Category: Auckland Council

Fair Trade Auckland – we did it

You know it is going to be a good gig when the Mayor takes off his tie and jacket, throws away his speech and gets ready to sing. Len was responding to the wonderfully warm and festive reception from everyone gathered to celebrate Auckland becoming a Fair trade City. Michael Toliman, the coffee farmer from Papua New Guinea in New Zealand for fairtrade fortnight, greeted the Mayor’s announcement with a booming traditional chant. The Mayor loved the challenge of responding with a song.

The room was full of the many people who have been worked tremendously hard to make Auckland Fair Trade. I acknowledge them all and especially those from the Make Auckland Fair Trade campaign team who were not able to be there for the announcement. In particular singer Kirsten Morrell who had flown out to the UK the night before.

My introduction to the Make Auckland Fair trade Campaign was through meeting Kirsten when I was on the election trail with her mother, Tricia Reade who is now my City Vision colleague on the Waitemata Local Board. Kirsten has been a passionate supporter of Fair Trade for many years and when we met in 2010 had been actively collecting signatures for the Make Auckland Fair Trade petition. Kirsten’s persuasive arguments for Fair Trade were instrumental in the initiative becoming the policy of the Waitemata Local Board.  With the support of my colleagues on the Board we were able to kick off the process through Council to meet one of the key requirements of being certified a Fair Trade City. It took exactly a year from our own resolution to be the first Fair Trade Local Board in May 2011 for the decision to go to through  the Council’s Economic Forum, the Tenders and Procurement sub-committee and finally to the Regional and Operations Development Committee in March when the Mayor and Council voted unanimously in support.

The smooth process through Council was made possible by the rock solid report prepared by Geoff Cooper and Barrett Owen. The report outlines all the reasons for Council to support Fair Trade . In 2007 the same initiative from Leila Boyle and Richard Northey on the Auckland City Council was defeated after a media beat up about the cost of toilet paper. Luckily there is far greater awareness about the benefits of Fair Trade now and the Council is in fact likey to save money from switching to Fairtrade tea and coffee.

For me becoming Fairtrade is all part of a “brand Auckland” that I would like to be proud of it. If we are going to be the most liveable city in the world then we need to be innovative, creative and fair. We can use our extensive buying power to be conscious consumers making a direct impact in the developing world with every purchase.  I also think Auckland as a Fair Trade City will be good for business and expanding our trading opportunities with the South Pacific.

Congratulations Auckland!

My Auckland Plan submission

The Auckland Plan will be the most important document to set out the development of Auckland over the next 30 years.  I feel really excited and hopeful about what is in the draft to make Auckland the most liveable city in the world. At the same time it concerns me that the consultation period has been too short and happening while we have all been distracted by the Rugby World Cup. .

Luckily many clever people have focused on the draft plan to come up with a range of thoughtful comments that have assisted me to pull together a quick personal submission.  I’ve followed the questions from the online feedback form just to make it easier to respond.

 I’ve drawn particular inspiration from Auckland Transport Blog, EDS, Grey Lynn 2030, Mount Eden Village People, Pt Chev TT and Cycle Action submissions. Thank you for your work and caring so much about the future of Auckland.

Draft Auckland Plan

Q1 There will need to be five transformational shifts to make Auckland the world’s most liveable city. Do you agree or disagree with the five transformational shifts identified in the draft Auckland Plan and why?

I agree with the five transformational shifts required to make Auckland the most liveable city in the world. In particular I strongly support:

  •  All the strategies outlined in Transformational Shift 3 for green growth. It is vital we clean up our air, creeks and sea and build green networks that encourage rich biodiversity. It is also critical we maintain the highest “green” standards for new buildings and work to eliminate waste to landfill.
  • Public transport as well as cycling and walking networks are vital to underpinning the interconnectedness of our city. I would like to see a re-prioritisation away from the private motor car. Fewer cars would also make cycling safer and more appealing. I strongly support a regional fuel tax which would encourage people to get out of their cars and would provide funding for improved public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure.

