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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.
Shane HENDERSON
Candidate for Waitākere Ward
Labour
Candidate statement
A vote to re-elect Shane Henderson will keep the West moving forward. I've lived in the West my entire life, and I'm raising my young family here. I started my career as a lawyer providing legal help to low-income Westies. I've spent my life serving the community we love. I'm seeking re-election to protect public services, act on climate and the cost of living, and deliver a second public swimming pool for the West. I delivered my promise last term of introducing a weekly cap on public transport fares. With your vote, I'll go further, lowering the cap and cutting transport costs. This helps household budgets and uses public transport to ease congestion. We've made real progress, but the work isn't done yet. We can achieve a fairer deal for Westies and more investment into our future. Love the West, vote Shane Henderson, Jess Rose and the Labour team.
Why I want to be elected
Here’s what I will achieve with your vote: 1. Lower the fare cap to cut your transport costs 2. Better urban planning and housing outcomes 3. Protect green spaces and clean up our waterways 4. Investment into our creative sector to support local jobs 5. A second public swimming pool for West Auckland Vote for a fair deal for the West, and investment into our future. Vote Shane Henderson and Jess Rose today.
My key skills and qualities
Before I entered politics, I worked as a lawyer helping West Aucklanders access free legal advice. From my free Henderson legal clinic I helped hundreds of Westies get their lives back on track. I’ve lived in West Auckland all my life, and I’ve spent my career working to make our part of the city fairer, greener, and better connected. As your Councillor, I've been tenacious, dedicated and determined to achieve results for the West.
My top three key issues
1. Transport - We need to use public transport to cut congestion, and lower the weekly fare cap to cut transport costs for struggling Westies. 2. Local Jobs - The cost of living crisis isn't just about savings, it's about raising incomes. I will kickstart investment into local jobs and safe town centres, creating work and raising incomes across the board. 3. Housing and Urban Planning - I will focus on central suburbs doing their bit to enable housing, taking pressure of Westie communities
My position on key topics
Transport
1. Cheaper public transport. I’ve delivered on my promise to introduce a $50 cap on weekly public transport fares. We need to go further. I’ll fight to lower the current fare cap to cut transport costs. 2. Te Whau Pathway. Invest to finish the pathway, connecting New Lynn to Te Atatu. This will be safe to commute, and an iconic tourist attractor. 3. Northwest Busway. Investment to complete the Busway to the standard of the Northern Busway, because Westies deserve proper infrastructure.
Water
1. Protect stormwater maintenance funding. I prevented a proposed budget cut in the previous term before the Anniversary storm. 2. Fund community groups to plant riparian margins and water quality initiatives like inanga spawning sites. 3. Meet new standards of water quality and economic pricing to ensure clean drinking water as affordable as possible.
Built environment
I know there are real concerns about housing, urban planning and how quickly our communities are changing. That’s why I’ve consistently pushed for more housing to be built in wealthier, central suburbs. Auckland’s broken planning rules have allowed well-off areas to prevent housing intensity. Council red tape has put extra pressure on suburban infrastructure and services. It’s time to fix that, and enable more housing in the best land for it, close to jobs, study and rapid transit.
Natural environment
1. Protect the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area and advocate for more funding for pest eradication and ngahere protection. 2. Embark on a programme of re-forestation, with at least one large park to be a new urban forest with walking trails and urban tranquility. 3. Fund Climate Action Plans for Local Boards, developed with the communities they represent so all Aucklanders can help achieve climate goals.
Community
We have a fantastic park network, and with attention it can contribute hugely to wellbeing, especially in an environment where free entertainment is important for families facing the cost of living crunch. We should partner with local boards to establish a Playground Improvements Fund, where we are adding a little bit more when we renew playgrounds, creating brilliant new assets cost-effectively. We also need a second swimming pool in West Auckland, delivery of this will be my focus.
Economic and cultural development
We have established Te Puna Creative Quarter next to the film studios in this term. When I entered office, they wanted to turn the film studios into housing, well now it provides hundreds of local jobs and gives millions to our local economy. I will push investment in this sector, to support more film activities, film schools, animation and adjacent industries providing quality jobs. Let's put more money in the pockets of Westie business and residents and tell our stories to the world.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
1. I support the Future Fund and believe we need to invest proceeds back into the Fund, creating secure investments that will keep rates down and help fund our city's needs for generations. 2. I will work with the newly established Waitakere Ranges forum to promote local decision making and democracy, making better decisions for Westie residents. 3. I support democratically elected Maori wards and believe that respecting the Treaty partnership helps all Aucklanders.
Candidate's supporting links
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