A message from the team
Dear Westhaven boaties,
It’s been another busy year at Westhaven Marina and we’ve made some excellent progress along the way. Some of the things we’ve ticked off this year include:
- Voting on the changes proposed to the berth licences for both Trusts, and to the Deed of Trust
- Winning three New Zealand Marina Operators Association (NZMOA) awards, including 2022 Marina of the Year, Best Environmental Performer, and Outstanding Initiative
- Receiving NZMOA Clean Marina recertification
- Becoming New Zealand’s first Gold Anchor accredited marina (receiving four out of a possible five Gold Anchor rating)
- Hosting the Westhaven Marina users’ forum (after a few years of not being able to meet in-person due to COVID-19 restrictions)
- Constructing the new AB pier
- Upgrading the T pier bathroom facilities
- Upgrading the underground services along the southern side of the marina
- Refurbishing U pier
- Replacing G pier (and almost finished replacing H and J piers)
- Relocating the start tower
- Constructing new berths at Z pier
And of course, the day-to-day upkeep of the marina and general maintenance of pilings and pontoons is always ongoing.
We’re proud of our achievements throughout 2022 and appreciate that we couldn’t have done it without your patience and understanding. So, a big thank you to those customers who were moved around or inconvenienced in any way while these important improvements took place. We hope you are as happy with the outcome as we are.
This is our last newsletter for 2022. Please take note of our Christmas hours below and we wish you a safe and wonderful time on the water this summer.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Ngā mihi,
The Westhaven Marina Team
Customer service Christmas opening hours
The marina office (at unit 2, 135 Westhaven Drive) will be open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and from 8am to 4.30pm on Fridays through the Christmas period, apart from on public holidays, and on Friday 23 December we will close at midday.
Our customer service team will be available to help with any marina queries during our office opening hours. You can contact us via email at info@westhaven.co.nz or by phone on 0800 MARINA (0800 627 462).
As usual, our dockmasters (and security staff) will be on site 24/7 throughout the Christmas period. The dockmaster team are equipped to help with your queries and can also be contacted by phone on 0800 MARINA.
Amendments to the Westhaven Marina berth licences and deed of trust
Over recent years, Westhaven Marina Limited (as licensor under the marina berth licences and trustee of the Westhaven Trusts) and Eke Panuku (as marina manager) have discussed updates to the marina berth licences and Deed of Trust with various stakeholders. Feedback received during these discussions was taken on board.
Meetings to vote on the proposed changes to the berth licences for both the Existing Marina and the Extension Marina Trusts, and the proposed changes to the Deed of Trust, took place on 1 November 2022 and on 29 November 2022. The later date was an adjourned meeting required for the Extension Marina Trust due to it not having a quorum at the first meeting.
At the 1 November meeting, the vote to approve the amendments to the marina berth licence for the Existing Marina Trust passed with a 98.8% majority, and the vote to approve the changes to the Deed of Trust passed with a 99.4% majority.
At the 29 November meeting, the vote to approve the amendments to the marina berth licence for the Extension Marina Trust passed with a 97.6% majority.
The changes to each of the documents came into effect from the date on which the relevant resolution was passed.
As a result of the changes made to the marina berth licences and the Deed of Trust, the updated documents now:
- expressly permit a limited number of vessels that have a commercial or non-recreational purpose to occupy a specified number of berths within the marina
- include a "user pays" regime for consumption of electricity within the marina
- allow berth holders to sublet their marina berths for periods exceeding 12 months
- allow a limited number of ‘live on boards’ within the marina
- permit online and hybrid (combined in person and online) berth holder meetings.
We thank you for your patience while we navigated this lengthy process.
Team update
Customer Service team update
After just over three years with the marina, our customer services team leader, Lisa Bricknell, has made the move with her family down to sunny Tauranga. Lisa is kindly helping us out by continuing in the role remotely while we recruit for a new team leader. We’ve had some great candidates applying and expect to have the role filled by early in the new year.