Q2 The Auckland Plan contains a high-level development strategy to deliver a compact quality Auckland. Do you agree or disagree with this approach and why?

I support the strategic direction outlined in Section D: Auckland’s High Level Development Strategy: Part 1: Making a Quality Compact City Work. Specifically I support:

  • The use of a new Rural Urban Boundary (RUB) as essential to avoid urban sprawl, to limit environmental degradation, to protect the food producing capacity of the Auckland region and to use infrastructure as efficiently as possible.
  • I support more compact and intensive residential and business environments centred around quality local neighbourhoods and connected by an efficient, effective and safe public transport network, including cycle paths and walkways, operating as an integrated system. However more intensification within a RUB must also provide for the maintenance and enhancement of our character and heritage housing and buildings.

 Q3 Two big initiatives have been identified to effect Auckland’s transformation on the world stage – City Centre and Southern Initiative. Do you agree or disagree with these two big initiatives?

I agree with these initiatives

Draft Economic Development Strategy

 Q4 Do you agree or disagree with the priorities that have been identified for Auckland’s economic development and why?

I agree with the priorities and in particular support the transition to a green economy in Auckland. I would like to see more details about what it will mean in practice to create a sustainable eco-economy and how this will be intergrated into all aspects of the EDS.

Q5 Are there any other economic priorities that the council should focus on?

I support  the EDS vision for Auckland to be the most livable city in the world with an internationally competitive and prosperous economy for all Aucklanders. I submit that achieving Fair Trade certification should be included in the EDS as a key action. By becoming an internationally recognized Fair Trade city  Auckland will be in a stronger position to be an internationally connected, export driven and ‘creative world’ city. Achieving certification will promote business partnerships, enhance Auckland’s ethical reputation and create new commerce by helping to build diverse ethnic eco economy with our Pacific neighbours and the 1000 cities across the world, already with Fair Trade status.

Draft City Centre Masterplan

Q6 Do you agree or disagree with the general direction of the draft City Centre Masterplan and why?

I strongly support the bold vision of the masterplan.  

During the RWC we have seen how much people love a city that is welcoming, accessible, walkable and vibrant. I support all 8 transformational moves that realise the huge potential of the city centre that has suffered from poor development and lack of vision in the past.  

 Q7 Will the actions in the masterplan make Auckland city centre a place you would feel proud of and why?

 I will feel really proud of Auckland if we can make it a priority to action quick wins that will really transform the city centre, in particular:

  • Making Nelson and Hobson Streets people friendly and installing a dedicated cycle lane
  • Removing the lower Hobson Street ramp and creating a pedestrian plaza
  • pedestrian and cycling links from the inner suburbs including turning the old Nelson Street off-ramp into a linear parkway
  • More shared spaces,   “green links”, laneways and boulevards – everything that will make our city centre more friendly to people

 Draft Waterfront Plan

 Q8 Do you agree or disagree with the general direction of the draft Waterfront Plan and why?

I strongly agree with the vision for the Waterfront and commend the large number of projects that will further transform Auckland’s waterfront. In particular I support actions to provide public access and connections.  

 Q9 Will the ideas and actions in the plan make Auckland’s waterfront a place you would feel proud of and why?

 I think priority should be given to:

  • the walk- and cycleway proposed along the whole of the waterfront
  • a cycling bridge link over Fanshawe Street at Victoria Park
  •  a walk- and cycleway over the Auckland Harbour Bridge – for a great transport choice from the North Shore, and a major new visitor attraction for the waterfront

I would like to see future development at Wynyard Quarter include a committment to affordable and key worker housing.

Q10 Comments on other parts of the above plans

I strongly  oppose the inclusion of the Puhoi – Wellsford motorway in the Auckland Plan. There are very limited benefits for Auckland from its construction. Safety improvements to the existing route are much more feasible and would cost substantially less than $1.4 billion.

