Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Christopher Stephen HUGHES
Candidate for Manukau Ward
Independent
Candidate statement
I grew up in South Auckland, so know our area from the ground level up and know what needs fixing. The council needs to get back to basics and make sure that things run smoothly. I strongly believe the council needs to do more when it comes to public safety. The council needs a refresh. By voting for me I will be your voice at the table.
Why I want to be elected
I may only be 23, but take a chance on me! I would like your vote as I feel that the council needs to be more personable, more effective and more interesting. Local Democracy is underrated and many good changes can be made at the local level. I want to focus on long term planning, how we want our city to be 10,20,50 years from now.
My key skills and qualities
I am open to hearing your issues with understanding and empathy, if elected I will take any issue that my constituents have to have to heart and will see what I can do to resolve them to the best of my ability I can get along well with people of all ages and backgrounds
My top three key issues
1. Public Safety As someone who has been the victim of burglary before, I would like to see the council advocate for increased public safety as well as bylaws that can help reduce crime. Nobody should feel unsafe in their own neighbourhood. 2. More funding for our Parks & Libraries The council should allocate more funding for our parks and libraries. Having high quality parks and libraries available is great for health and wellbeing. 3. Transport Reduce congestion, increase reliability of AT
My position on key topics
Transport
It's very inconvenient for commuters how the train network often shuts down, for weeks at a time. This wouldn't be acceptable in any other city in the world, yet here in Auckland it happens all the time. It also leads to more congestion on our roads. Also, if you've ever driven a car in Auckland you'll know about the dreaded Auckland traffic. It can take many people hours to drive to and from work due to gridlock. If elected I will look into ways to reduce congestion and get Auckland moving.
Water
I reckon that Auckland should have the best tasting, cleanest tap water in the world. I also believe that it should be safe to swim at every single one of our beaches, pollution is unacceptable. I have heard from some residents in Mangere Bridge that they dislike the smell coming from the wastewater treatment plant, I will see if there's ways the council can mitigate this near residential areas.
Built environment
Auckland's infrastructure has been seriously neglected, especially as we take on a larger share of population growth than other regions. There has been a lack of effective long term planning. When it comes to heritage protections, especially in areas such as Papatoetoe, there have been art deco style heritage homes that have been bulldozed with no consideration for the history and cultural heritage of the area. Papatoetoe is one of the oldest settlements in Auckland so should be more protected.
Natural environment
I strongly support our public parks and gardens, and I believe they provide strong physical and mental health benefits to our communities. I also support the planting of more trees to beautify our streets.
Community
First and foremost, we can't have strong, connected communities unless the council takes public safety more seriously. I also believe the council should allocate more funding towards our libraries and other spaces where the community can visit.
Economic and cultural development
Local markets are a cool part of South Auckland, I feel there's still a lot of untapped potential that the council can promote, as well as promoting local small businesses to a wider audience. Local businesses should also have more support from the local government when it comes to retail crime and theft.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
The Auckland Future Fund is a good example of long term planning. I would support putting extra measures in place to ensure that the council cannot raid the fund or withdraw from it early to cover day to day expenses. Also, I am very interested in History, the council should do more to add plaques and info on historic sites, including Māori ones. Learning about the History of our area will help us move forward into the future.
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.