Pictures 12 years ago and today
Thursday, 23 May 2013
My daughter
I loved this quote, that my daughter posted on her Facebook wall after she came back to visit Waiheke Island, where she grew up...
Pictures 12 years ago and today
Pictures 12 years ago and today
It's all about AUTHENTICITY
On New Years Eve , most people like to reflect on the year that's just ended, and what they want to focus on for the next year.
What seemed to me to be the most important focus was "authenticity " .
The vision statement of the Unitary Plan is one of increasing sustainable living, and a focus on retaining character
The houseboats are exemplary of this, I think, yet they will disappear if the plan is passed into law as written.
I find there to be a disconnect at times between stated aims in Council documents ( which are laudable) such as "what we value- environment , heritage, character" , and what the proposed law changes will actually achieve ( the opposite)
The houseboat community are an environmentally aware group.
We seek to live sustainably, thereby creating a low impact in the environment , consuming far fewer resources than the average person.
As for "Heritage and character", we are part of Waiheke's history and character , and yet the planned changes would sweep us away .
But, ...everything that we are doing is perfectly LEGAL if you are consuming a lot more than we are.
For example, If you own a moored boat, but it is an underutilized resource, basically just sitting around moored all year, taking up the same amount of space in a bay as we are, that is fine, as long as you also have more residential land based resources that you are also using, then it seems you are a happy normal , law abiding person!
If you wish to travel or stay on your boat all summer holidays with your family living aboard for fun, with your house sitting empty, your SUV in the car park at west haven, your house with its electricity bills empty, then part-time living on a boat is perfectly OK as long as you are over-consuming in a perfectly normal way!
We are asking the council planners and decision makers to listen with open minds... Is there a commitment to preserving the history and culture ( or what are really the stories of our city?) , is there really a commitment to looking at new ways of looking at sustainability ? Or is this just another glossy mission statement that ends up in another row of cheaply built infill housing?
Will anyone in Auckland really sleep easier knowing that a certain yellow , strangely shaped houseboat is no longer floating in Putiki Bay?
The proposed new rules in the Draft Unitary Plan that seek to make "mooring of houseboat" non complying , are in my belief discriminatory.
A houseboat is defined as basically any boat that is being lived upon. All recreational boats are lived upon when families or individuals use them for holidaying and recreation, yet they are not denied a mooring
Every law change, I believe,must have a justification , especially when it's results will be as devastating to a community as this one will be to ours.
The justification that I have heard that makes the most sense is that the boats ,when moored , are on (above) a spot on the seabed which is publicly owned land that should be available to all of the public. I understand this, but there are 1000's of under used, underutilized boats on moorings taking up public seabed spots all over Auckland , and this is perfectly legal/ acceptable. So therefore it must be the humans on board issue.
No, that is also perfectly legitimate for anyone holidaying with their family, sailing around the world or Auckland's bays.
Where we differ is in the living. I understand some of the fears...
What if houseboats were to proliferate?
What if they were to spread to other areas?
To answer these ( what I feel are understandable concerns):
There has been no proliferation of houseboats ( rather a reduction in numbers) in 20 years, but we propose that to allay fears, as has been done in other developed countries, the number of houseboats on Waiheke could be capped, or apply only to existing houseboats, with a set number of residential moorings only available, and just like in other countries, only a certain area would be put aside as a residential mooring area for houseboats ;( we would propose basically in the same place that they are now) and in those areas , the mooring of a houseboat would be a Permitted Activity, where one could apply for a residential mooring permit.
Another often heard jibe, is that houseboats don't pay rates:
I also agree that this is a valid concern, and we would welcome a system by which we could contribute via rates and propose the solution that;
The granting of the permit would attract the usual boat mooring fees, with an added fee to cover administration and annual rates .
Another concern about houseboats is that of environmental hygiene worries.
This I believe is another concern that should be addressed under our proposed "residential mooring permit"
To receive the permit, a houseboat would need to meet certain hygiene , safety, and self containment, environmental standards.
As written in the current draft unitary plan, the proposed law change seeks to discriminate, but with no real clear reasons to discriminate from what I can see, except for that our way of life is outside the mainstream .
We would like to show that we are willing to work with the council to look at ways in which everyone benefits.
What are your thoughts..do you agree?
Pictures: 1. Postcard of houseboats are for sale on the island
2. Tsunami started her life as a barge transporting goods to the island
3. Putiki Bay in the past
What seemed to me to be the most important focus was "authenticity " .
The vision statement of the Unitary Plan is one of increasing sustainable living, and a focus on retaining character
The houseboats are exemplary of this, I think, yet they will disappear if the plan is passed into law as written.
