Auckland Plans Greeted With Cautious Optimism

Ryan Hicks, an Eden-Albert Community Board Member is greeting the government’s announcement to transform Auckland City with cautious optimism. “I am please that the government seems to have heeded Aucklanders warnings about democracy and representation” he says. “Aucklanders screamed in 2007 for a lean clean green council with teeth that focused on core services and can move Auckland forward for everyone” he adds. “What Aucklanders definitely did not want, was a very powerful executive, bigger government and bureaucracy, non-elected “representatives”, “social panels” and racist seats. I am glad the government seems to have taken this on board”.

By Ryan warns “If they get Auckland wrong again it will be a disaster for everyone”.

Ryan still feels that there is a lack of holistic vision for Auckland. What he would really like to see is a 20 year plan to turn Auckland round, phase rates back down to pre-amalgamation levels, and deal equitably with housing prices so the hardest workers have the best chance of owning their own house.

Ryan who is only 24 years old says it will be his generation that is already paying for decades of poor governance and will have to pay even more if the current plan fails. While growing up he saw his parents rate bill rise over 400% since amalgamation when inflation only double.

“I certainly hope no deals have been made behind closed doors, as usual” he says, adding “and that any that any steering group is mindful that we want lean efficient core service oriented governance.

He laughs at Mayor Harvey calling Auckland a “dog” and saying that over the last 50 years “we dropped the ball”. As a young New Zealander he is extremely concerned that it will be his generation who have to pay for these mistakes, and seriously questions whether Auckland’s future should be determined by this same old guard who have been part of the failed system.

“One large super city must not lead to more bureaucracy, more powerful government, continued rates rises and less say in our own future - this is exactly what Aucklanders don’t want.”

“ There is good precedent to see how good intentions can go bad – look what amalgamation did last time – it delivered a non-functioning Auckland region and rates rises of 400-500% over the same period that the cost of living only doubled”. The population of Auckland simply can’t afford another mistake when they are already hurting so badly from the last one, and I call on the government to be careful with legislation and supervise the transition very closely.

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