Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Lewis James ROWE
Candidate for Devonport-Takapuna Local Board
A Fresh Approach
Candidate statement
I have lived in the DTLB area for 20 years. A TGS alumni and proud local business owner, I am standing for the local board with a clear focus: To bring a fresh perspective - not bogged down by political alliance. Practical & workable solutions to get the basics done right and real-world experience on balancing tight budgets to get the best return on investment. With over a decade of experience running a business, I will champion initiatives that support business success & growth and foster local employment - especially among young adults seeking direction & purpose. My goal is simple: To ensure our area remains the best place to live in Auckland - not just for today, but for generations to come. I am here to listen, learn, and work for You, to make practical, achievable progress on the issues that matter most. Vote Lewis Rowe 'A Fresh Approach'
Why I want to be elected
Hello & thank you for taking the time to read my profile, it is important you feel informed, in this local election. WHY? Well as a Devonport-Takapuna local business owner, I care deeply about this area we are so lucky to call home. I am committed to advancing this area for our future generations to come with a common-sense approach & fiscal responsibility. Whether that is, aiding SME business build & succeed, protecting & enhancing our local environment or further connecting our community.
My key skills and qualities
I have owned my business for nearly a decade through some of NZ's most trying times. I am acutely aware that people must always come first in decisions, whether that's our older generation getting better access or our younger people finding purpose. I know how to run a tight ship when it comes to finances and I will be looking at the best ROI for ratepayers $$$. We need to get the basics right and move forward with data lead decisions & common sense outcomes. Simply we need to get stuff done!
My top three key issues
1. Helping local business build and thrive in our town centers, to provide local employment opportunities and training to our young people. When people find their purpose the whole community benefits. 2. Create, update & upgrade our council assets e.g Takapuna library so they can become multi-use and sustainable well into the future. 3. Find ways to reduce traffic congestion along our busy roads, by reducing wasteful spending on projects with no tangible outcomes - a more balanced approach.
My position on key topics
Transport
We have made some huge progress with public transport but there is more to do. We must balance data with common sense when making decisions about raised crossings, cycle paths and transport hubs. AC are planning to spend $34 out of every $100 on transport projects. We need to make sure these are bringing value for money to rate payers and giving people genuinely viable options away from 'sole' vehicle use. However if people do want to use their car we need to build/maintain parking options.
Water
We must build better resilience to storm water with water catchments - which progress is already underway. These can be multi use spaces people can use for recreation whilst also having a positive impact to the environment especially during heavy storms. We need to be ahead of the game when it comes to water infrastructure and invest in preventative measures instead of constantly spending huge $$$ on the clean up & recovery.
Built environment
If we truly want to get serious about housing our most vulnerable, and make housing truly more affordable both to buy and to rent we need to look to overseas and take their lead. We need to accept apartment type living will be in our future, so instead of holding it back, lets get it right, we can take Hobsonville as a good example. However we also need to take in to account parking buildings like they have in Europe and good access to public transport links so our roads are less clogged up.
Natural environment
When we are thinking of the future building of certain projects, green/blue spaces should be part of any planning. We need to protect what we have and spend money maintaining our environment. However we need to balance this with not being held back by ideology that doesn't work in reality. We need to put the right tree's in the right places, build green/blue spaces for public use and treat mother nature as a partner in our future.
Community
I would like to work on connecting our youth and young adults with the amazing spaces that already exist. This would look like funding campaigns to the spaces they're already in, like schools, social media, gaming etc. so they are more aware of what is available to them. We also need to continue to build and maintain viable community events, which bring people out of their homes, to meet and mingle with each other, build friendships, community and experiences.
Economic and cultural development
I would like to do more promotion of the North Shore, like Milford has done over the last few years. This could be using our celebrity/sports/influencers voices to promote our towns, running promotions, hosting events, to give business a boost both in one off events and recurring custom. We also need to push our young people to engage in local business and training to carry us in to the future.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
We need to make sure we are engaged with all parts of our society so everybody gets a voice at the table. Outcomes should be about making sure all parts of our society are catered too. Supporting local community initiatives, business, events & schooling will be imperative to moving forward as a community.
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.