I find there to be a disconnect at times between stated aims in Council documents ( which are laudable) such as "what we value- environment , heritage, character" , and what the proposed law changes will actually achieve ( the opposite)
The houseboat community are an environmentally aware group.
We seek to live sustainably, thereby creating a low impact in the environment , consuming far fewer resources than the average person.
As for "Heritage and character", we are part of Waiheke's history and character , and yet the planned changes would sweep us away .
But, ...everything that we are doing is perfectly LEGAL if you are consuming a lot more than we are.
For example, If you own a moored boat, but it is an underutilized resource, basically just sitting around moored all year, taking up the same amount of space in a bay as we are, that is fine, as long as you also have more residential land based resources that you are also using, then it seems you are a happy normal , law abiding person!
If you wish to travel or stay on your boat all summer holidays with your family living aboard for fun, with your house sitting empty, your SUV in the car park at west haven, your house with its electricity bills empty, then part-time living on a boat is perfectly OK as long as you are over-consuming in a perfectly normal way!
We are asking the council planners and decision makers to listen with open minds... Is there a commitment to preserving the history and culture ( or what are really the stories of our city?) , is there really a commitment to looking at new ways of looking at sustainability ? Or is this just another glossy mission statement that ends up in another row of cheaply built infill housing?
Will anyone in Auckland really sleep easier knowing that a certain yellow , strangely shaped houseboat is no longer floating in Putiki Bay?
The proposed new rules in the Draft Unitary Plan that seek to make "mooring of houseboat" non complying , are in my belief discriminatory.
A houseboat is defined as basically any boat that is being lived upon. All recreational boats are lived upon when families or individuals use them for holidaying and recreation, yet they are not denied a mooring
Every law change, I believe,must have a justification , especially when it's results will be as devastating to a community as this one will be to ours.
The justification that I have heard that makes the most sense is that the boats ,when moored , are on (above) a spot on the seabed which is publicly owned land that should be available to all of the public. I understand this, but there are 1000's of under used, underutilized boats on moorings taking up public seabed spots all over Auckland , and this is perfectly legal/ acceptable. So therefore it must be the humans on board issue.
No, that is also perfectly legitimate for anyone holidaying with their family, sailing around the world or Auckland's bays.
Where we differ is in the living. I understand some of the fears...
What if houseboats were to proliferate?
What if they were to spread to other areas?
To answer these ( what I feel are understandable concerns):
There has been no proliferation of houseboats ( rather a reduction in numbers) in 20 years, but we propose that to allay fears, as has been done in other developed countries, the number of houseboats on Waiheke could be capped, or apply only to existing houseboats, with a set number of residential moorings only available, and just like in other countries, only a certain area would be put aside as a residential mooring area for houseboats ;( we would propose basically in the same place that they are now) and in those areas , the mooring of a houseboat would be a Permitted Activity, where one could apply for a residential mooring permit.
Another often heard jibe, is that houseboats don't pay rates:
I also agree that this is a valid concern, and we would welcome a system by which we could contribute via rates and propose the solution that;
The granting of the permit would attract the usual boat mooring fees, with an added fee to cover administration and annual rates .
Another concern about houseboats is that of environmental hygiene worries.
This I believe is another concern that should be addressed under our proposed "residential mooring permit"
To receive the permit, a houseboat would need to meet certain hygiene , safety, and self containment, environmental standards.
As written in the current draft unitary plan, the proposed law change seeks to discriminate, but with no real clear reasons to discriminate from what I can see, except for that our way of life is outside the mainstream .
We would like to show that we are willing to work with the council to look at ways in which everyone benefits.
What are your thoughts..do you agree?
Pictures: 1. Postcard of houseboats are for sale on the island
2. Tsunami started her life as a barge transporting goods to the island
3. Putiki Bay in the past
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Double Vision
What is your vision for Waiheke?
Those that oppose the houseboats and wish to "clean up" Putiki Bay by getting rid of the boats and houseboats often cite " the future" and cleaning up Waiheke to increase tourist activity.
As I love to travel, and love to see local colour and love the fishing villages of Naples rather than the boutiques of Milan, I started to research current trends in tourism.
One of the key trends that trend forecasters are describing is the rise of the "experience economy" explaining that,
"What captivates us now is special stuff, stuff that only a few of us can get, stuff that stands for something or symbolizes something. And, more compelling than stuff, are experiences — events, trips, places, sights, sounds, tastes that are out of the ordinary, memorable in their own right, precious in their uniqueness and fulfilling in a way that seems to make us more than we were. . . .Some describe this phenomenon as 'the experience economy.' "
Tourist industry researches have found that the tourists are stressing the importance of uniqueness of "travelling to experience the places, artefacts and activities that authentically represent the stories of the people past and present"
Which picture tells the authentic story of Waiheke ?