 The prioritisation of so many roading projects undermines targets in the Auckland Plan relating to other matters, such as reducing CO2 emissions and limiting urban sprawl.

I would like to see actions to reduce CO2 emissions integrated into all aspects of all four plans.

Overall I congratulate Auckland Council officers for producing such a well-written document, grounded in a strong vision as expressed by the Mayor. I am impressed that the plan seeks to confront the many challenges facing Auckland and supports a transition to a more sustainable, resilient and vibrant city.

I am making this submission in my private capacity.

Regional support for Community Gardens – presentation to the governing body

Presentation given to the Environment and Sustainability Forum on 20 September 2011. The Chair, Cr Wayne Walker is an enthusiastic supporter of community gardens.

Kia Ora Koutou Katoa

Thank you Chair and Councillors for the opportunity to speak to the Forum this afternoon.  It is very exciting that you have the Community Garden report on your agenda under item 12. I am here today to speak in support of the report and to encourage the governing body to take an active approach to community gardens across the Auckland region. 

Hopefully you know me as Deputy Chair of the Waitemata Local Board. I have portfolio responsibilities for Transport, Libraries and Community. I am also able to provide an additional comment to the report wearing various hats:

  •     I am trustee of the Kelmarna Community Garden Trust
  •     A steering Committee member of Grey Lynn 2030 – transition community; and
  •     Chair of the Grey Lynn Farmers Market Management Committee

In these roles I see the value and benefits of community gardens every day.

Kelmarna Organic City Farm has just celebrated 30 years of existence on a block of Council owned land in Herne Bay that borders Cox’s Bay. The objects of the Trust are as relevant today as when first adopted by the trustees in 1981. In particular:

    •  To maintain Kelmarna Gardens as a community research and demonstration resource promoting self-sufficiency using organic horticultural techniques
    • To encourage the use of waste or marginal land for the recycling of community organic wastes and the growing of food to promote better nutrition, education, employment and beautification of the environment

    Framework Trust manages the gardens providing opportunities for educational gardening for mental health clients in a tranquil and therapeutic green-space.  Issues for the garden going forward include funding for basic facilities on site and providing the surrounding neighbourhood with a sense of ownership to a unique rural space right in the city. I invite you to visit the gardens if you are not familiar with the area.

Mentioned in your report is Transition Towns as one of the key organisations engaged with community gardens. There are over 50 transition town groups like Grey Lynn 2030 across NZ. In Auckland in addition to Devonport TT that is mentioned in the report there is Mt Eden Village people, Pt Chev and new group in the process of forming in Kingsland. Grey Lynn 2030 is about creating sustainable, resilient, vibrant communities through positive, practical action.

A really good example of practical action under the umbrella of Grey Lynn 2030 is the Wilton Street Gardens. Sarah Guppy from the garden has already given her own presentation but just to mention that many of the images (taken by chief gardener Mandy McMullin)  are of progress of the garden from an over grown vacant section  to a productive wee oasis off Richmond Road which  acts as a hub for the community especially the surrounding neighbours. The gardens also provide a community composting facility. The gardens are on private land, run by volunteers and have received small amounts of Council funding

 Another of our local gardeners here today is Fionna Hill from the Grey Lynn Community Garden nestled behind St Columba Church on Surrey Crescent. These gardens offer a more allotment style of gardening for individuals who commit to the garden. 

What I particular value about both gardens is that excess produce often ends up on the community trading table at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. The table is available for a small fee for locals to sell excess produce from their gardens.   Similar to a road side stall with honesty boxes, the table is a hugely popular, unique aspect of the GLFM that is part of the overall linkages of urban food production (as a side note I mention that our trading table is under treat due to the Food Bill)

There is an initial stocktake table on p17 Attachment A of your report . I can also add Grafton Community Garden which has recently established in the grounds of Grafton Hall. What you will find is that very often community gardens spring up under the radar with quiet doers who just want to get on with the job of food production on spare land.  There would also be more gardens within the Waitemata Local Board area if we didn’t have so much soil contamination issues. For example a group trying to establish a garden in Freeman’s Bay gave up after soil testing and a community orchard in West Lynn was also abandoned because of concerns about contamination.