Staff training
This year, four of our staff have completed the National Certificate in Marina Facilities – Marina Operations Apprenticeship – through MAST (Marine and Specialised Technologies) Academy, and we currently have eight staff (including one of our cadets) working through the two-year qualification. The aim of the programme is to provide the marine industry with people who have the knowledge and skills, and are able to work safely within the regulatory framework in the maintenance and operation of boatyard facilities.
Construction and maintenance update
Reclamation update
The temporary car park on the new reclamation has been extended and is open for the summer months.
The design for the permanent car park has been finalised and construction is expected to begin around March 2023.
Temporary access to A, AA and AB piers will be provided via A-AA gate using a gangway structure. However, please be aware the temporary access will have to be closed for the duration of the permanent car park works. Access to A, AA and AB piers will be available via BC gate while this construction is underway. A-AA gate will reopen permanently once the car park is complete.
AB gate, at the end of the reclamation, will be installed in conjunction with the permanent car park works and will be available for use once construction is complete.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while this project continues.
U pier refurbishment and Z pier extension
We’re pleased to advise that both the refurbishment of U pier and the construction of additional berths at Z pier are now complete.
Thanks for your patience while these works were carried out.
F pier refurbishment
The refurbishment of F pier is now underway and we expect this work to be completed by April 2023.
Thanks to the berth occupants who have relocated while this work is underway.
G, J and H pier upgrades
G, J and H pier replacements are being delivered in a staged approach to allow vessels to be accommodated on other piers for the duration of the works.
The upgrade of G pier is complete. Works on H and J piers are in progress and are expected to be completed by the end of this month (December). There has been a manufacturing delay of the new G pier gate; until it can be installed, there will be temporary access to G pier via the F1 pier gate and to H pier either via the F1 gate or J gate.
We thank you for your patience while this work continues.
Fire alarm system upgrade
The fire alarm system for our piers has reached the end of its operational life and will be replaced with a new system. The upgrade is planned to occur in early 2023 and will be delivered in stages, pier by pier. There should be minimal disruption to pier users.
Sustainable environment
Clean hulls mean clean waters
Biofouling and invasive pest species are major threats to our marine environment. As a boat operator, you can help stop their spread by following the rules contained in the Auckland Unitary Plan, the Regional Pest Management Plan 2020-2030 and the Hauraki Gulf Controlled Area Notice. This will help stop the spread of pests in two ways:
- Cleaning your hull in places and in ways that stop pests getting into the sea
- Maintaining your antifouling to stop pests ‘hitch hiking’ into uncontaminated areas or transferring from your vessel to others (‘passive discharges’).
Following the rules will help protect our precious marine ecosystems. You can expect the rules to be enforced, particularly for boats that are moving to areas such as the outer Gulf islands, west coast and other areas that are currently relatively free from marine pests.
You can find the full details on Auckland Council’s website here under Unitary Plan sections F2.13, F2.19.7 and F2.21.8, and the new Regional Pest Management Plan here.
Customer satisfaction survey – your feedback addressed
Thanks again to those who gave feedback in our annual customer service survey. We have been working through your responses to identify areas for improvement.
Trolleys
We received comments relating to the number of trolleys available and the cleanliness of trolleys. As a result of your feedback, we recently carried out a full condition assessment of our trolleys and have purchased some new ones with the view of progressively ordering more and phasing out the older style trolleys. We’re also in the process of formalising our cleaning regime to improve this aspect of our trolley upkeep. Part of the dockmaster’s shift duties is to ensure there are sufficient trolleys at each trolley bay and that they are clean and in good working order. If you’re using the trolleys, please remember to return them to the trolley bays after use, and if you notice any issues, please let us know.
Toilet and shower facilities
Survey respondents commented on the age, condition and cleanliness of our toilet and shower facilities. The newly refurbished T pier toilets are now up and running and we have been reviewing our other facilities with the intent of progressively upgrading these to bring them up to a more modern and satisfactory standard. If there is ever an issue with cleanliness or a malfunction, please let us know as soon as possible.