Those that oppose the houseboats and wish to "clean up" Putiki Bay by getting rid of the boats and houseboats often cite " the future" and cleaning up Waiheke to increase tourist activity.
As I love to travel, and love to see local colour and love the fishing villages of Naples rather than the boutiques of Milan, I started to research current trends in tourism.
One of the key trends that trend forecasters are describing is the rise of the "experience economy" explaining that,
"What captivates us now is special stuff, stuff that only a few of us can get, stuff that stands for something or symbolizes something. And, more compelling than stuff, are experiences — events, trips, places, sights, sounds, tastes that are out of the ordinary, memorable in their own right, precious in their uniqueness and fulfilling in a way that seems to make us more than we were. . . .Some describe this phenomenon as 'the experience economy.' "
Tourist industry researches have found that the tourists are stressing the importance of uniqueness of "travelling to experience the places, artefacts and activities that authentically represent the stories of the people past and present"
Which picture tells the authentic story of Waiheke ?
Houseboaters around the world #2
Retts Wood is a photographer who lives on a houseboat right in the middle of London.
Love these pics of her converted barge houseboat from the book " The Selby"
Love these pics of her converted barge houseboat from the book " The Selby"
Houseboat people around the world:
In writing my submission to save the houseboats, I started researching houseboats around the world and noticed that there are a lot of cool people living on houseboats! Lots of stylists , designers, musicians , writers
I found the blog of Pia Jane Bijerk , who lives on a houseboat in Amsterdam
http://blog.piajanebijkerk.com/ , she is a stylist and writer and I love these pictures of her houseboat
I found the blog of Pia Jane Bijerk , who lives on a houseboat in Amsterdam
http://blog.piajanebijkerk.com/ , she is a stylist and writer and I love these pictures of her houseboat
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Kukurei Crew: Who are we #1 : Steve introduces the Houseboat Kukurei
It was the Christmas of 2008 whilst employed at Whakanewha as Dotterel Guardian that I would serendipitously meet the Christmas camp host of nine years.
The previous year I had arrived from the mainland after a twenty-five year absence from Waiheke.
Mary and I had much in common; we loved the wilderness of forest and sea, classical music, art, poetry, the theatre, a good wine, good company, peace and simplicity and a life based on need rather than want.
We quickly determined that if we were to continue to sought a land based property our outgoings would exceed our income.
Our solution was to purchase a home spelt, B.O.A.T. The decision was based on sound family budgeting principles and practicable sensibility.
Living aboard is not just about lifestyle. This life has its unique community and culture with seafaring traditions, customs and rules.
Life on board our catamaran Kukurei had begun by building an extra cabin on the back, dodging the weather for the first year with tarps as I continued the work. Erstwhile, Mary's four children also living on board and vastly experienced from annual holiday tenting made no complaints but immensely enjoyed it.
Mary's children have all been home schooled from an early age and have become self- autonomous, mindful of and understsanding of others dispositions. They are clever, resourcful, have good attitude and are wise beyond their years. And if I may seemingly be boasting, 'watch this space;' these children are achievers.
I'm not their father but by God, I'm proud of them!
As a family we strive to decrease our environmental footprint.
Our waka, Kukurei, derives all her electric power from four hundred and eighty watts of solar panels. This allows us to run LED's, a refrigerator freezer, watch DVD's (we don't allow a television) charge our phones, do all our banking and emailing on board using an ipad.
Kukurei's deck is also her water catchment.
Having a gas oven has provided hot breads, cakes, roasts and yummy shephards pie with melted cheese on top.
Nature befriends us daily. Black back gulls and ducks peck at our windows every morning in expectation of a tasty morsel feeding from our hands. These events signal a time to rise from bed and welcome the new day even if it's raining. Ducks and sparrows fly into our boat in hospitality of the offerings that may drop from our dining table. Kingfishers dive about us as does a segull with an identity crisis we observe daily emulating them. About us are herons, variable oyster catchers, eels, porori, mullet, kingfish and herrings which unfrightened come so close. Shags and eagle rays swim nonchalantly about our legs as we wade to and from our home.
"Tis thouest spiritous of nature that we be so endeared."
We as spirits should always have room to accept each others differences. There is always room for hope, attitude, encouragement, acceptance, understanding and tolerance; to live in harmony with each other and with Io's creatures.