Following on from that community overview,  I would like to end with the Waitemata Local Board’s perspective. In June the Wilton Street gardeners spoke to us at our local board meeting. We moved

b) That the Board notes the benefits provided by community gardens and supports the principle of community gardens.

c) That this resolution be forwarded to the Environmental and Sustainability Forum of the Governing Body for consideration.

I’d also like to highlight the wording we are currently finalising in our local board plan. You have the community garden elements of each draft local board in Attachment G at p33. However the Waitemata Local Board goes somewhat further with an Urban Food Production section. I would like to read this out as I think it sums up very clear out position on community gardens

Community gardens, roof top gardens and fruit trees in public places are growing in popularity, as a response to the challenges of climate change, food security and rising food costs. They provide opportunities to grow and eat fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly for people living in high-density urban areas with little or no garden space of their own. Community gardens are also a great way for our communities to get to know each other and work together. We will support projects and initiatives in our area identified by our community. We will also increase planting of fruit trees in our parks, berms and public open spaces.

We included specific reference to food security in this section after hearing submissions on our plan.

One of our key initiatives:  Support an urban food economy through community gardens and fruit trees in parks and public open spaces

Going forward I see Council support for community garden activity in a number of ways that supports this grass roots community activity that brings so many benefits. For example identifying land available,  undertaking soil testing, local composting within the waste minimisation strategy and promoting the benefits of volunteering

Therefore I commend you Mr Chair on the steps taken so to raise awareness about community gardens at governing body level and ask for the Forum’s support for the actions arising out of the report

Thank you for this opportunity to talk to you today. I am happy to answer any questions

 

High score for draft Waitemata Local Board Plan

The draft Waitemata Local Board Plan has now been out for a week for consultation and so far the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Yesterday at a presentation on the priorities, initiatives and projects we are proposing for the next 3 years one attendee gave us a score of 92% (thank you Mr Houtman from OurHood and passionate tram advocate!).

The draft plan is full of innovative and creative ideas put forward by the community that will make the central areas of Auckland the best place to live, work and play. Across all the priorities is a strong sustainability and environmental focus.

We now need to make sure that this initial enthusiasm translates into submissions so we end up with a robust final plan with broad support. And of course we also need to know what locals don’t like in the draft plan. Already a number of areas for improvement have been raised; for example more focus on the needs of older people, clarification about the Board’s role in supporting business and better recognition of Pacifika culture.

Submissions can be made online here

The plan is available on the Auckland Council website or email pippa.coom@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz if you would like me to send you a hard copy.  

Auckland Council Media Release
1 July 2011

Blueprint to shape future of local communities

Better heritage protection, slower speeds on some residential streets, a Parnell to Meola Reef coastal walkway, and a network of cycle ways are among the community priorities reflected in a new local blueprint for Waitemata.

The initiatives form part of a draft local board plan prepared by Waitemata Local Board, which sets out the aspirations and priorities of the communities in Auckland’s city centre and inner suburbs and will guide decisions the local board makes on what happens in the area over the next three years and beyond.

A summary of the draft plan, with a submission form, is being posted to every home in Waitemata in the week beginning 4 July.

Waitemata Local Board Chair Shale Chambers says the ground-breaking plan is a blueprint that will shape the future of the local community.

“From enhancing Pt Erin Pool and developing a coastal walkway to prioritising healthy transport options and moves to better protect our heritage buildings, this plan reflects the priorities of the people of Waitemata as we work towards developing and fostering vibrant, connected and sustainable communities.”

Local board plans, which are being prepared by each of Auckland’s 21 local boards, will feed into other key Auckland Council plans, such as the Auckland Plan and Long Term Plan 2012-22.