Friendly reminder about parking
If you’re taking guests aboard during the summer period and they wish to park at the marina, please remember:
- When parking at the marina, guests need to park in the white parking spaces
- You can register your guests’ vehicle registration numbers through our online parking system here to void the time restrictions (each berth holder gets the equivalent of 192 hours guest parking time per month)
- If you do not register your guests’ vehicle details, please be aware they may receive a parking ticket if they stay for longer than the allowed time.
A reminder, also, if you are bringing in different vehicles, you will need to switch your yellow space registration around to ensure you do not get a parking infringement.
The parking enforcement service vehicle has licence plate recognition cameras attached and drives around the parking zones verifying if licence plates are registered in the system. If not, an infringement notice may be issued.
If you have any questions regarding parking, please feel free to call us on 0800 MARINA.
Events
Yacht club Christmas races
Keen for a fun challenge? Entries are now open for Richmond Yacht Club’s ‘3 x 3 Summer Blast’ (three races over three days with three crew) from 9 – 11 December. Join them for a Friday night rum race, followed by a Saturday race around Rangitoto, and rounded off with a harbour race on Sunday.
For more information about this event, please visit Richmond Yacht Club’s website here.
Fancy partaking in a Christmas race with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron? All clubs and classes are welcome to join them for a race on 21 December to celebrate the end of the year and start of the holiday season. Entry is just $10 per boat and RNZYS skippers who enter get a free drink (perks of being a member!). Everyone is welcome back to the club after the race, for prizegiving and food and drink specials. Bring along your friends, workmates and family for a great evening on the water.
To register or find out more about this event, please contact the RNZYS via their website here.
Red Bull Flugtag
After being postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, Aucklanders can now prepare for a day of high-adrenaline action, with Red Bull Flugtag, set to take place in Wynyard Quarter from midday on 10 December.
Over 30 teams will be switching aeroplane mode on and launching their homemade flying machines off a six-metre-high ramp across Jellicoe Harbour. The aim of the game is to fly as far as possible before landing in the water, much to the enjoyment of the crowd.
This is a free, family-friendly event and the best viewing will be from along North Wharf, Halsey Wharf or in the event zone on the bases north of Silo Park.
For more information about this event, please visit Eke Panuku Development’s website here.
Vector Lights for the Festive Season
The sustainable Vector Lights show will countdown the 12 days of the festive period by illuminating your nights with a beautiful light and sound show on Auckland's Harbour Bridge. The show will run every 15 minutes from 9pm to midnight from 13 – 24 December. Make sure you find yourself a good vantage point to enjoy the show!
Silo Cinema
Silo Cinema is back (and still free!) this summer after a two-year hiatus, and Silo Park is set to transform into an outdoor cinema for Aucklanders to enjoy on the following dates:
23 December 2022 – People’s choice Christmas movie
13 January 2023 – Thor: Love and Thunder
27 January 2023 – People’s Choice, cult classic
10 February 2023 – Everything Everywhere All At Once
There will be food trucks, Silo Bar and a DJ on site from 5pm, and screenings will start at 9pm.
iSpy Silo Park
For a humorous real-life version of “Where’s Wally”, head down to Silo Park from 28 January to take part in iSpy Silo Park – a new interactive, self-guided experience for all ages, which will take you on a journey to different waterfront locations, using a mix of real-life landmarks and playful pop-up elements. There will be multiple levels to participate in (ranging from kid-friendly to adult focused) and prizes up for grabs!
To find out more information about this event, please visit the Silo Park website here.
Auckland On Water Boat Show
After several COVID-19 related setbacks over the past few years, the Auckland Boat Show will be back from 23 - 26 March 2023. The show take place in Wynyard Quarter, using the former America’s Cup team bases north of Silo Park and expanding into Jellicoe Harbour.
Exhibitors will include more than 200 domestic and international marine businesses, as well as us! Eke Panuku will be at stand 105, located within Pavilion One, and we’ll have team members available to chat about Westhaven Marina and upcoming projects taking place across the waterfront. Feel free to pop by and say hi.
Tickets went on sale from 5 December here.