Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Candidate statement
I'm standing for Councillor to continue serving the community I live in and love. I bring experience as a two-term Puketāpapa Local Board member, Chair of the Manukau Harbour Forum, local school teacher, and volunteer with sporting and environmental groups. Improving transport has been a key priority. I've worked to make it safer and easier for people to get around - improving footpaths, boosting crosstown bus routes, and making it safer for kids biking to school. Environmental restoration has also been a key focus. I secured funding to repair the storm-damaged Waikōwhai Coast and restore local streams. As Forum Chair, I championed a healthier Manukau Harbour and secured regional investment. Auckland faces serious challenges: housing affordability, infrastructure pressure, and environmental degradation. I offer a future-focused approach and a strong record of listening to community voices and delivering practical solutions. Please vote for me, Julie Fairey, and the City Vision team.
Why I want to be elected
I am standing to be your Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa Councillor alongside Julie Fairey to work collaboratively and ensure we are building a thriving city. The next three years are critical with a refresh of the unitary plan which will decide how and where we build housing, how we will govern transport, and what actions we will take to protect our environment. We’re blessed with a beautiful natural environment and our council has the opportunity to make Tāmaki Makaurau the best city in the world.
My key skills and qualities
As a two-term Puketāpapa Local Board member and chair of the Manukau Harbour Forum, I’m experienced in consensus building, with my colleagues representing a wide range of political backgrounds and covering a huge area from Āwhitu through to Huia. I hold a Masters in Public Policy which gives me a deep understanding of the policy process and how it can be used to achieve positive outcomes. My experience as a teacher at local schools has given me extreme patience!
My top three key issues
Environment. Let’s protect and restore our harbours and waterways that link our communities so that everyone can safely swim and fish. Housing. We need to ensure we’re building close to transport hubs and existing infrastructure, rather than seeing huge rates rises to cover urban sprawl. Transport. Everyone deserves to get around safely without having to sit in traffic for hours. We need to invest in public transport, walking and cycling, so that we aren’t adding more cars to our busy roads.
My position on key topics
Transport
We need to build networks that provide genuine transport choice so that people and goods can move around Auckland with ease and safety. This looks like completing the Rapid Transit Network, including crosstown links such as the Avondale-Southdown line. We should fund projects that make it safe and easy for people to walk and cycle to work and recreation - including an increase in the footpath repair and upgrade programme. We need to build grade separated rail crossings as quickly as possible.
Water
We need to continue working to build high-quality infrastructure to reduce wastewater overflows into our streams and harbours. The Central Interceptor will make a huge difference but we need to be funding a programme of separating networks in areas that were built with combined sewers. The Mangere Treatment plant is up for a new consent in 2032 and we need to be looking at the effects of the treated water on the Manukau Harbour and how we can reduce the load through alternative methods.
Built environment
We need to be building housing close to our existing town centres, transport stations and recreational facilities. We can’t afford to keep building outwards and subsidising urban sprawl, with all of the effects that has on our environment. Across our ward, hundreds of millions is being spent on upgrading infrastructure to support more housing and we need to make the most of that. We should be protecting our heritage buildings while also reassessing the blunt instrument of "special character".
Natural environment
The floods of 2023 brought home the realities of what a changing climate could mean for Auckland, and highlighted areas that could be restored as rivers and wetlands to protect housing. We should be doing more projects like the Te Auaunga/Oakley Creek naturalisation, to improve flood resilience and restore the environment. We need to ensure we are protecting and enhancing both the Manukau and Waitematā harbours, and fund them proportionately. Fund community groups to do the mahi on the ground.
Community
We are really blessed to have an amazing range of cultures, which means amazing food, great festivals, interesting conversations and lots to learn from each other. I support increasing funding for community groups who work to build a sense of togetherness. We also need to be ensuring our spaces are fit for use - which looks like building accessible public toilets, working to allow community groups to share space and ensuring people across the ward can get to our halls and centres easily.
Economic and cultural development
Our local businesses are top notch and bring people from across the city to enjoy diverse food, buy high-quality goods and enjoy cultural events. Council can support businesses by ensuring people are able to get to them without being stuck in traffic, ensuring streetscapes are well-kept and inviting, and allowing for events to be held locally. Our cultural heritage spans many facets and I believe Auckland does a great job at uplifting the many cultures we have.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
Local Boards need to be resourced properly to represent their constituents, as well as having decision making powers that reflect their status in the make-up of Auckland Council. Decision-making can also be shared better with mana whenua, for example replicating the co-management of Pourewa Reserve which council does with Ngāti Whatua Ōrakei. I support 100% ownership of the Port of Auckland and seeing the Future Fund grow. We need to be ensuring we are able to fund recovery from emergencies -
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.