“I encourage the people of Waitemata to look at the draft plan and let your local board know before August 8 whether it’s on the right track.  We will listen and decide what changes will be made to the plan before a final version is adopted in October,” Mr Chambers says.

Submissions can be made online at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/haveyoursay, or by returning a completed form to a public library, council service centre or by post using the freepost envelope provided.

Copies of your draft local board plan are available at:       

  •         public libraries, council service centres and local board offices
  •         online at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/haveyoursay
  •         Auckland Council customer centre – call toll free (09) 301 0101

Submissions close at 4pm on Monday 8 August. At a later date local boards will hold hearings to consider submissions.

The First Fairtrade Local Board

With Rachel Brown & Alex Williams at the Fairtrade Breakfast

11 May

Auckland Council Media Release

Local Board first to make Fairtrade Swap

Auckland moved a step closer to becoming a Fairtrade City yesterday with the Waitemata Local Board voting to become a Fairtrade workplace.

Deputy Chair, Pippa Coom, made the announcement as part of the board’s support for ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’, taking place from 7 – 22 May.  The commitment of the board means Fairtrade-certified tea and coffee will be served in all meetings and made available at the board’s offices.

Mayor Len Brown attended his first Waitemata Local Board meeting last night. Members encouraged him to take up the challenge of leading Auckland to achieving Fairtrade City status.

“As a board we wish to ‘Show off our Swap’ – the theme for this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight – by taking the first step of serving Fairtrade products at our local board offices,” says Ms Coom.

“There are already many cafes and businesses within our local board area that have already made the swap, and many residents who appreciate having the option to shop ethically.

“Fairtrade Auckland is doing a great job promoting fair trade and has already collected over 2000 signatures supporting Auckland becoming a Fairtrade City. The petition will be presented to the Mayor when they reach 10,000,” she says.

Fairtrade benefits communities in developing countries, including the Pacific Islands, by providing decent working conditions, local sustainability, security and stability with fair terms of trade and prices.

Pippa Coom says the board agreed unanimously to be the first local board to make this step and it believes that by adopting Fairtrade City status, Auckland’s international reputation will be enhanced.

Protecting our Waterfront heritage

At our first meeting of the year we supported the Art Deco Society to protect the character and heritage buildings of the Wynward Quarter.

Fittingly, the next day we had our briefing from Waterfront Auckland (the newly branded Waterfront Development Agency) with the opportunity to walk around the current development happening  in the Wynyard Quarter. I was very impressed with the well thought through plans for Jellicoe Street and plaza with an appreciation of the history of the area intertwinned with the design. I particularly liked the inviting people spaces and street scape.

It really brought home the total disconnect of the old Auckland City Council and Viaduct Harbour Holdings in making plans to demolish half of the remaining heritage building in the design for the rest of the Quarter. A total rethink is needed by VHH Ltd.

Media Release: Board acts decisively to protect heritage (dated 9 February 2011):

Heritage issues throughout the central city formed the basis of last night’s meeting of the Waitemata Local Board at the Grey Lynn Community Centre.

The meeting, attended by a large number of local residents, focused on a number of significant heritage issues at the forefront of residents’ minds across the central city.

The meeting included resolutions on the reinstatement project for Three Lamps, and an acquisition proposal for Hulme Court, but the major urban transformation project under development in the Wynyard Quarter was the major focus of proceedings.

“The recent demolition of Turua Street and Coolangatta House are timely reminders of the need to protect our heritage and character buildings before the wrecking ball looms large,” says Waitemata Board Chair Shale Chambers.

“Wynyard Quarter is an area with its own character which derives from its industrial and boating building past.  It was reclaimed from the sea from 1905 and, while the buildings may not be as iconic as many of the scheduled buildings in the CBD, they are an important aspect of the life of Auckland.”

“It may not be our [the Waitemata Local Board’s] delegated authority to protect these buildings, but it is certainly our mandate.”

