Rodney District councillor, President of the Whangaparaoa Ratepayers Association, founding member of the Whangaparaoa Community Trust. I am standing  along with Wayne Walker in ‘Putting People First’.

As a secondary school  teacher at firstly Glenfield College in the 8o’s and 90’s and then more recently at Albany Junior High School I have taught a number of students over the years who were from Greenhithe (the Greenhithe bus always had to leave early for some reason!) and of course met some of their parents. I have a number of friends who live in Greenhithe.

There have been a  lot of changes around Greenhithe since I used to go up there in the early 80’s. Development has caught up with parts of it in a spectacular manner. I would strongly support a village plan that sought to preserve the special qualities that have attracted people to live in Greenhithe in the first place. If that’s not done the essential character of the area could be lost as  has happened in other areas around the North Shore. In short I would certainly do all I could to ensure that the ‘green’ in Greenhithe was a guiding principal of any planning documents.

• Making sure local people are heard
• Rates
• Transport enhancements and community facilities

See details in my profile

Making sure local people are heard

One of the main concerns of people is that their communities will be swallowed up in this new ‘Super City’. Our number one priority is to make sure that this doesn’ t happen. We will push for the local boards to be given more powers. They are crucial to ensuring the community’s voice is heard.  Clear lines of communication have to be established from local communities to the Auckland Council.

Rates

The original selling point for the‘Super city’ was increased efficiencies and reduced costs- that original justification has disappeared off the radar. ‘Reduced costs to ratepayers’ needs to be put firmly back on the agenda. That means an end to the continuous cycle of rate increases year after year - people cannot afford them !

Transport enhancements and community facilities

This whole ward is growing... and fast – it needs  community and recreational facilities to keep apace. We believe that this is an important part of the Council’s business – it’s what binds communities together and adds to our quality of life. It also needs an integrated transport system that will serve Auckland’s needs well into the future, that has to be all of Auckland and as far as the North Shore goes it can build on the already significant investment in the infrastructure established by the Northern busway.