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The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Peter Brian SYKES
Candidate for Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board
Green Party
Candidate statement
My name is Peter Sykes. Together with my wife, Vicki, I have lived in Mangere since 1990, and our three children grew up here. I have been involved with the Anglican Church, ME Family Services, Mangere East Hawks, and many other wellbeing, health, education, social service groups and organisations. Our efforts aim to contribute towards a thriving Mangere in terms of people, place, and planet. I seek to work together with those who also cherish our diverse, talented, and resourced community despite many barriers and challenges. I am particularly committed to including those whose lives are impacted in the process of decision making and wellbeing. I look forward to the ongoing opportunity to enable voice for those who are without a voice and that we can live as a people in a place where no one is left behind, and the planet is respected and nurtured.
Why I want to be elected
I will seek to listen to and give voice to the people of Mangere - Otahuhu ... especially those who are on the margins; I will maintain a balance of my own wellbeing, and continue to work for a thriving community. The key points I am supporting are * Protect and regenerate wetlands, waterways and foreshore * Celebrate local voice, connections and stories * Support local business and hustle * Housing and transport that is accessible and safe * Working with others to reach out across diversity
My key skills and qualities
a connection and wisdom built by nearly 40 years of working and living in Mangere-Otahuhu a passion for connecting and collaborating to build longterm wellbeing a recognition, and respect, for the diverse and talented communities we live in a track record of building individual, organisational and community resililence an understand of an economic model where we can maintain human, social, environmental and financial wellbeing an ability to lead a diverse group to achieve their purposes.
My top three key issues
Caring for the Environment .. our urban design - housing, transport, waste etc - must respect, care for and regenerate of land, forest and waterways for us to continue Social Wellbeing - for each of us to be well we must be able to be fully ourselves - recognising our own humanity and those around us. We live within a village so need to support each other. Working Together - to allow each to be ourselves we need the skills to respect, listen and navigate
My position on key topics
Transport
effective and efficient transport is accessable and connects. This starts from connecting locally through walkways and cycleways. It requires a mix of local and regional connectivity through public transport. Where possible it is best to keep cycleways and walkways off main arterial routes of public transport, logistics and cars. Infrastucture planning is long-term and therefore we need to take seriously 50 - 100 year planning scenarios, and cross party collective action.
Water
We need a radical rethink around ensuring the various water systems are fit for purpose. In Mangere this has left the maintenance well below standard. We need a system which protects the integrity of the natural waterways. This means using regenerative practive on roading and walkways, separating waste and fresh water ... It also means we must maintain our wetlands and flood planes ... water needs to be respected. We need to limit housing development if the water systems aren't adequate.
Built environment
The unitary plan needs to respct local use and infrastructure. Currently we are building developments which don't respect either place or people. Built environment should be enhancing a thriving people and place. We require housing which is accessible and regenerative. The built environment also needs to respect past heritage, and invest in future heritage. The stories and art which connects keeps us well and connected as people in a place..
Natural environment
Mangere has a network of people, groups and organisations commited to support the natural environment ... we must support local people and local solutions. The biggest threat is disconneded urban developent and poor infrastructure. We need to protect our wetlands, waterways and foreshores and invest in them as taonga. We need to value the ngahere .. the trees and plants as important to our wellbeing ... Climate resilience also means changing our materialism/consumerism and limiting growth.
Community
Mangere/Otahuhu is a community of villages. Each needs a focus area, noticeboards and places to gather. Mangere/Otahuhu is the same population as Palmerston North ... it needs infrastructure, ... it needs a place were the communities can connect not divide. It needs to celebrate our existing facilites and organisations and value collaboration. We need a local Board office which is open, accessible and inclusive.
Economic and cultural development
Mangere is a centre of hustle. There a many local small business in our neighbourhoods. We need an economic development model which celebrates and values these enterprises. It seems that the initiative is forced into a cash, surviver model .. we need to to shine. These hustles are often based around our cultural values and heritage. They value respect, community, heritage .. we need to value that more then making it purely western economis models.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
Local Government - Auckland City has disrespected Mangere. The model set up by ACT takes away the voice and vision of us as a locally rich and diverse community. Local Boards are our elected voice. Maori .. I respect Te AhiWaru Waiohua and Te Akitai Waiohua as manawhenua. As Tangata Tiriti I believe we need to change the understanding of governance ... to one which recognises our presence in Aotearoa and yet allows us to be fully ourselves. A well managed local government is good for all.
Candidate's supporting links
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