The board voted unanimously to support the Art Deco Society in its endeavours to preserve the Wynyard Quarter character buildings.

Other important heritage issues were also progressed at the meeting.  The reinstatement of the ‘three lamps’ to Three Lamps has finally reached a resolution after being first proposed nearly seven years ago.

It has been agreed that the location of the ‘three lamps’ will be outside the former Ponsonby Club Hotel (now the Gluepot Apartments). It is expected that work on the installation of the lamps will begin following discussions with local residents and businesses.

The Board have also asked that the Chief Executive of Auckland Council give serious consideration to bringing the category 1 status heritage building Hulme Court, currently for sale on the corner of Parnell and St Georges Bay Rd, into the public domain.

The next meeting of the Waitemata Local Board will be held at their Graham Street offices on Tuesday 8 March, at 6pm.

Ends

Read more about here

Council gags Board over secret destruction deal, NZ Herald, 9 February 2011

Mayor out to save heritage pair doomed in secret deal NZ Herald, 14 February 2011

Waitemata portfolio allocation weighted toward transport issues

This media release came out from Auckland Council following our first business meeting. As a member of the Transport portfolio team I’m really pleased at our shared commitment to focus on transport issues as a priority so we can really get Auckland moving.

Auckland Council – Local Board Media Release: Waitemata portfolio allocation weighted toward transport issues

17 December 2010

Last night’s first business meeting of the newly appointed Waitemata Local Board saw the announcement of portfolio allocations, giving a clear indication of the board’s intended focus on transport issues.

“Major projects like the CBD rail link, rail to the airport, or a world class cruise passenger terminal are either located within Waitemata, or originate or terminate within it,” says Chair Shale Chambers.

“The appointment of four board members to oversee the transport portfolio, doubling that allocated to all other portfolios, emphasises the value we place on transport issues facing our communities.”

“A number of transport issues were discussed at our first meeting.  We have endorsed the conclusions of the CBD Rail Link Business Case and support the Mayor’s target for the earliest possible completion date. We also supported the re-establishment of a Public Bike Rental Scheme in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2011,” he says.

The portfolio structure adopted by the board is intended to mirror the legal responsibilities or consultation obligations allocated to local boards. It has been broken into nine major portfolios and the roles are allocated as follows:

Art Services – Tricia Reade & Greg Moyle

Community – Pippa Coom & Tricia Reade

Libraries – Shale Chambers & Pippa Coom

Recreational Services – Shale Chambers & Greg Moyle

Parks – Jesse Chalmers & Rob Thomas

Events – Shale Chambers & Rob Thomas

Environmental Management – Christopher Dempsey & Jesse Chalmers

Transport –    Christopher Dempsey & Rob Thomas (Central/East)

Pippa Coom & Jesse Chalmers (West)

Heritage, Urban Design & Planning – Christopher Dempsey & Tricia Reade

There are also two committees; the Finance committee chaired by Grey Moyle and the Grants committee, chaired by Pippa Coom.

“Structuring responsibilities by portfolio rather than through a committee structure will provide the board with greater flexibility to progress issues through effective community engagement,” says Mr Chambers.

The Waitemata Local Board represents the historic communities and important business districts of the inner city located from Parnell, Newmarket and Grafton to the CBD and the Viaduct to Freemans Bay, Ponsonby, St Mary’s Bay, Grey Lynn, Herne Bay and Westmere.

“To ensure the local board can capture the views of all our communities, it is also our intention to rotate local board meetings between Parnell, the local board office in Graham Street in the CBD and Grey Lynn,” he says.

Auckland’s urban design makes us fat

“Build loose suburbs carved up by busy roads and without green spaces and you help to create a population of fat, lonely people plagued by criminals. Build dense, leafy settlements with mixed uses, protected from traffic, and you help to create safe, fit and friendly communities.”
George Monbiot

I love living in central Auckland and appreciate the beautiful nartural surroundings of the City but sadly the built environment is making us fat. Even in Zone 1 the design and lack of public transport encourages us to drive short distances and to feel unsafe cycling.

