Media Release: Chalk the Walk on Manners Mall

"Chalk The Walk" On Manners Mall

On Tuesday 21st of July, from 11.30am and through the day, Wellington citizens are invited and encouraged to come down to Manners Mall and chalk up a message for the Wellington City Council to read on how the public feel about losing the mall to buses.

While the decision to run buses through the mall was voted in 11-4 by Council on June 4th, Chalk the Walk campaigner, Benjamin Easton says that the battle to save the mall isn't over. Benjamin, who calls himself the Political Busker, says he will file in the High Court on July 27th for a judicial review of the decision.

"The Council appear to have made an error on how they went about the consultative processes" he says. "They went too fast. They plan now to run a special procedure that should have been run before they made the decision. The legislation seems fairly clear on this. It seems the Councillors have gone about the process the wrong way about, possibly trying to quickly fit the proposal in before the Long Term Council Community Plan was voted in. Honest democracy is pretty important", adds the busker, "if we do not protect it in New Zealand then we barely deserve the protection sacrificed for us by our war torn forefathers".

Assisting the busker with his campaign and promoting the Chalk the Walk idea, is Wellington Resident's Coalition activist Maria van der Meel. Maria was the driving force in the "We Love Manners Mall" campaign that saw posters put up in retail windows all around Wellington. "On the basis that 74 percent of those responding to the Council's proposal opening the mall, stating that they didn't want it, I felt justified to stand up for the citizens and make a case. I think a campaign could work again and believe what we did was successful because so many people bought into it" she says.

Councillor Pepperell who voted against the proposal will address the public on the Chalk the Walk Tuesday. "I think there was a process of push polling going on all the way through and feel sad about that process because I am a part of it. I think, however, that I opposed the decision for the right reasons". Cr. Pepperell also reluctantly agrees with a view that the current Council undertakes consultation because it is a requirement and not because they are interested in what the public's views are.

Councillor Goulden has also agreed to address the public on the Chalk the Walk Tuesday. Cr. Goulden was one of the Councillor's voting in favour of the buses. After listening to some of Benjamin's arguments after he approached him with the new information the Councillor has given an oral indication that he is not fully confident he made the right decision. This could count if the busker is successful in Court.

Coloured Chalk will be made available throughout the day and the footpath strips will be kept clear of messages. Contact on the activity can be made with Maria on 383 4993 or 0273226311.

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