Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Margi WATSON
Candidate for Albert-Eden Local Board (Ōwairaka Subdivision)
City Vision
Candidate statement
As the current deputy chair of Albert-Eden Local Board, I am accountable to you. I have worked to improve services, parks and funding for the community. I am passionate about our community, our environment and our future. I want to see Mt Albert Town Square developed, shade sails in parks, improved access to Chamberlain Park, support for community groups, town centres we want to visit, a reopened Oakley Creek walkway and green space for the 6,000+ new homes in the Carrington development. I take my responsibilities seriously. My professional background is in nursing but my focus nowadays is good decision-making that improves the lives of locals. I have governance experience on a large commercial company, a philanthropic trust, council and school boards including leading a $20m school rebuild. I hope to continue to serve you on the Local Board. Please vote for me and the City Vision team.
Why I want to be elected
I love the area and want to make it even better than it already is. We need to fund projects the community want and support local groups to do great things. I want to help build neighbourhoods and a city that cares about its people. I want to secure good open space for the community as part of the Carrington development, make our beaches, parks and libraries better spaces and be a good Treaty partner. I’ve done a lot since I was first elected, but there’s still more we can do together.
My key skills and qualities
I am a nurse so I have a calm head and can assess, plan and work through problems. I have strong governance, finance and property skills having led school boards and sat on other boards and trusts over the last 20 years. I led a school through a $20M rebuild including fundraising for a new pool that is open to community-use over summer. Finally, I love what I do, work hard and am passionate about; listening to community, caring for the environment and contributing to stronger futures for all.
My top three key issues
Listening to the community and hearing what is important for them. This must include young people and those who don’t usually talk with Council. This is because we cannot build a good city for people, without listening to people. Planning a permanent library and community hub in Pt Chevalier because libraries matter. Building a town square at the Mt Albert shops near the train station, so it opens up the space for everyone to enjoy with events, activities and new toilets.
My position on key topics
Transport
Carbon emissions from transport and congestion are major issues. I support funding of active transport options including safer walking and cycling, better footpaths, extending free public transport to more people, infrastructure that enables kids to walk and ride to school and public transport that is accessible, safe and reliable.
Water
Access to clean drinking water should never be privatised. I fully support the Central Interceptor project as it will decrease sewerage overflowing into local creeks and the harbour. Council needs to catch up on stormwater infrastructure, separate combined pipes in Pt Chevalier and Waterview, address flooding in Sandringham, and require a higher percentage of permeable surfaces in developments. We should have filters to catch rubbish from flowing roadside gutters into the creeks and harbour.
Built environment
I support Auckland being a compact city, that protects our food growing lands and unique forests and ranges from intensification. We must build more housing to meet the demand and fund the services needed to meet the needs of the current and future community including water, transport, open spaces and libraries. Intensification should be in the right places where access to transport is easy. At the same time, we must protect historic heritage and sites of significance to Māori.
Natural environment
We must protect our precious open spaces from development. We must fund restoration of our parks and streams and fund groups like Urban Ark, STEPS, schools and Friends of Oakley Creek properly to help us do this. We can encourage people to trap pests in their gardens and encourage plantings to attract our native bees back into Albert-Eden. We need to become a carbon zero city by funding programmes and working with groups and families to make a difference before it is too late.
Community
I believe in talking with the community to find out what is important to them. I want to ensure grant, event and arts funding are well resourced as these bring the community together. Pt Chevalier needs a community-led town plan so everyone can contribute to its future and the same for a town square in Mt Albert. Playgrounds, pools, parks and community centres must be designed and managed so they are safe, welcoming spaces for everyone. Services for those at-risk are critical.
Economic and cultural development
I support the economic and cultural development of Auckland by making it an attractive place to live in, visit and do business. Major facilities eg the Zoo, Museum and Art Gallery need support and major events make the city a vibrant place. We need to ensure Council delivers for the diverse communities we are. The local board needs to support shop local campaigns, local business groups, funding for large local events like the Moon Festival, BGO and Māori businesses.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
Council must be a good treaty partner. It must listen to Māori, their aspirations and partner through funding and projects. We must work alongside them on park and road naming and work with local schools, kura and marae. I support Māori Wards. The Port must remain in Council ownership and improve it’s safety record as workers dying is never acceptable. The 2023 and 2025 floods were devasting in our area. Council must help community, make the area less flood impacted and create new spongy parks.
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.