2 August 2013

Coney to focus on Ranges – Rose for Council

After 12 years of regional representation of Waitakere, as an Auckland Councillor and former ARC-Councillor, Sandra Coney will this year stand for election for the Waitakere Ranges Local Board.

Coney is backing former Auckland Regional Council colleague Christine Rose for the West Auckland Ward seat she leaves vacant.

“I want to put all the experience I’ve gained to work for the communities and environment of the Waitakere Ranges,” Coney said. “Having worked closely with Christine I know she has the skills and knowledge to be a great Councillor for the West and will make sure our needs are represented in the context of what’s best for our whole city.”

Both Coney and Rose will campaign under the Future West banner, a West Auckland Independent-Green-Labour coalition.

Other Future West candidates for the Waitakere Ranges Local Board will be announced on Monday 5 August.

Local Body elections will be held in October this year. Voters must register at www.elections.org.nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56 by Friday 16 August 2013 to have voting papers sent to them in the mail.

Christine Rose is a proven advocate for the West. She has 15 years local & regional government experience, including six years on the Auckland Regional Council with Mike Lee and Sandra Coney, current Auckland Councillors who fully endorse her for the Waitakere Ward Council position. Christine was Deputy Chair of the Council for a term, Chair of the Regional Transport Committee and Deputy Chair of Parks and Heritage. Christine supports more affordable and efficient transport given the West faces years of congestion on the NorthWestern Motorway & increasing travel costs. As West Auckland continues to grow, local parks, sportsfields, swimming pools and other facilities need to be provided while keeping Council costs down. Christine wants to see better control of ‘Council Controlled Organisations’, and a solution to the Ports of Auckland dispute. She supports affordable, good quality, well designed, energy efficient housing. Christine is concerned about growing poverty, and youth unemployment, and supports local clean jobs and businesses, and a Living Wage for workers. Christine supports arts and heritage and is a well-known environmentalist.

Sandra Coney is an independent on the Future West team, with 12 years’ experience in local government and special interests in environment, parks, heritage and recreation. She has had nine years holding parks and recreation and heritage portfolios in firstly Auckland Regional Council and Auckland Council. Her family has owned land at Piha for 80 years and Coney has written and spoken widely on the Waitakeres. She has a background in health advocacy, a QSO for services to women’s health, and is also standing for a second term on the Waitemata District Health Board.

ENDS

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