"O, but for such possibility should we strive to co-exist in peace and enjoyment of life."
Skipper; Steve Matatahi o Tainui.
Friday, 3 May 2013
Sunflower Crew: The dream of living outside the box...
On Queen's drive, there is a house that has always made me dream! It has a wind generator twirling above it.. tufts of grass sprouting from the roof... it's roof is curved and pointed in strange, organic directions .... and it makes me dream , and imagine.... and think of things that might be! I love this house, and if someone were to knock it down, the world would be a sadder place, because it , like the houseboats , represents dreams, imagination, a world where things are not set in stone, but possibilities are boundless.
A girl I know, who grew up all her life on Waiheke, but was living in New York , when I told her that the houseboats might go, cried and told me .."as a child, the houseboats on the causeway were like my fairy tale", she said.. " I always looked out to them when I drove across the causeway and wished I could live in one.. they are a landmark of my childhood, and what Waiheke means to me! A place where people can be themselves , a place for dreams"
I was thinking about this, the transformative power of art , beauty and imagination, when I drove through Kawakawa in the holidays... the artist Hundertwasser transformed the spirit and pride of a whole community when he brought art and imagination , with his beautiful buildings to the depressed community of Kawakawa and turned it into a tourist attraction because of its beautiful toilets! Who would have thought!? That's thinking outside the box!
A girl I know, who grew up all her life on Waiheke, but was living in New York , when I told her that the houseboats might go, cried and told me .."as a child, the houseboats on the causeway were like my fairy tale", she said.. " I always looked out to them when I drove across the causeway and wished I could live in one.. they are a landmark of my childhood, and what Waiheke means to me! A place where people can be themselves , a place for dreams"
I was thinking about this, the transformative power of art , beauty and imagination, when I drove through Kawakawa in the holidays... the artist Hundertwasser transformed the spirit and pride of a whole community when he brought art and imagination , with his beautiful buildings to the depressed community of Kawakawa and turned it into a tourist attraction because of its beautiful toilets! Who would have thought!? That's thinking outside the box!
Sunflower Crew: Sunflower in this month's Black Magazine
Editor of Black Magazine, Rachael Churchward and top international fashion photographer, David Shields caught the ferry to Waiheke last month to shoot for Black onboard "Sunflower ". I love the story they created of a glamorous actress retreating from the press in a houseboat hideaway.
Yasmine Ganley , from the blog "anyone girl" http://www.anyonegirl.com/sunflower-houseboat-on-waiheke-island
took some great behinds the scenes shots.. I love this one of Rachael, David and Zippora working on set, and the story as published in this month's Black Magazine
Yasmine Ganley , from the blog "anyone girl" http://www.anyonegirl.com/sunflower-houseboat-on-waiheke-island
took some great behinds the scenes shots.. I love this one of Rachael, David and Zippora working on set, and the story as published in this month's Black Magazine
Sunflower Crew: Houseboats around the World
I love to be footloose and fancyfree, so I love to travel. One of my favourite walks when I am staying in Paris is past the Houseboats on the Seine River. They often have plants and herb gardens growing outside and bicycles on the decks but are always scrupulously tidy! I always wonder about the people living on them , and dream of visiting inside.
When Lance and I travelled to Amsterdam, one of the things that all of the tourists wanted to see was the houseboats! They are certainly a tourist attraction, but are so beautifully maintained and shipshape due to the regulations that both allow, and control houseboat living, that we are asking for here on Waiheke.
I know that there are houseboats in some of the most beautiful and highly populated , and highly cultured cities of the world...., I have seen houseboats in the US, in London, in Canada, in Germany, India and Australia , I know that the fear of some of the councils and Authorities is that houseboats will proliferate and get out of hand..
This certainly hasn't been the case. On Waiheke in the 20 years that there have been houseboats, there had been literally no growth in numbers, the same 7 houseboats in Rocky Bay and a small number in Putiki Bay
The reason for this is that houseboat living is not for everyone. To build a houseboat is a skill that very few people have... It's as expensive as building a Bach.. And the electronic equipment, batteries solar panels, wind generation systems etc are hardly inexpensive ! They lifestyle suits only very few people .
There has been no out of hand growth of houseboats, despite a complete lack of regulation because of these reasons .
Because of their rarity, people love them! Everyday, the tourist buses roar by on Waiheke and l the tourists stop to take pictures , and I must ask. " if some of the most densely populated , most beautiful and cultured cities in the World successfully understand , the color and character that houseboats bring to a city, why can't we?
