Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Mark Jonathan ROBERTS
Candidate for Waitākere Ranges Local Board
Future West
Candidate statement
42 years ago, my wife and I bought our house amongst the Kauri on the South Titirangi Peninsula, raised two Children here, now four Grandchildren come to stay and play. We all enjoy walking the tracks, the artistic communities and visiting local cafes. I have worked as a Chartered Accountant, Financial Controller, and Company Director. If elected I will bring these skills to the job. On weekends, I set trap lines for Rats and Possums and work with environmental groups. I am committed to preserving and enhancing our environment. The Anniversary Weekend deluge showed the importance of developing resilience in the Ranges, for people, property, tracks, roads and services. If elected my goal is to improve our resilience. The Council can be run more efficiently, and this will mean we can do more for the environment and for our people. Please vote for me and the Future West team.
Why I want to be elected
My priorities Reliable and Resilient Infrastructure: Safe, sensible low cost transport. Increased maintenance of roads and drains Protect Nature and the Environment: Protect the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area. Keep our beaches swimmable Stronger Local Communities and Voices: Amplify voices of local residents, community and environmental groups. Get value for rates Thriving Culture and Town Centres: Support arts, culture and heritage groups. Fund events and facilities. Improve urban design
My key skills and qualities
My career as a Chartered Accountant, Financial Controller, CEO and Company Director has given me Financial, Management, and Governance skills. The ability to evaluate options, set strategies and implement them. A drive to be financially prudent, maximise use of resources and ensure value for money. I appreciate the opinions and contributions of others and am a good team leader. I strive for consensus and negotiate well.
My top three key issues
Kauri Dieback, Covid, and Anniversary Weekend deluge, showed the importance of developing resilience in the Ranges for people, property, tracks, roads and services. I enjoy living amongst the Kauri and walking the Tracks. I spend my weekends setting traps for Rats and Possums and working with Environmental Groups. Preserving the Natural Environment is important to me. Following on from the above, I very much want to see the Ranges fully and safely open again for business and leisure for all.
My position on key topics
Transport
The more safe, reliable and inexpensive Public Transport we can provide along with other options such as safe cycle and walk ways, the less congested and greener will be our roads. But we still need to fix the potholes and maintain our roads!
Water
Leaking pipes, polluted beaches, water shortages and floods show that we have been underinvesting in water infrastructure for years. I am ambivalent about the structure, we just need to get on with it.
Built environment
We must not undermine or weaken the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act. It is there to protect the environment we all love. Urban development is important in this growing city. Concentration around transport hubs makes sense but let's ensure good quality of our housing stock and plenty of well designed community spaces.
Natural environment
As a weekend trapper myself, I can see the huge amount of volunteer time and effort we can tap into with just a small amount of seed funding for environmental groups. In Titirangi, and I am sure in other places, we can readily see the increasing number of birds, more inanga and kokopu in our streams and other effects of the trapping and native plantings carried out by such groups.
Community
The first step is listen to the communities. What do they want? Then deliver, so they know they are being listened to and invested in.
Economic and cultural development
Local businesses are important. They are the backbone of any community. The Local Board's job is to make it as easy for them as possible, to remove unnecessary rules and red tape, and promote them with community events and promotions.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
Providing Maori the opportunity to contribute to local decisions through such vehicles as the recently signed Deed of Acknowledgement, promised under the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act in 2008, is a good start. It provides local Iwi a voice on a Council sub-committee where the Heritage Area is concerned. Decisions remain controlled by Council. It is not Co-Governance, it does not affect Private Property, it does not affect Treaty Rights. It is a voice.
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.