ACTION HOBSON
MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 22 August 2007
EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 PM

Action Hobson Launches Campaign & Priorities for 2007-2010

Action Hobson has launched its election campaign and policy priorities for 2007-2010 - including a warning that a motorway across Hobson Bay remains on its opponents' agenda.

The two Action Hobson Councillors, Christine Caughey and Richard Simpson, said Action Hobson had been the thinking Aucklanders' representative on the Auckland City Council and Hobson Community Board and was proud of its achievements over the last three years.

"In the last three years, we've succeeded in stopping immediate plans for the Eastern Motorway, we've encouraged the electrification of Auckland's rail network; we've brokered a pro-business/pro-environment solution to the controversial billboards issue; we've demanded better urban design rules; we've helped stop the Waterfront Stadium madness and promoted Carlaw Park; we've won the right to host the Digital Earth Summit; and we've taken major steps to improving Auckland's broadband capability," Cr Simpson said.

"We've remained the genuine Hobson community voice on the council, and we've remained independent and united," he said.

However, the councillors warned that Auckland continued to be on the wrong track.

"The Auckland City Council has been divided between those who have been preoccupied with anti-business measures like the billboards issue and those whose sole focus seems to be getting more cars on our roads," Cr Caughey said.

"In particular, we regret that a motorway across Hobson Bay continues to be on our opponents' agenda, with them consistently refusing to remove the roading component from the Eastern Transport corridor."

The motorway issue continues to lead Action Hobson's ten priorities for 2007-2010, which are:

1. Stop the Eastern Motorway permanently - remove the roading component from the Eastern Transport Corridor

2. Promote Rapid Transit Solutions for Auckland - modern rail, clean buses and ferries, and all with integrated smartcard ticketing

3. Slash local government bureaucracy -by developing more efficient and effective local governance for the region

4. Modernise Auckland's IT - provide faster broadband access free at libraries and public places, with far more affordable and faster access across the entire city

5. Prepare for climate change and ensure Auckland reduces greenhouse gases

6. Demand stricter standards for urban design - to protect heritage homes and local character, achieve more exciting architecture and ensure a safer, more efficient CBD

7. Build closer and healthier communities by promoting walking school buses, safe cycle ways and pedestrian linkages

8. Crack down hard on graffiti with tougher policing and tougher penalties

9. Improve waste collection and recycling, especially in the CBD and reduce water costs through efficiency measures

10. Demand Auckland's fair share of central government funding and use modern forms of city financing to minimise rates

"This is a comprehensive programme that protects Hobson's heritage and reflects what we've been told by the Hobson community are its priorities. We'll work with all other councillors and whomever the people of Auckland elect as Mayor to promote them," Cr Caughey said.

Action Hobson also announced that Crs Caughey and Simpson would be joined on the Action Hobson council ticket by Dr Maggie Lawton, a company director and environmental consultant.

"Action Hobson inspired me in 2004 as a new force in local politics that can genuinely look forward rather than being preoccupied with the battles of the past," Dr Lawton said. "It understands that for Auckland to be a leading city in the Asia Pacific, it needs world-class transport and infrastructure, it needs to be sustainable and it needs to be a place where internationally-capable people want to live, do business and bring up their families."

The Chairman of the Hobson Community Board, Action Hobson's Dr David Simpson, also announced that Action Hobson would be putting forward a full ticket for the Hobson Community Board. Dr Simpson said Kathryn Carter, Dr Paul Ockelford and he would be joined on the platform by communications consultant and former journalist Robin Bailey, company director Rob Hellriegel and Friends of the Domain founder Gianluca Watson.

"In the last three years, our majority on the community board has fast-tracked the Nuffield Street upgrade, supported resident initiated community projects, upgraded local sport facilities, promoted local community, encouraged heritage protection, prioritised the Hobson Bay walkway and been a powerful, rational voice in transport planning, promoting train, pedestrian and cycle facilities forgotten by Transit planners. In the next three years, our key objectives will be to promote the ten point plan and promote the rejuvenation of Hobson Bay as the sewer pipes are removed."

