Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Valeria GASCOIGNE
Candidate for Whau Local Board
Labour
Candidate statement
I was raised in Kelston and attended St Mary’s in Avondale. My family has proudly served in the Whau community for over 40 years. I’m passionate about Māori and Pasifika empowerment. Our parks, streams, and reserves are the energy of our community. I’m committed to protecting and enhancing our green spaces for future generations to enjoy. I believe in the strength of locally led solutions that reflect the unique cultures, voices, and needs of each community. Strengthening our community preparedness and our local hubs is a priority, a drive shaped by my time managing the Kelston Community Hub during the 2023 floods. Our elders are the heart of our community. My proudest initiative was founding the local Māori and Pasefika elders group, so they feel connected, and valued. Whau Labour brings the right balance, diversity, and a progressive voice for you.
Why I want to be elected
I will advocate to protect and keep as much of our green spaces, making them fun and whānau-friendly. Our hubs and houses are vital for connection and support in our community, I’ll continue to support for ongoing funding, so they remain strong, and essential especially in times of crisis like the 2023 floods. The Whau is a vibrant, multicultural community that shines through events like Whau Pasifika, Whau EID Festival, and Diwali. I’m committed to supporting these amazing groups.
My key skills and qualities
I bring over a decade of project management experience in the tertiary sector, alongside seven years in community development. From 2017 to 2024, I had the privilege of managing the Kelston Community Hub, where I discovered my true passion for driving community transformation. My natural gift is bringing people and communities together; I find real joy in supporting individuals and community groups navigate towards shared goals that we can all achieve.
My top three key issues
1. Climate change is real, and we are facing the impacts now. We must work together to build resilient, prepared communities that can withstand future natural disasters, protecting people, our environment and waterway restoration. 2. We need to tackle the rising homelessness and food insecurity in the Whau, especially as living costs soar. It is crucial that we work closely with organisations and community groups that provide food, shelter, and support for our most vulnerable individuals.
My position on key topics
Transport
We need to keep improving our public transport, with regular and reliable times of trains and buses. A lot of work has gone into improving cycling routes in the Whau to connect communities, and we need to keep improving these spaces so we have more people choosing to cycle to get from one place to another. Keeping up with the maintenance of footpaths free of obstacles, cracks, and overgrown vegetation.
Water
Protect existing reservoirs and explore sustainable alternatives like rainwater harvesting and stormwater reuse. Continue to upgrade stormwater pipes and holding areas to help manage heavy rain and keep homes and properties safe from flooding. We should have programmes that can help every household to harvest rainwater and stormwater, reuse. This is something that should be encouraged. Have regular water quality educated expos in the community.
Built environment
I believe it’s important to preserve local heritage buildings, sites, and Māori landscapes to maintain community identity and history. It’s about finding the right balance as we grow into an urban society. We want to be modern while keeping our history alive. As Auckland’s population grows, urban development needs to have the right balance, to meet the needs of culture, our environment, and it needs to make sense to our elders who find it challenging with modern technology and living.
Natural environment
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes all of us to care for our environment. We all share the responsibility to protect and nurture our backyard. Organisations like Whau Wildlink and EcoMatters do incredible work to safeguard our environment and educate our communities. We need to invest in organisations like these so they can work collaboratively with schools, from kōhanga reo, kindergartens to colleges and have the resources to support their volunteers.
Community
We are doing this now, but I will continue to do so by protecting community hubs & houses and local facilities. I will advocate for ongoing funding for community programmes that bring people together, that support social and emotional wellbeing, and provide help during times of crisis, like what we experienced during 2023 floods. We can continue to strengthen this as long as fairer funding continues for the Whau, we can improve green spaces, facilities, libraries, and our community.
Economic and cultural development
We can work with Te Kawerau a Maki, community groups, and business associations to create opportunities for youth, support events and cultural tourism to celebrate the Whau’s heritage, and provide spaces for local artists and craftspeople. We can back social enterprises, offer grants, training, and mentoring for small businesses, and promote local enterprises through markets and community events. We have an opportunity to highlight business talent within our wide cultural community of Whau.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
I would work closely with Te Kawerau a Maki and Māori communities to ensure their voices are central in local decision making. Supporting Māori-led initiatives, strengthening partnerships ensures economic, social, and cultural outcomes aligning with Māori aspirations. Timely responses to natural disasters, working with councils, iwi, and community groups. Investing in resilient infrastructure & emergency planning. Community education will ensure the Whau and wider Auckland are better prepared.