When Lance and I travelled to Amsterdam, one of the things that all of the tourists wanted to see was the houseboats! They are certainly a tourist attraction, but are so beautifully maintained and shipshape due to the regulations that both allow, and control houseboat living, that we are asking for here on Waiheke.
I know that there are houseboats in some of the most beautiful and highly populated , and highly cultured cities of the world...., I have seen houseboats in the US, in London, in Canada, in Germany, India and Australia , I know that the fear of some of the councils and Authorities is that houseboats will proliferate and get out of hand..
This certainly hasn't been the case. On Waiheke in the 20 years that there have been houseboats, there had been literally no growth in numbers, the same 7 houseboats in Rocky Bay and a small number in Putiki Bay
The reason for this is that houseboat living is not for everyone. To build a houseboat is a skill that very few people have... It's as expensive as building a Bach.. And the electronic equipment, batteries solar panels, wind generation systems etc are hardly inexpensive ! They lifestyle suits only very few people .
There has been no out of hand growth of houseboats, despite a complete lack of regulation because of these reasons .
Because of their rarity, people love them! Everyday, the tourist buses roar by on Waiheke and l the tourists stop to take pictures , and I must ask. " if some of the most densely populated , most beautiful and cultured cities in the World successfully understand , the color and character that houseboats bring to a city, why can't we?
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Mythbusting!
Mary from Kukurei sent me this great link to an article about the realities and myths about living aboard from the "Three Sheets Northwest blog"
http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2012/11/debunking-the-myths-about-liveaboard-boaters/
which I have quoted below
I think its great and so very true!
All of us on Tsunami, Sunflower and Kukurei go out to work, contribute taxes , look after children etc, and would like to pay rates!
We want a system like that which they have in other countries of a "residential Mooring permit fee" which allows us to pay rates ,and that would provide a structure for responsible houseboaters, as they have in houseboat communities all over the world, at this point in NZ, there is no way for us to do this right now
We are writing this article because we believe it is important that people have an accurate account of what the liveaboard life represents. Often in the media, people who live aboard and the boats they live in are presented in a negative light. A recent piece in the National Post newspaper had a large headline with the words “shanty town” and “derelict boats.” However, there were no pictures of either in the article. Many municipalities have a fear of liveaboard boats due to these misconceptions, so we would like to present you with some facts to counter the prevalent myths about liveaboard boats and their crews.
Myth number one: Liveaboard boaters are trying to live under the radar
Liveaboard boats and the people who own them are fully in the public eye. Many marinas where they live are either open to the public or, if gated, very visible from the shoreline. Here in Victoria Harbour, the boats are a tourist attraction, with many visitors coming by, taking pictures and asking questions. The liveaboard boats are a large part of the ambience of the harbor. Can you imagine how many of us there are in photographs of Victoria shown around the world?
There are a number of families with children living aboard, and we all know you can’t hide children. Liveaboard boaters do not wish nor choose to be hiding from the communities in which they live. If they are pushed into a position of feeling they have to hide, it is only due to the kind of prejudice and lack of real knowledge and understanding that so often afflicts minority communities.
Myth number two: Liveaboard boaters do not pay taxes
Anyone living aboard would prefer to be securely tied up to a dock in the winter months when they are not cruising. Anchoring out in a harbor in winter is a choice some are forced into when marina space is either not available or unaffordable.
Liveaboard boats rent the dock space they occupy in a marina from the marina operator. They pay all municipal and provincial taxes through moorage fees assessed by the marina, in the same manner that would be applied to anyone on shore living in rental accommodation.
If one sees liveaboard boats occupying an anchorage in the winter, ask if the adjacent marina offers liveaboard moorage at a reasonable rate. Most often the answer is that the marina operator does not or is hampered by local bylaws restricting liveaboard moorage. Too bad, because, as you will see below, they are giving up a lucrative revenue source. This fact becomes even more unreasonable when the same marina offers sequential moorage to people living on boats all summer long in the same location.
Myth number three: Liveaboard boaters are unemployed
Most liveaboard boaters are either employed in the community (that’s why they need moorage near their jobs) or are retired. In my observation, most liveaboard boaters are in their mid-sixties and have lived aboard for more than seven years. In our community we have former military people, university professors, landscapers, retail staff, electronics engineers, mothers and fathers, computer programmers. A number of them are self-employed and work from their boats … you get the picture.
Myth number four: Liveaboard boaters pump their poop and other pollutants into the harbor
Federal laws prohibit the pumping of toilet waste (black water) and solvents ( oil, fuel, etc.) into marine environments. Boats with marine toilets (heads) have holding tanks for these wastes and most marinas provide services to promote environmentally friendly practices such as holding tank pump-outs.
