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 to change how our city is run. Locals are frustrated with lack of vision, progress and accountability. Not enough is being done to address transport, climate change, wasteful spending and poor communication. We face challenges with intensification, population growth, and uncertain economy. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland deserves a more ambitious, disciplined, and diverse council. We need representatives who understand their communities, investing time to listen and respond to residents. It's time for change. With nearly 20 years of business improvement experience, I've worked in large organisations eliminating waste, improving delivery, and cutting bureaucracy. I'm a member of NZ Institute of Directors, with community, commercial, and council experience, recently as Chairperson of Howick Local Board. I'll drive financial discipline and accountability; improve local responsiveness; deliver more value; continue to be highly visible, results driven, and truly independent while working for every resident of East Auckland. www.damianlight.co.nz
Why I want to be elected
I’m standing for Auckland Council to change how our city is run. We’re facing intensification, population growth, and an uncertain economy. Not enough is being done to address wasteful spending, congestion, poor communication, or climate change. If elected, I will continue to be highly visible, results driven, and truly independent. I will utilise my passion for community, my experience in governance, and my knowledge of council to deliver for every resident of East Auckland.
My key skills and qualities
I have nearly 20 years of business improvement experience, working for large organisations eliminating waste, improving delivery, and cutting bureaucracy. I’m a problem solver with an analytical mind who has a geninue passion for local government - I want to see our city succeed. As a member of NZ Institute of Directors, I’m passionate about good governance, utilising my skills and experience to help community and business. I've served as the Chairperson of Howick Local Board for past 3 years.
My top three key issues
1) More transparency especially around finances. Everyone should be able to see where public money is spent, but even elected members have to fight for basic information. 2) Better communication - we need representatives who understand their communities, investing time to listen and respond to residents, not just at election time. 3) Greater community outcomes - the promise of the super city was better regional decisions and local outcomes, but we're not getting either. We must change this.
My position on key topics
Transport
1) Reliable, affordable and accessible public transport - delivering the Eastern Busway, Airport to Botany, electric ferries for Half Moon Bay, support $50 weekly cap. 2) Safe roads with predictable travel times - implement time-of-use charging where practical alternatives exist with revenue invested to fix congestion; road maintenance is fit-for-purpose (not just chip seal) 3) Connected network of walking and cycling - we don't need gold plated solutions, but we do need more transport choice.
Water
1) Leverage Watercare's balance sheet separation to enable long term investment into water and sewage infrastructure while keeping water rates affordable. 2) Reduce stormwater and wastewater overflows that make our beaches and waterways unswimmable. 3) Continue to invest in stormwater resilience to reduce flooding impacts and protect people and property.
Built environment
1) Sensible, quality intensification (not urban sprawl) that provides better quality of life and more cost effective services. Focused around transit and town centres. 2) Protect our natural, cultural, and historical heritage for future generations - funding must follow to ensure we maintain them appropriately (too much has been left to decay).
Natural environment
1) Increase pest plant and animal management and removal at local and regional level with funding, empowering volunteers, and good policy. 2) Fight illegal dumping of rubbish with enforcement and prevention. Build community recycling centres and get central government to fix the law to make it practical. 3) Implement an ambitious but realistic plan of action to reduce Auckland's carbon emissions, prioritising transport which contributes 40% of the city’s emissions.
Community
1) Re-shape the budgeting process to ensure community facilities and local boards are fully funded to deliver, not left to beg for scraps. 2) Deliver the Flat Bush Community Centre/Library and Pool/Leisure Centre - residents have waited long enough. We must fix our delivery process. 3) Support local boards to deliver for their communities in a collaborative approach - localism works best when decisions are made closer to the community.
Economic and cultural development
1) Support our local economy by reducing bureaucracy and continuing to raise Auckland's position with Central Government to recognise our role as 1/3 of NZ's economy. 2) Support the introduction of a bed-night visitor levy to enable Auckland to provide the tourism opportunities that we know we can but lack the funding to deliver. 3) Celebrate and support our incredible cultural diversity and the opportunities it provides.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
1) Fix local democracy with a well considered reorganisation of local boards - 21 local boards is too many and council has proven it cannot support the volume of elected members. More empowered, properly supported local boards can do more. 2) Genuine responsiveness and engagement for Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi - not just box ticking. 3) Drive more strategic decisions that will deliver long term positive outcomes, like Auckland Future Fund.
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.