Cr Caughey said: "We're a group of independent community people with a record of success in business, medicine, architecture, teaching and urban design - and we're proud that our focus is Hobson and Hobson values."

Cr Simpson said: "We're a team that contrasts well with the C&R and 1Auckland groups who seem increasingly to be divided and in disarray."

Attached: Action Hobson Campaign Card Action Hobson Biographies

Candidate Profiles

Auckland City Council:

Christine Caughey

Christine Caughey is an Action Hobson Auckland City Councillor who will stop the Eastern Motorway permanently, promote world-class transport and IT infrastructure for the city, and protect Hobson's traditional heritage and community values.

Christine was Metro Magazine's Aucklander of the Year in 2004 and currently chairs the Council's Environment Heritage & Urban Form Committee.

Christine believes Auckland urgently needs rapid transit solutions other cities take for granted - integrating modern rail, better buses, faster ferries and more walking school buses. She wants Auckland to have a unique identity better valuing its built and natural heritage; a city where families, visitors and businesses want to be.

A parent trustee of Epsom Girls' Grammar, Christine has successfully promoted community and environmental interests in Hobson and beyond. She knows how local government works and wants to build a vital Auckland, based on family and putting people first.

Further details: www.thinkactionhobson.org

Dr Maggie Lawton

Dr Maggie Lawton is an Action Hobson candidate for the Auckland City Council who will stop the Eastern Motorway permanently, promote world-class transport and IT infrastructure for the city, and protect Hobson's traditional heritage and community values.

Maggie is a successful scientist and business owner with a 30 year career addressing social and environmental issues. She currently runs a research and consultancy business. Her priority on Council will be to promote a strategic sustainable development framework for the City to achieve resource use efficiency and tackle climate change.

Maggie believes that for Auckland to become a world-leading urban city in the 21st century, it needs strong social and environmental values to underpin its successful business sector. She believes Auckland must have the strong leadership it needs to ensure it plays a key role in addressing national and international concerns.

Further details: www.thinkactionhobson.org

Richard Simpson

Richard Simpson is an Action Hobson Auckland City Councillor who will stop the Eastern Motorway permanently, promote world-class transport and IT infrastructure for the city, and protect Hobson's traditional heritage and community values.

Richard is a successful international businessman, recipient of the NZ Export Award and has served as director of several companies. Trained in architecture and computer science and part of the original design team behind the Sky Tower, he took a lead role in producing sophisticated computer simulations to establish environmental controls now governing the CBD.

On Council, Richard has worked to ensure Auckland becomes a vibrant civilised city, offering dignity to its people, respect for its heritage and strong association with the natural environment, including Waitemata Harbour. As Chair of the Transport Committee, he has championed electrified rail, an innovative Harbour Bridge crossing, ferry, busway, cycleway, pedestrian and digital broadband connections within Auckland city.

Further details: www.thinkactionhobson.org

* * * Hobson Community Board:

Robin Bailey

Robin Bailey is an Action Hobson candidate for the Hobson Community Board who will stop the Eastern Motorway permanently, promote world-class transport and IT infrastructure for the city, and protect Hobson's traditional heritage and community values.

A former journalist and radio station manager, Robin has a strong record as President of the Newmarket Protection Society and his work to successfully halt the Westfield mega-mall on Nuffield Street reflects his desire to preserve the unique Newmarket culture. He is also a former executive member of the Newmarket Business Association.

Robin has an affinity with all things water and wants to maintain Auckland's special maritime heritage. For the past eighteen years, he has operated Bridge Communications, an agency specialising in boats, marine and all things water. In addition, Robin edits the New Zealand Herald Weekend Marine feature and was a founding member of WaterSafe Auckland.

Further details: www.thinkactionhobson.org

Kathryn Carter

Kathryn Carter is an Action Hobson member of the Hobson Community Board who will stop the Eastern Motorway permanently, promote world-class transport and IT infrastructure for the city, and protect Hobson's traditional heritage and community values.

