfish food source. Transport costs, cost of living and Auckland Council rates increases also figure large in conversation.
At a principled level is the sustainable future of our air, waters and land. The planet is at risk; we can act locally for our fisheries, skies and food sources. Aotea is our ‘local’.
My love of ‘local’ started when the population was 230, in 1982, and I co-owned a 340-acre block of land in the hills behind Tryphena, called Little Goat Farm. I remember flocks of kererū and I want to see this again. Therefore, Local Board funding of environmental ecological groups is to be endorsed and must be supported into the future. These groups have a long history of voluntary work and include Tū Mai Taonga, Glenfern Sanctuary, Oruawharo Medlands Ecovision, Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust, Windy Hill Sanctuary and others.
The closing of rock lobster fishing in the Gulf, but not Aotea, highlights a role for the Local Board in working with the Governing Body to ensure our coastline has the same chance to recover. We need this certainty, and we must work on the sustainability of all our fishery, otherwise there won’t be any left.
Below: Aotea / Great Barrier Island Local Board hopeful Gregory Heap, along with member and candidate Chris Ollivier, speaks to Kathy Cumming on Aotea FM.
I’m concerned at the recent jump in rates. With 50% of our island population over the age of 50, this jump is adversely affecting their financial position. I wish there was a simple answer and, if elected, this is a matter that I will pursue to see if the Local Board can impact the Governing Body. Although the time has passed to lodge an objection, one can request a s16 review of the new 2024 valuation. If some were successful, it might be possible for resident ratepayers to take collective action. This idea is in its early stages.
If elected, I will use my background in local government to benefit the island community, especially with regard to future land use and residential planning in the settlement areas, tourism and environment management.
There are many useful, relevant ideas in Tim Higham’s Small Islands, Big Ideas podcasts, including retirees running bed and breakfasts, eco-tourism where visitors give time to planting, weed control, trapping, etc. These volunteers came back every year to see their valuable work, and to work with the community towards the vision of a green and pest-free Aotea.
I have a small jam-making business, “Slow Jam”, and my offering to the local economy would be to ensure my enterprise contributed to the “Island Dollar”. Great Barrier has many hardworking entrepreneurs, and it is this energy that we must harness and support for the betterment of the local infrastructure and the quality of island life.
