Ask Phoebe: Historic lamps due for restoration

When the Auckland Harbour Board built what is now St Laurence House on Princes Wharf, it installed a row of lamp standards along the Quay St frontage. These were once part of the port's original red fence. As well as being part of the history of the Auckland waterfront, the lamp standards attract a lot of interest from tourists for photographic opportunities, especially during cruise ship season. They are now deteriorating. The paintwork is fading and large pieces of rusted ironwork are flaking off. Who is responsible for their maintenance, and why aren't they being maintained? Allan McDonald, Sandringham.

Several groups are involved in the maintenance, says Megan Hopkins-Stone from Ports of Auckland. The port company is responsible for the section of red fence between Queens Wharf and Bledisloe Wharf. This bit was renovated and repainted in 2002 and is in good shape. The lamp standards and fence in front of the ferry terminal and terminal carpark are the property of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, and those in front of St Laurence House are the responsibility of the building's owner, Princes Wharf Property Fund Ltd.

Having divvied up the fence for informational purposes, though, Ports of Auckland will ask the other parties for their support to restore these lovely lamp standards.

The northern end of Wynyard Wharf (so nice to have a theme) by the oil terminal has become a popular place for campervans to park. I assume they overnight there, and a couple of weeks ago I counted 11 of them, tightly packed. Campervans almost always have propane gas stoves to cook on. In the event of a vapour leak, the resulting conflagration could be spectacular, given the proximity to the oil tanks. There is also the possibility of a cooking fire. Is Wynyard Wharf Oil Terminal considered a suitable place for campervans to stay? Graham Orbell, Birkenhead.

Very likely not. The Auckland City Council tells me this area has a P180 restriction at all times.

But to enforce parking restrictions, the appropriate parking signs and road markings must be visible, which is a point worth remembering. Because the parking signs have been vandalised and even removed in this area, the council's ability to enforce the restriction is limited.

The council was told about the lack of signs quite recently, and is in the process of reinstating them. Once this is done, enforcement will follow.

I was biking along the wonderful Te Atatu Peninsula waterfront paths overlooking the Harbour Bridge quite recently. The path led me up behind the pony club fields on Te Atatu Rd and then abruptly stopped at the Northwestern Motorway. What, if any, are the plans for continuing this path? Trish Bartleet, Pt Chevalier.

The Waitakere City Council is looking at linking the cycle-pathway that runs through Harbourview-Orangihina in front of the pony club with the gravel path behind the club, as part of the city's network of cycleways and walkways.

Queen St in Auckland quite often has protest marches along it. How do the organisers get a permit to march and block off part of the street? Peter Davis, Kerikeri.

Organisers apply to the Auckland City Council for a permit for any event using any of the city's open public spaces, including staging a protest march in Queen St. Ideally, you should apply at least six weeks before the event, especially if traffic management is required. Parking, fire and other safety measures also need to be addressed.

The council advertises protest marches that require road closure, in much the same way as it does for any other reason for road closure. If the march needs only a rolling road closure, implemented by police, the protest may not be advertised as it involves only a short disruption to normal traffic.