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has a publicly available pumpout station located at Fisherman’s Wharf. The GVHA also provides its liveaboard customers with a weekly mobile pumpout service at the boats. This service is paid for by boaters using GVHA facilities as a portion of their moorage fees.
Very often, pollution in the harbor comes from shore. Oil slicks on the inner harbor water and fertilizer run off come from municipal storm drains; plastic bottles, plastic bags and coffee cups are thrown from shore. And the worst pollutant, cigarette butts, come from thoughtless smokers of all stripes.
We liveaboard boaters choose to live in this beautiful aquatic environment and none of us wants to see it polluted in any way.
Liveaboard boats have a very small environmental footprint. Many occupy less than 400 square feet. They get by on 30 amps of electrical power for all lighting, heating and cooking needs. That’s less than a homeowner on shore uses to cook dinner on an electric range. Two people living on their boat will only use about 50 gallons of fresh water in a week. We have no lawns to water. A number of us do not own automobiles and make frequent use of public transit.
Myth number five: Most liveaboard boats are derelict
Most liveaboard boats are not derelict. Just like a house on shore, to be able to comfortably live aboard a boat, it must be maintained and kept in good condition. Also, like landowners, we take pride in our homes and spend a great deal of time and money on maintenance.
Often, to be allowed to moor, insurance is required. Boat insurance is more costly than house insurance and requires rigorous regular inspections to qualify. Many boats that appear to be derelict are, in fact, not lived aboard, but are abandoned by their owners.
Owners of rundown boats, like owners of rundown houses, are an individual problem that needs to be dealt with on an individual basis. The same thing goes for anyone putting pollution into the harbor. Deal with the individual committing the offence. Do not judge all for the bad behavior of a few.
Myth number six: People living on boats are not contributing members of the community
There are almost 200 liveaboard boats in Victoria Harbour, and we are very much contributing members of our community. Our moorage and associated fees alone contribute more than $1,100,000.00, to the local economy. Added to this is the money spent (locally) on groceries, clothing, maintenance, services, entertainment, education and a host of other expenses.
Liveaboard boaters also contribute to the community through volunteer work, they sit on the boards of local service organizations providing community involvement and they contribute to the economy through their jobs. One man living on his boat in Esquimalt, is a provincial emergency coordinator, providing amateur radio services during an emergency.
All liveaboard boaters have VHF radios on their boats and would be able to provide communication services in the event of an emergency. They are also the eyes and ears at the marinas where they live, preventing theft and damage to facilities and unattended boats.
That’s our perspective on living on the water. We laugh, love and feel just like everyone else, and we are a part of our community. Next time you are in the harbor, stop by and say hi.
http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2012/11/debunking-the-myths-about-liveaboard-boaters/
which I have quoted below
I think its great and so very true!
All of us on Tsunami, Sunflower and Kukurei go out to work, contribute taxes , look after children etc, and would like to pay rates!
We want a system like that which they have in other countries of a "residential Mooring permit fee" which allows us to pay rates ,and that would provide a structure for responsible houseboaters, as they have in houseboat communities all over the world, at this point in NZ, there is no way for us to do this right now
We are writing this article because we believe it is important that people have an accurate account of what the liveaboard life represents. Often in the media, people who live aboard and the boats they live in are presented in a negative light. A recent piece in the National Post newspaper had a large headline with the words “shanty town” and “derelict boats.” However, there were no pictures of either in the article. Many municipalities have a fear of liveaboard boats due to these misconceptions, so we would like to present you with some facts to counter the prevalent myths about liveaboard boats and their crews.
Myth number one: Liveaboard boaters are trying to live under the radar
Liveaboard boats and the people who own them are fully in the public eye. Many marinas where they live are either open to the public or, if gated, very visible from the shoreline. Here in Victoria Harbour, the boats are a tourist attraction, with many visitors coming by, taking pictures and asking questions. The liveaboard boats are a large part of the ambience of the harbor. Can you imagine how many of us there are in photographs of Victoria shown around the world?
There are a number of families with children living aboard, and we all know you can’t hide children. Liveaboard boaters do not wish nor choose to be hiding from the communities in which they live. If they are pushed into a position of feeling they have to hide, it is only due to the kind of prejudice and lack of real knowledge and understanding that so often afflicts minority communities.
Myth number two: Liveaboard boaters do not pay taxes
Anyone living aboard would prefer to be securely tied up to a dock in the winter months when they are not cruising. Anchoring out in a harbor in winter is a choice some are forced into when marina space is either not available or unaffordable.
