1 November 2012
Progress for progressive values in Auckland

With one year until the local government election, elected representatives from City Vision and supporting organisations* in Auckland are pleased with their achievements promoting progressive policies since the new council was established.

The new Auckland Council came into existence two years ago and at that time many people worried it would mean local communities would lose their voice.

“We’ve been fighting to make sure the new structure looks after our local communities,” says spokesperson for City Vision and councillor for Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward Cathy Casey.

“Progressive elected members on the Governing Body and Local Boards of Auckland Council have had their shoulders to the wheel delivering better public transport, keeping rates fair, protecting heritage and the environment, and supporting investment in our local communities.

Cr Casey was speaking to launch the two year accountability report for City Vision and supporting organisations. She says City Vision and supporting groups (made up of Labour, Greens and community independents) have been working together to try and make the new unified governance structure a success."

“We think it’s important to communicate what we have been doing at the same time as listening to what people think is important about their city. Many people tell us they’re pleased to see progressive values becoming embedded in Auckland”, says City Vision member of the Waitemata Local Board Shale Chambers.

“Many people had strong reservations about the ‘Supercity’ at the time of its creation, and while concerns remain, we’re working to bring Auckland together, end the negative do-nothing politics of the past and give our communities a voice.

The reports covering the Waitemata Local Board, the Albert-Eden Local Board, the Puketapapa Local Board, and the Councillors for Waitemata & Gulf and Albert-Eden-Roskill Wards show our elected members delivering on their election commitments, including:

- Being staunch advocates for public ownership of public assets by fighting off attempts to privatise the airport, ports and water utility company from Communities & Ratepayer representatives
- Advocating for stronger environmental and heritage protection standards
- Prudent financial oversight and working to reduce the impact of the government’s amalgamation on rates
- Strongly pushing for better public transport, including the City Rail Link
- Supporting decision making at the local level to ensure local communities continue to see investment in their areas

“While some on Council have chosen to snipe from the sidelines and play negative political games, we have focussed on the issues that matter for Aucklanders.

“Two years since the establishment of the new Auckland Council we are proud of our achievements, but also see much to be done. The disastrous Ports dispute must be solved fairly, CCOs need to be opened up to more public scrutiny, Local Boards need more equitable funding, the government should support our public transport agenda and Council must hold its nerve on the vision of a quality compact city. Our elected members will continue to speak up for our communities on all of these issues”, says Shale Chambers.

ENDS

Notes*

City vision has produced 3 separate two year accountability reports covering Waitemata, Albert-Eden and Puketapapa. Around 90,000 reports in total have been produced for the whole area.

City Vision is Auckland's progressive local body political group. It represents the local Labour and Green parties and progressive community independents.

In the 2010 first "super city" election City Vision stood candidates for the Waitemata Local Board, Albert Eden Local Board, Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward councillors. City Vision endorsed Councillor Mike Lee for the Waitemata & Gulf Ward and supported Roskill Community Voice for the Puketapapa Local Board and Labour in Maungakiekie-Tamaki.

Waitemata Local Board - 5 City Vision members (out of 7) led by Chair, Shale Chambers
Albert Eden Local Board - 5 City Vision members (out of 8 from 2 subdivisions) led by Chair, Peter Haynes
Puketapapa Local Board - 2 Roskill Community Voice members (out of 6) led by member Michael Wood
Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward - Councillor Cathy Casey (1 of 2 Councillors)
Waitemata & Gulf Ward - Councillor Mike Lee

www.cityvision.org.nz

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