Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Tim SPRING
Candidate for Kaipātiki Local Board
Shore Action
Candidate statement
Kia ora, I'm standing for re-election to continue the hard work advocating for the many voices in our community. I'm an Auckland University Alumni with a BA and BCom, and a career background in retail, sales, and community development - bringing a varied approach to decision making. I want to see greater empowerment for young people to lead projects and initiatives with youth outcomes. To work closer with Council to better involve our community partners in matters which directly affect them. To never relent in engaging with CCOs like Auckland Transport for better community outcomes through local input. I work locally, play sport locally, and have lived locally since I was thirteen. I love local, and while things can always be improved - that's the goal we never cease to strive for. You can trust I will always strive for it too. Please support the Shore Action Team; #8TicksShoreAction; www.shoreaction.org.nz
Why I want to be elected
I want to be re-elected because I care deeply for Kaipātiki and its many diverse peoples. I believe my expertise and values have been of benefit to the governance of the Local Board, as reflected in my decision making, my input, and my advocacy of fair and equitable spending. I have always conducted myself as approachable because I fundamentally believe this role to be one of service our community - driven by people. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. It is people, it is people. it is people.
My key skills and qualities
As Auckland's youngest incumbent elected member I bring governance and political experience shaped by three years in public office with the progressive attitude and long term forward thinking expected from a young professional. I bring critical analysis and uncompromising levelheadedness to my decision making. Providing fair and reasonable feedback to work undertaken by Auckland Council, as well as to proposed policy and legislative change by Council and Central Government respectively.
My top three key issues
My top three priorities are as follows: 1. Empowering community stakeholder lead services. 2. Continue to invest in parks, reserves, and sports recreation for the benefit of the community. 3. Ensuring all of our community has their voices heard and respected. These all go in tandem influenced by the same line of reasoning - the best social benefit with the most fiscally prudent allocation of funding. Our community does what it does best because our locals know this area and its people.
My position on key topics
Transport
I believe in encouraging more commuters to use the ferry services as a means to access the Britomart train station and other transport networks. By retaining the Northcote ferry service, reclassifying the Hobsonville-Beachhaven route as inner harbour, and realigning bus routes to better reflect ferry departure times we can have a viable service which suits the character of the city.
Water
It is important to support the continued work Council is doing to investigate new renewable sources of water as our network capacity reaches its limit with the natural sources we already use. They are finite resources and the sooner we can take the pressure off of them by diversifying Auckland's water supply the sooner we can look to restoring any environmental damage we may be causing them.
Built environment
Auckland's built environment has been given the green light to increase housing capacity, what is important is to continually advocate for medium density or low density residences being built on infrastructure networks only. And only if they can provide carparking for each domicile. It is ridiculous to push out household parking needs to roads when AT and Local Boards are looking to remove on-street parking as a means to alleviate traffic congestion.
Natural environment
Our natural environment should be protected and invested in. I am proud to support the on-going work our community stakeholders do in providing pest eradication, reserve restoration, and local school education. The support they provide to our community is invaluable and it is there use of local knowledge which I argue is the best means by which local parks, reserves, and bush is cared for. That is why I continue to support significant investment in their activities.
Community
I plan to do what my Local Board has always done, and what I went into local government believing in - empowering local community stakeholders to drive initiatives, projects, and service delivery. They have the knowledge, the passion, to provide feedback to the Local Board on community need. They know what the community responds to because they are the community. We are blessed to have venerable organisations in community development and supporting their on-going work is paramount.
Economic and cultural development
I believe the strongest outcomes come from empowering community-led initiatives and ensuring local businesses have the tools to thrive. With progressive thinking and fiscally responsible decision-making, I will continue working to help businesses seize opportunities while strengthening the culture that defines our town centres I support and endorse the current efforts by stakeholders and lead businesses in the Wairau Valley are in establishing a BID for better advocacy outcomes.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
I still believe in Māori wards, but in lieu of those I support an inclusive and constructive approach to involving both Mana Whenua and Maatawaka. As for the Auckland Future Fund, I supported it in the past and I continue to support the use of a diversified financial portfolio as a more resilient and safer self-insurance. It isn't a decision held by Local Boards to storm recovery but I continue to advocate for Council staff to engage our community stakeholders.
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.