Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Michelle Hope THORP
Candidate for Albert-Eden Local Board (Maungawhau Subdivision)
City Vision
Candidate statement
My family has deep roots across Maungawhau and in our diverse communities. I’ve played cricket for Eden-Roskill, social football in our parks, and I’ve hosted comedy events across Albert-Eden. As a producer, I pride myself on successful events that bring people together. I’ve consulted with businesses as an economic anthropologist, and I act as treasurer for the New Zealand Comedy Guild. Through this experience I’ve learned to build relationships, solve problems, and advocate effectively. I will advocate for safe, walkable streets for schools and hospitality, and to ensure people move around Albert-Eden quickly and safely. I believe that businesses support our community, and our plans should future-proof our infrastructure. Albert-Eden boasts beautiful green spaces and vibrant town centres; inclusive decision-making will maintain and protect those for everyone to use. Please vote for me and the City Vision team.
Why I want to be elected
I love Maungawhau’s town centres, green spaces, and community groups and I want to make sure these are maintained and improved with inclusive decision-making. I want to build future-proofed businesses and apartments and homes which rely on good public services. I think our issues (housing, transport, events, public safety) all interact with each other, so I want to consider solutions that maintain and improve all of these.
My key skills and qualities
Over the past three years I’ve been working in campaign politics and been a member of boards and executives, and I’ve found that I’m a relationship builder, a problem solver, and a level-head when it comes to conflict. I know how to represent, I know how to speak towards values, and I know how to understand other people’s points of view to find a good compromise. I am excellent at reviewing information and distilling it to know what I need to do, and I am a clear and effective communicator.
My top three key issues
I want community: arts markets and food vendors, good hospitality, and easy ways to get around. I want to (and do) play sports in our parks. I want people walking, cycling, bussing, and driving safely around Albert-Eden or to get to the city. I don’t want to wait until a traffic problem arises to have a reason to fix something. I believe that businesses support our community, and our plans should future-proof our infrastructure. Inclusive decision-making will maintain and protect these things.
My position on key topics
Transport
We need to maintain both our community and ability to efficiently move through our area. It’s important to have walkable streets for schools, venues, hospitality and business. It’s important to keep these areas safe, accessible, and open. Similarly, we should have links we can provide to make sure people are getting through quickly and safely, at little to no detriment to our community. When I'm not driving, I want to have the option to walk or cycle or have public transport options to use.
Water
I think its easier to maintain something than fix it, so I think we should be investing in stormwater systems and supply before problems arise. We now have big problems with flooding and clean streams and beaches, so we need to bring those standards of cleanliness and flood-resistance up to keep people safe and thriving.
Built environment
I love living in my classic Mount Eden villa. I also love the idea that my siblings might buy an apartment down the road to stay close to me. I think we can strike a balance between protecting important and beautiful heritage and making sure we are growing our community sustainably. We need more housing density which will bring lively business like restaurants, bars, and cafes. We should also plan these carefully and with community input.
Natural environment
Maungawhau boasts beautiful green spaces and maunga. We can protect these alongside the relevant authorities, as well as encouraging community groups like Friends of Maungawhau. Our community will always interact with our environment, so why not build community while maintaining the environment. Similarly, we should use flood-damaged areas for community benefit. I'm a big fan and big user of our new food scraps service and would encourage more services like this.
Community
There are great tree initiatives at parks like Nixon where I play football, another way our issues interact with each other. Maintaining those green areas includes providing other options like indoor sports facilities, which I advocate for. I’ve hosted comedy events across Albert-Eden. As a producer, I pride myself on successful events that are well run, advertised, and have a clear motive to get people out and together and make sure we make use of our community spaces.
Economic and cultural development
We have the benefit of hosting large events at Eden Park and making those events great includes planning for transport, infrastructure, and community. The CRL will increase foot traffic at train stations and so we need well-thought out business plans for those areas. The point of community is coming together and sharing, so hosting street parties and markets connects people to new and known cultures and to local businesses, encouraging relationships and the economy.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
As tangata tiriti I will always consider the views of Māori and impacts on Māori in any decision-making process. I am keen to support initiatives that will build Māori participation, engagement and action in all areas of democracy. Future-proofing our infrastructure is one crucial part of storm recovery and resilience, but so is building relationships between people so that we can take care of each other and support each other in times of crisis.
Candidate's supporting links
These links to external websites have been provided by the candidates. The content on these websites does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.