Liveaboard boats rent the dock space they occupy in a marina from the marina operator. They pay all municipal and provincial taxes through moorage fees assessed by the marina, in the same manner that would be applied to anyone on shore living in rental accommodation.
If one sees liveaboard boats occupying an anchorage in the winter, ask if the adjacent marina offers liveaboard moorage at a reasonable rate. Most often the answer is that the marina operator does not or is hampered by local bylaws restricting liveaboard moorage. Too bad, because, as you will see below, they are giving up a lucrative revenue source. This fact becomes even more unreasonable when the same marina offers sequential moorage to people living on boats all summer long in the same location.
Myth number three: Liveaboard boaters are unemployed
Most liveaboard boaters are either employed in the community (that’s why they need moorage near their jobs) or are retired. In my observation, most liveaboard boaters are in their mid-sixties and have lived aboard for more than seven years. In our community we have former military people, university professors, landscapers, retail staff, electronics engineers, mothers and fathers, computer programmers. A number of them are self-employed and work from their boats … you get the picture.
Myth number four: Liveaboard boaters pump their poop and other pollutants into the harbor
Federal laws prohibit the pumping of toilet waste (black water) and solvents ( oil, fuel, etc.) into marine environments. Boats with marine toilets (heads) have holding tanks for these wastes and most marinas provide services to promote environmentally friendly practices such as holding tank pump-outs.
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has a publicly available pumpout station located at Fisherman’s Wharf. The GVHA also provides its liveaboard customers with a weekly mobile pumpout service at the boats. This service is paid for by boaters using GVHA facilities as a portion of their moorage fees.
A mobile pumpout services a boat in Victoria Harbour, British Columbia.
We liveaboard boaters choose to live in this beautiful aquatic environment and none of us wants to see it polluted in any way.
Liveaboard boats have a very small environmental footprint. Many occupy less than 400 square feet. They get by on 30 amps of electrical power for all lighting, heating and cooking needs. That’s less than a homeowner on shore uses to cook dinner on an electric range. Two people living on their boat will only use about 50 gallons of fresh water in a week. We have no lawns to water. A number of us do not own automobiles and make frequent use of public transit.
Myth number five: Most liveaboard boats are derelict
Most liveaboard boats are not derelict. Just like a house on shore, to be able to comfortably live aboard a boat, it must be maintained and kept in good condition. Also, like landowners, we take pride in our homes and spend a great deal of time and money on maintenance.
Often, to be allowed to moor, insurance is required. Boat insurance is more costly than house insurance and requires rigorous regular inspections to qualify. Many boats that appear to be derelict are, in fact, not lived aboard, but are abandoned by their owners.
Owners of rundown boats, like owners of rundown houses, are an individual problem that needs to be dealt with on an individual basis. The same thing goes for anyone putting pollution into the harbor. Deal with the individual committing the offence. Do not judge all for the bad behavior of a few.
Myth number six: People living on boats are not contributing members of the community
There are almost 200 liveaboard boats in Victoria Harbour, and we are very much contributing members of our community. Our moorage and associated fees alone contribute more than $1,100,000.00, to the local economy. Added to this is the money spent (locally) on groceries, clothing, maintenance, services, entertainment, education and a host of other expenses.
Liveaboard boaters also contribute to the community through volunteer work, they sit on the boards of local service organizations providing community involvement and they contribute to the economy through their jobs. One man living on his boat in Esquimalt, is a provincial emergency coordinator, providing amateur radio services during an emergency.
All liveaboard boaters have VHF radios on their boats and would be able to provide communication services in the event of an emergency. They are also the eyes and ears at the marinas where they live, preventing theft and damage to facilities and unattended boats.
That’s our perspective on living on the water. We laugh, love and feel just like everyone else, and we are a part of our community. Next time you are in the harbor, stop by and say hi.
About Rick Schnurr
Sunflower Crew: Why a houseboat?
I've always been interested in sustainability and Art. A few years back I created with my friend, artist and designer Paula Coulthard, an artwork for the Wearable arts Show entitled "Loaded"
to demonstrate, "Each person is consuming more of the world'sresources than they need, and than can possibly be sustained."
In this artwork, I wanted the Model to wear a ridiculously large backpack, as if setting out into a post-apocalyptic world, to show both the craziness of consuming far more than we need and an apocalyptic feel to show the threat to our ecosystem of this unbalanced way of consuming.
But I also wanted to put my thoughts into action and live small and simply, and reduce my footprint on the planet. When I saw that the houseboat Sunflower with its Doctor Seuss-like curved windows and strangely pointed roof was for sale, I knew that this was a way that I could do this.
