Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Richard HILLS
Candidate for North Shore Ward
Positive Leadership for the Shore
Candidate statement
I'm standing for re-election as your Shore Councillor to ensure our community retains a strong, experienced voice at the council table. I build positive relationships to get results - securing increased bus services, double-deckers and electric buses, street, footpath and town centre improvements, new ferries, and additional crews to restore ferry reliability. As chair of major council committees, I've led record investment into environmental initiatives, park and bush track upgrades, and water quality projects to clean up our beaches. I'm working with government to stop inappropriate development in flood zones. I've actioned thousands of requests from residents, supported and advocated for our community during the floods and recovery. I prevented severe cuts to libraries, sports, arts, and events budgets. The Shore has always been my home, I'm deeply committed in making it a safe, sustainable, connected community, today and for future generations. Vote Richard Hills for strong, proven local leadership.
Why I want to be elected
I'm standing for re-election as your Shore Councillor to ensure our community retains a strong, experienced voice at the council table. I build positive relationships to get results, whether it's getting action on local issues, investment in public transport, footpaths and town centres and speaking up for you. As chair of major council committees, I’ve led record investment into environmental initiatives, bush track upgrades, and projects to improve water quality and flood prevention.
My key skills and qualities
I have a proven track record of getting things done. I communicate across all forms of media to ensure our community is heard and get the information they need through tough times and good. This term I have worked with the Mayor and Councillors to protect funding for important projects and services while making tough calls around savings and alternate revenue streams. I helped secure significant funding for flood affected residents, stormwater and flood mitigation and repairs.
My top three key issues
Key issues: - Investment in public transport and water infrastructure. - Protecting and investing in our environment including action on climate change, prevent flooding and improving water quality - Planning for the next generation. These are some of the big issues I hear from our community. It is crucial we protect what we have now, connect our community, improve our infrastructure for now and prepare our city to make it better for our kids and grand kids.
My position on key topics
Transport
- Continued investment in public transport services and infrastructure. - Keep up the renewal of our roads and footpaths and town centre upgrades. - Advocate to government for public transport priority in the next harbour crossing. - Ensure there's seamless transition to the new ferries which are almost ready for service. - Make our streets safer, especially so kids can walk and cycle to school. - The Govt deprioritised funds for Lake Rd, we need to push to get improvements in the meantime.
Water
- I led the Auckland Water Strategy to help clean our waterways and beaches, improve wastewater infrastructure and supported investment to increase our water supply from Auckland and Waikato River sources. The strategy needs continued support and priority. - Progress work on future water supply options. - I worked secure funds for flood mitigation projects at Northcote, Sunnynook, Wairau Glenfield, and more needs to be done including more storage, wetlands and day lighting streams.
Built environment
- Encourage development near public transport, infrastructure and amenities. - Push back on urban sprawl due to environmental damage, congestion and the lack of funding for infrastructure. - Ensure investment in infrastructure catches up with growth. Continue to advocate to govt for help with funding. - Continue work to reduce inappropriate development in coastal zones and flood prone areas once government changes the law to allow us to this.
Natural environment
- Build on the successful work funded through the natural environment and water quality targeted rates. - Keep funding successful environmental groups such as; Kaipātiki Project, Pest Free Kaipātiki, Pupuke Birdsong and Restoring Takarunga Hauraki. - Fund more pest control, tree planting programmes and weed removal. - Continue our tree planting in our parks, reserves and regional parks. - Reduce emissions across council. - Coastal management in line with our shoreline adaptation plans.
Community
- Protect our 7 day libraries. - This term I prevented cuts to regional and local grants funds which support organisations and volunteers to run programmes, cultural and community events and initiatives. These must be maintained. - Invest in our local parks, playgrounds, sports field upgrades and community facilities. - Partner with sports orgs & other groups to build and improve facilities. - I prevented the contracting out of our council pools and leisure centres and support investment in them
Economic and cultural development
- Continue investing in major events, our stadiums, theatres, galleries and the Auckland Zoo to make our city an exciting place to live and visit. - Update and improve systems and regulations to reduce time and costs to business. - Advocate to govt for a visitor night levy which would help fund more major events and activation to encourage visitors and support local business. - Support our town centres to keep them safe and vibrant.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
- I helped keep Ports of Auckland in 100% public ownership, now our tripartite agreement with PoA and the Maritime Union is working towards a safer port, with better environmental outcomes and record profits. - I support protecting our Future Fund we just set up, this and increased Port dividends help reduce reliance on rates. - Maintaining positive relationships and working with mana whenua is important. - We have a duty to work in partnership and uphold our treaty obligations.
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.