Letter to Manukau – Friday, 18 December 2009

Local Businesses

Over the last two years I've enjoyed making monthly visits to businesses around the city.

A recent visit took me to Hynds Pipes in East Tamaki.  It's a huge site off Highbrook Drive which the owner, John Hynds, his son Adrian and his team have developed over the years.  I was shown the amazing process that the company's pipe products go through in their construction.

Hynds Pipes are huge in the infrastructure scene in the region, and around the country and the Pacific.  They, like other businesses have seen the effects of the recession but are continuing to stay strong. It was pointed out to me that the site is holding significantly more stock than usual because of the downturn in the residential/commercial market over recent years.

I was keen to point out that local government is doing all it can to ensure we continue to invest in our local economies. Throughout the region, we will be looking to spend more than $1 billion in capital development work this financial year. 

At least half of this is in transportation.

While government and private investment is constrained by the present financial circumstances, our councils are showing a strong confidence by continuing to invest in our local infrastructure.  We have recently seen an increase in the number of building and resource consents issued, and we hope to see more positive signs of an economic upturn in coming months.

The Third Bill on Auckland Governance

The third and final Bill relating to the restructure of Auckland Governance came out this week.  It's detailed and covers the balance of the new structure not included in the first two bills, particularly the corporate side.

It finalises the shape of the new water company, and sets up the new transport agency and the CCO's working beside the council structure. 
 
What was missing from the Bill was statutory prescribed delegations for the 19 new local boards. 

The Councils of Auckland put together an agreed list of proposed powers and delegations for the second tier and submitted them at the end of the second Bill to the Select Committee.  

In my view these delegations would give plenty of teeth to the second tier and ensure that in local communities the boards are able to deliver much of the nuts and bolts of services that the community presently get and will also have sufficient strength to be strong and empowered advocates to the Auckland Council on policy and strategic issues. 

The Government is missing an opportunity to save Auckland from another prolonged squabble by not putting in place statutory perimeters for the local boards operations. 

Rainbow's End, Kidz First and Variety

I was asked to open a new ride at Rainbow's End recently, called the Invader. It's hard to describe this ride but I encourage those visiting over summer to try it out. It was a lot of fun and the kids who were there in the hundreds seemed to enjoy it.  It's another big positive for Rainbow's End which attracts some 360,000 visitors every year.

I've also attended over recent times a number of occasions organised by the South Auckland Health Foundation for Kidz First.

Last Saturday I was hosted by the Variety Club who have been extraordinary in their long service for kids with health difficulties across our region and the country.  They put on a fantastic Christmas party and concert which was a great occasion for the kids and the agencies who support them.  Boy is Christmas season huge this year!

Enjoy the lead up to Christmas Day.

Len Brown

Mayor of Manukau
ends

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