I had always loved Sunflower , Tsunami and the Rocky Bay houseboats all the years I had lived on Waiheke, I loved them in the way I love the shape of Rangitoto, the beauty of enclosure bay , the little baches on the hill in Onetangi , the civic theatre in Auckland City or the yacht Arcturus which moors in the fishermen's basin the viaduct, they are visually appealing to me and the are visual landmarks to my life, I love them and feel an emotional attachment to them
In that way I understand how other people on Waiheke love , and are attached to the houseboats in Putiki Bay, and how they give pleasure to so many people.
Loaded:
The fashion designer and stylist scoured rubbish collections forcoffee sacks, mattresses, furniture, seatbelts, and piled them into anenormous 25 kg heavy loadto demonstrate, "Each person is consuming more of the world'sresources than they need, and than can possibly be sustained."
In this artwork, I wanted the Model to wear a ridiculously large backpack, as if setting out into a post-apocalyptic world, to show both the craziness of consuming far more than we need and an apocalyptic feel to show the threat to our ecosystem of this unbalanced way of consuming.
But I also wanted to put my thoughts into action and live small and simply, and reduce my footprint on the planet. When I saw that the houseboat Sunflower with its Doctor Seuss-like curved windows and strangely pointed roof was for sale, I knew that this was a way that I could do this.
I had always loved Sunflower , Tsunami and the Rocky Bay houseboats all the years I had lived on Waiheke, I loved them in the way I love the shape of Rangitoto, the beauty of enclosure bay , the little baches on the hill in Onetangi , the civic theatre in Auckland City or the yacht Arcturus which moors in the fishermen's basin the viaduct, they are visually appealing to me and the are visual landmarks to my life, I love them and feel an emotional attachment to them
In that way I understand how other people on Waiheke love , and are attached to the houseboats in Putiki Bay, and how they give pleasure to so many people.
Saturday, 20 April 2013
Sunflower Crew: Who we are and why we started this
In Putiki Bay on Waiheke Island we are a small community of iconic houseboats
Tsunami http://waihekepedia.org/Tsunami has been in the bay for 20 odd years while Sunflower has made her floating home there for 17 . Another houseboat , the Kukurei (Kiribati for "happiness"!) has joined the community in recent years.
There are also 7 Iconic houseboats nestled in the Rangihoua Inlet in Putiki Bay
Many of the boats were built by Waiheke resident and houseboat guru Russell Conder, author of the book
Handmade Houseboats , described on Amazon as a book that could " help you build a self-sufficient and economical floating home that generates its own power, deals with its own waste, and leaves no scar upon the Earth"
About the Author
Russell Conder wandered around Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America working at various means of survival--electrician, clerk, painter, sculptor, salesman, ballet administrator . . . among others--before returning to the pastoral society of New Zealand's sixty million sheep, and a few people. He currently lives on Waiheke Island
We are starting this blog as these Waiheke icons , and colourful part of Waiheke Character and maritime history ,are under threat under new proposals in the Draft Auckland Unitary Plan.
We would like to document our reasons why we think it is so important to save these iconic boats , make a place where people can leave messages of support and tell our stories of houseboat living.
It's a simple but interesting life, leaving only a small footprint, living completely off the grid , on alternative power systems of wind and solar, and catching our water from the sky.
Tsunami http://waihekepedia.org/Tsunami has been in the bay for 20 odd years while Sunflower has made her floating home there for 17 . Another houseboat , the Kukurei (Kiribati for "happiness"!) has joined the community in recent years.
There are also 7 Iconic houseboats nestled in the Rangihoua Inlet in Putiki Bay
Many of the boats were built by Waiheke resident and houseboat guru Russell Conder, author of the book
Handmade Houseboats , described on Amazon as a book that could " help you build a self-sufficient and economical floating home that generates its own power, deals with its own waste, and leaves no scar upon the Earth"
About the Author
Russell Conder wandered around Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America working at various means of survival--electrician, clerk, painter, sculptor, salesman, ballet administrator . . . among others--before returning to the pastoral society of New Zealand's sixty million sheep, and a few people. He currently lives on Waiheke Island
We are starting this blog as these Waiheke icons , and colourful part of Waiheke Character and maritime history ,are under threat under new proposals in the Draft Auckland Unitary Plan.
We would like to document our reasons why we think it is so important to save these iconic boats , make a place where people can leave messages of support and tell our stories of houseboat living.
It's a simple but interesting life, leaving only a small footprint, living completely off the grid , on alternative power systems of wind and solar, and catching our water from the sky.
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