Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Samuel Raymond MILLS
Candidate for Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (Hibiscus Coast Subdivision)
ACT Local
Candidate statement
As a current board member of your Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, I have a proven track record of challenging council waste and fighting for our community's fair share. However, as a barrister and solicitor, Justice of the Peace, and proud Coastie, I still believe our local priorities are being ignored in favour of downtown vanity projects and South Auckland spend ups – and I want to change that. Now standing with ACT Local, I will continue to fight the Council’s wasteful spending, promote practical solutions for our community’s problems, focus our board back on our core services like improving roads, protecting our parks and beaches and ensuring our local facilities are well-maintained, and advocate strongly for an engineered seawall to prevent Orewa reserve being surrendered to the ocean. If you want to guarantee accountability and common sense on your local board, please give me one of your votes.
Why I want to be elected
Ratepayers have been let down by higher rates, more bureaucracy, wasteful pet projects and neglected basics. It’s time to focus on what matters – safe streets, working infrastructure and value for money. As your current elected member of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, I understand our community’s needs and will bring practical solutions to deliver real change locally. By voting for me as an ACT Local candidate, you know I’ll keep rates down, stop wasteful spending, and deliver essentials.
My key skills and qualities
I’m a barrister and solicitor, accredited Hearing Commissioner for applications under the Resource Management Act 1991, Hearing Adjudicator for the Department of Corrections and your elected Local Board Member for the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, I know how to get things done and hold decision makers to account. I’ll keep rates low, ensure essential services are maintained to a high standard, and restore transparency so residents can see exactly how their money is being spent, I answer to you.
My top three key issues
Lower rates – stopping waste and keeping council spending focused on essentials, I am a rate payer too and I demand value for money and accountability from my elected representatives, you should too. Less waste – ending pet projects and cutting unnecessary bureaucracy, only by doing this can we reduce rates to below inflation in Auckland. Better services – fixing roads, clearing drains, collecting rubbish and maintaining public spaces, a back to basics approach is what I am passionate about.
My position on key topics
Transport
I’ll fix the basics – maintain footpaths, clear drains, and keep traffic flowing. I’ll oppose anti-car policies like excessive speed bumps, road narrowings, and cycleways that don’t reflect local needs, I will oppose any proposal to add a T2/bus lane that removes an existing general vehicle lane and will move to remove implementation of raised pedestrian crossings and replace with much cheaper zebra crossings. Transport choices should be practical and locally decided, not driven by ideology.
Water
I’ll support local projects that fix flooding, clear blocked drains, and maintain stormwater infrastructure. We need real investment in pipes and pumps – not vanity projects – so water and wastewater systems are reliable, affordable, and focused on essentials for ratepayers.
Built environment
I’ll oppose red tape that blocks development while ensuring infrastructure keeps up. I support increased housing density around key transport hubs – building where it’s most needed and makes the most sense – so Auckland can grow without pushing up rates or wasting money.
Natural environment
I’ll back local pest control, coastal protection, and better flood management – but stop wasting money on political climate projects that don’t deliver for ratepayers or the environment. Focus should be on practical work that benefits nature and protects communities, the work that our volunteer organisations do in this space is admirable and is worthy of support, work they do for the community delivers results at a significant discount to rate payers, I am grateful for the work they do.
Community
I’ll get the basics right – fix walkways, maintain community centres and libraries, and support practical local events that bring people together without pushing politics. Well-run facilities and safe public spaces are the foundation of strong communities, I will also advocate to support our amazing volunteer groups that give their time and effort to make our communities safer and happier places to live and raise families in.
Economic and cultural development
I’ll work with local businesses and business associations to revitalise town centres, improve safety and foot traffic, and cut red tape so it’s easier to hold markets, events, or get a licence. Strong local economies, local employment opportunities, and vibrant communities go hand-in-hand.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
All residents should be treated equally and outcomes for all rate payers are important to me. I’ll campaign to remove the voting rights of unelected Independent Māori Statutory Board members on council committees and will actively oppose any attempts to implement race based wards within Auckland Council. Strategic assets like the Port and Future Fund must be run efficiently to lower rates, strengthen resilience, and stop waste.
Candidate's supporting links
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