Kathryn has extensive architectural, art and design experience, and will continue to work towards improving urban design outcomes in Hobson which sustain existing infrastructure, enhance new city developments and preserve the local area's trees and open spaces. In particular, she is supportive of using modern technology to better protect and conserve Hobson's natural and physical resources from modern-day threats such as climate change.

Kathryn is driven to enhance the appeal of Auckland to visitors and future residents, and wants to ensure that local policies will benefit future generations of Auckland residents. She is committed to her local Parnell community, being deputy chair of the Parnell District School Parent Teachers Association.

Further details: www.thinkactionhobson.org

Rob Hellriegel

Rob Hellriegel is an Action Hobson candidate for the Hobson Community Board who will stop the Eastern Motorway permanently, promote world-class transport and IT infrastructure for the city, and protect Hobson's traditional heritage and community values.

Rob is a successful tourism-business owner in the Auckland CBD whose experience has given him an excellent grasp of the needs of Hobson's business community, both small and large. He wants to see Auckland harness its natural and unique attractions to ensure it is a fun and vibrant city for residents and visitors.

A Parnell resident, Rob recognises that Hobson is bearing much of the brunt of Auckland's rapid growth and is committed to preserving and promoting Hobson's heritage and distinct natural features. He is passionate about the waterfront, believing the future of Auckland's international reputation depends on sound and visionary development. Rob has an MBA and coaches junior rugby.

Further details: www.thinkactionhobson.org

Dr Paul Ockelford

Dr Paul Ockelford is an Action Hobson Community Board member who will stop the Eastern Motorway permanently, promote world-class transport and IT infrastructure for the city, and protect Hobson's traditional heritage and community values.

Paul is a medical specialist in public and private practice, Deputy Chairman of the Hobson Community Board and Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Medical Association. A long-term Parnell resident, he seeks a city which protects its unique environment, natural assets and heritage; is fun to live in and to visit; and of which Aucklanders can be proud.

Paul believes such a vision is at risk from the city's current transport issues, and is particularly concerned at local residential streets becoming a parking lot for the CBD during the working week. He has supported proposals to move towards rapid rail solutions, and will continue to advocate for solutions that better serve Hobson residents.

Further details: www.thinkactionhobson.org

Dr David Simpson

Dr David Simpson is an Action Hobson Community Board member who will stop the Eastern Motorway permanently, promote world-class transport and IT infrastructure for the city, and protect Hobson's traditional heritage and community values.

Chairman of the Hobson Community Board and highest polling candidate in Auckland Community Board Elections in 2004, David is a leading medical specialist who returned to Auckland after practising in London, Vancouver, Toronto and Chicago. He has seen what makes cities great- and what mistakes can be made - and believes Auckland must invest in Rapid Transit Systems that other leading cities enjoy.

This requires investment in modern rail, water transport, cycleways, walkways leading to other transport options, and roads. On the Community Board, David's priorities have been to promote safe walking "school buses" to ease the morning rush hour, build communities through better parks and amenities, and ensure people-focussed development of business areas.

Further details: www.thinkactionhobson.org

Gianluca Watson

Gianluca Watson is an Action Hobson candidate for the Hobson Community Board who will stop the Eastern Motorway permanently, promote world-class transport and IT infrastructure for the city, and protect Hobson's traditional heritage and community values.

A local Parnell Primary School teacher and founding member of The Friends of the Domain, Gianluca's recent community work has ensured that Auckland icons like the Domain are protected from neglect and degradation.

Gianluca is a staunch advocate for greater community consultation and is deeply concerned about Auckland's environmental pollution, transport system and the lack of maintenance of the city's basic infrastructure. His vision for the city is to establish a programme of sustainable development promoting a sense of greater community spirit and protecting the heritage intrinsic to Hobson and the greater Auckland region.

A long standing resident of Parnell, five generations of Gianluca's
family have lived in the same street.

Further details: www.thinkactionhobson.org

ENDS

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