Why has so much bad urban planning been allowed to happen in Auckland? Why is our CBD cut off by motorways and many of our shopping streets welcoming only to cars?  I think the problem has been a lack of visionary leadership in Auckland, weak planning and developments driven by the desire to make a quick buck.

Barb Cuthbert, spokesperson of Cycle Action Auckland, sums up what we could be aiming for:

I see scope to make our one way street system less forbidding torrents of cars, and more alluring entry points to our city. Our city could be home to more distinctive businesses, walkable, colourful streets, connected with cycling and frequent public transport routes, lively markets, active places full of people, rather than voids full of cars.

I am hopeful that the new Auckland Council structure, with a requirement to put in place an overall spatial plan, will mean that Aucklanders who want the city to be liveable and supportive of a healthy lifestyle  will define the design of the city rather than property developers and car obsessed traffic planners.

A voice for young people

The Auckland City Youth Council was set up in 1984 by Dame Catherine Tizard as a forum for young people following the Queen Street riots. I’m trying hard to remember back 26 years ago so that I can contribute to the history of the Youth Council that is currently being documented. I was one of the founding members who used to meet every Friday at the former Youth Resource Centre on Wellesley Street under the guidance of Ted Jones. We started off as a small group with big ideas about what we could do as a voice for young people.

It is great to see that the Youth Council has continued to grow and provide young people with an opportunity to develop leadership skills and learn more about their community. I strongly support mayoral candidate  Len Brown’s proposal to seek advice from a Regional Youth Council. The super city legislation doesn’t require the new Council to provide a forum for young people so it is vital to vote for a mayor and councillors who are committed to setting up a new Auckland Youth Council for the whole region.

Anyone with information about the Auckland City Youth Council over the last 26 years including photos and details of former members can contact Zaria Sleith, Youth Programme Assistant, Auckland City Council, ph 354 2078 Email: Zaria.Sleith@aucklandcity.govt.nz.

Making it count – Vote Local Auckland switches on young people to democracy

Local government elections have traditionally failed to spark voter interest which has been reflected in the low voter turnout. Only 39.7% of eligible voters returned their postal ballots in the Auckland City Council elections in 2007 (down from 48.4% in 2004). It was a worse turn out in Waitakere with only 33% and 35.2% on the North Shore.  Across New Zealand there are no sitting mayors who have been elected by a majority of voters.

I’m really hoping that young people will make a big difference in the first Auckland Council elections by voting.   There is much at stake in these elections, the first for the new ‘Supercity’. Who is elected will determine whether we have a city that values people and their communities while recognising that there are limits on what ratepayers can afford, and ensures that rates are spent on items that are important to, and support, Auckland’s diverse communities.

350 Aotearoa and the ReGeneration network are co-hosting a series of workshops around New Zealand to explore ways that young people can get involved in local politics and make a real difference in these important elections.

Vote Local Auckland is happening this Saturday 17th July

9am – 3pm
PHAB Building, Auburn Street, Takapuna
$5 on the door which includes lunch
To register for this event, please contact Amanda on 021-045-7573 or email:
votelocalauckland@gmail.com
Please register by Friday 16th July

The event on Facebook here

Creating our Local and Regional Future

Candidate seminars for the Auckland Council elections

The seminars are designed for potential candidates for Auckland Council roles to provide information about:

  • The new local government structure in Auckland
  • Roles and responsibilities of elected representatives
  • legislative processes relating to elected representatives
  • Decision-making – meetings, agendas etc
  • Remuneration
  • Expectations – time commitment, personal and family impact, impact on work
  • Conflict of interest
  • The electoral process and timetable.

The seminar I attended last night (after Jan Gehl’s brilliant presentation at the Aotea Centre) was really informative and highlighted just how much there is to get to grips with under teh new Auckland Council governance arrangements.

More information here on the new Auckland Council website.