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
We need a Mayor who will solve Auckland's problems, and make it the best city it can be. Our biggest problems include transport /congestion, Housing cost/shortage, water/waste, rates rises, rogue CCO's, red tape, wastage, overspending, incompetence and poor accountability. I will: Focus council on it's core responsibilities and services.eg infrastructure; create a world class rail network linking the entire city, airport and north shore; ship goods at night via rail; cut motorway congestion by making public transport cheap, efficient and reliable; sort out the ports; revitalise the inner city by allowing easier access; prevent begging/sleeping on our streets; make Auckland safe again; freeze rates; cut red tape; stop wastage, incompetence and corruption. I am married with children, born and raised in Auckland. A lawyer with the skills and knowledge to solve Auckland's problems. If you remember nothing else remember this. 'I will solve Auckland's problems.'
Why I want to be elected
I am standing because that is the only way I will have the authority as Mayor to bring in the reforms necessary to make Council efficiently perform it's duties and responsibilities well. I will reform council to make it meet it's core responsibilities, lives within it's means and stop constant rate rises. I will set up a WIC committee to stop wastage incompetence and corruption, and do an internal nsus to check efficiency and where allt he money is wasted..
My key skills and qualities
A criminal lawyer (so a problem solver) working for over 30 years at Manukau A degree in science specialising in biological sciences and a BA in psychology/ anthropology. A lifetime of watching inadequate council actions, and growing up in Otara. Leadership, working as a team member. Experience and strength of leadership. Experience, dedication, and drive as a previous member of the army reserves Leadership with solutions. Many have well intentioned useless policies and promises.
My top three key issues
-Public transportation and other infrastructure. I will set help set up a proper rail public transportation system linking the North Shore. Efficient, frequent, inexpensive system taking people where they need to go, with feeder buses . This is the only way to cut road congestion. Goods can be delivered at night. limit cycle and bus lanes, and trucks on roads during rush hour. -Wastage/incompetence and corruption of council funds and resources. As above -Stop rates increases as above.
My position on key topics
Transport
The priority is to stop motorways from constantly increasing in number size and congestion. Only a public rail transport system that is efficient, frequent, inexpensive, linking the whole city, ( including North Shore, the Airport and East Auckland ) will do this. It is the only way. Cycleways will be removed from main roads , and bus lanes will be severely time limited. Trucks will be off the roads during rush hour. At night trains will transport goods.
Water
We need to examine whether watercare benefits Aucklanders or just shareholders and council funds. If it does not help then it should be shut down, which will then save ratepayers a lot of money. We need to increase the water catchment not rely on the Waikato river. The quality of Auckland's water must be preserved. We need to stop the constant leakage of sewerage into the harbour and overflow into waste water. This is an important infrastructure issue.
Built environment
Heritage is important. It gives our city it's culture and uniqueness, much of it's beauty and history. We need to protect the old housing such as in Grey Lynn and Ponsonby from rampant developments. High rise can be useful in it's correct place, however the govt forcing up to ten story development in areas close to train stations won't help if people do not use the trains as it cannot efficiently take them where they need to go. More congestion.
Natural environment
Protect the natural environment parks and reserves from abuse, overfishing, dumping, and invasive species damaging native fauna and flora. Take care to prevent building on floodplains or other areas subject to such. Ensure proper watershedding. Protection of greenzones, and likely rail links to satellite towns outside Auckland to lessen pressure of population expansion over useful farmland. Protect the environment from rubbish and other pollution.
Community
Firstly by keeping rates down, and increase housing availability. Council should license large scale landlords. Also massively increase rates to stop tens of thousands of empty houses during a housing crisis. Landbanking needs to be stopped by huge rate charges. Cut red tape for building and speed it up. Increase the availability of land for building, and support large housing projects not block them. Ensure sufficient infrastructure eg water and sewerage for new large scale developments.
Economic and cultural development
Taxes on hotel beds won't help growth. removing the congestion strangling Auckland is a big start. Stopping bus lanes and cycle lanes removing parking outside suburban shops is another good start. Easier rail personal and goods travel increases efficiency and lowers costs for businesses. Increased tourism is good, but we need to ensure beggars and homeless don' fill our streets. We support cultures and community activities, but it can be funded not from rates but by an Auckland lottery .
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
Making council provide efficient services and making the resources available especially to those most in need will help Maori PI and others most. Ports of Auckland need to be linked to an efficient rail service to ease congestion and for efficiency. we need to investigate better usage of the beautiful and valuable land where the port currently sits. However it should remain in Auckland. The recent storms show the need for emergency services not to be reliant on politicians .
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.