• Community - What processes will you champion for communities to influence the Auckland Council and Local Boards?

Joel Cayford - The Spatial Plan needs to be as much about community development as it is about economic development. That means it needs to emphasise local Place-Making, and enable and resource processes that encourage and require community participation and partnerships with local govt over local initiatives. These can include the creation of Village Plans and Town Plans driven by local community groups and facilitated by Local Boards. I will champion this.

This process will succeed if it is recognised and funded by the Auckland Council. It requires Local Boards to be resourced to deliver. This will come through if the Auckland LTCCP provides for it explicitly. I will champion this provision in the first  and subsequent LTCCPs.

Thirdly, unless Local Boards are properly understood and recognised and funded by Auckland council, they will fail and so will local community initiatives. I will champion therefore the establishment at Auckland Council of a Local Board Ctte which will give its undivided attention to the enablement and reporting of the performance of Auckland’s 21 Local Boards.

Fourthly, the present time sees an unprecedented cut back or threat to Govt funded Social Services. While these cannot be provided by Auckland Council, the Council can collect relevant data and information that can be used to pressure the Govt into taking social and community development issues more seriously. I will champion that process, so that Council has ammunition to use in its relationship with Central Govt over Social issues.

Ross Craig (Councillor Albany) I will be proactive in communicating in advance details of issues that are on the decision making horizon of Council to all local communities and formal groups within the Albany Ward. I believe that knowledge empowers people when it is effectively communicated. If elected I will at the outset of my term initiate contact with all 14 Board members and after the election of each Board chair, I will establish a close and effective working relationship with each chairperson. I am an experienced team player and I will strategise with the other Albany Councillor to focus on the best possible outcomes for the 20+ Albany Communities.

Uzra Balouch (Candidate for Albany Ward Candidate for Upper Harbour Local Board) The processes I will champion whether it concerns the seniors, youth children, minorities, families or the Tangata Whenua is to engage and consult them. I plan to hold community clinics on a rotational basis in the ward and sit in on Local Board meetings and also lobby for the webcasting of council meetings so communities know what we are advocating on their behalf. I also want to lobby for the development of community hubs/villages across the ward so that local identity is preserved. The reason I am standing is because I only get to see the candidates at election time and then never in the three years that ensue unless they hit the headlines for texting at odd hours or when there is dissent and disagreement between the ‘A’ team and the ‘B’ team.

I am standing because the communities are expecting a lot from their elected representatives in the new set up especially the Local Board members who will be the bridge between the Council and the communities while the Councillors take on a more strategic region wide role.

I want to be a part of team “ W ” (not the one you are thinking) i.e. the team that shows team w ork and the team that w orks and as a part of this team, whether that is as a councillor or a local board member, I want to consult and engage all stakeholders before making any decisions that affects them. To me community engagement and development is central to local governance and that is what I will champion.

1. Avoid giving them handouts taken from productive members of society, so reducing their productivity and exacerbating our current and ongoing economic decline (especially compared with Australia), and driving some of them overseas, together with their businesses and our investment.
2. Introduce policies which create favourable conditions for our talented, enterprising and energetic (ie wealth-creating) youngsters to thrive in, their being right now most in need of reduction in current substantial dis-incentives to remain in New Zealand where they can be of most help to, and most accessible to, these seniors – together with their grandchildren. The alternative, seeing them at annual or six-monthly intervals at considerable cost, is socially and societally damaging. For a more detailed treatment see the Appendix.

• Youth Children under the age of 15 currently make up about 19 percent of the North Shore population, while young adults (15-24 years) comprise about 15 percent.
  
  On the efforts to encourage youth participation in local government, which perhaps can be characterised from tokenism to empowering and genuine, what youth participation mechanisms do you support?
  
  

Joel Cayford My experience of North Shore’s Youth Council, and youth participation on Devonport Community Board has been very positive. However I am aware that “Civics” and other civil society education is not a big part of the school curriculum. It should be – as it is in some US States and also the UK. Govts now recognise the value of civic participation education to produce good communities tomorrow. Auckland Council is in a good position to lobby for the inclusion of civics in the NZ school curriculum. The objective here is to empower youth so that they begin to demand the right to participate and partner in decisions that affect them – rather than simply being the recipient of rights bestowed from above.

Ross Craig Having been a secondary school teacher for over 20 years I understand that youth are not that interested in local government which is also reflected in their parents disinclination to vote. I support the good number of trusts that work with issues that youth focus on. If funds are to be spend on youth initiatives then in my view many issues are of higher priority to a councillor than putting energy into local government issues.

David Willmott None. They should only indulge in local government “do-gooderism” once they have learned the hard-earned value of a dollar by sustainably earning their own. Far too many of our politicians are “lifers” who know exactly how best to spend other people’s money, but never earned any of their own the hard way, or failed at their previous job (possibly because their initial idealism was misplaced in not being sufficiently rewarding, emotionally?). Only then will they respect and be very careful in their use of other people’s dollars, when they have earned access to my trust first, THEN my wallet. (See also Appendix).

• Children - According to the Quality of Life Report, just under 18 percent of North Shore households are characterised as low income – that is, as having incomes of below $30,000 per year. What will you do for families with young children on fixed incomes who are over stretched in this tough economic climate?

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Joel Cayford Safer and better school bus services help. So do walking school buses – because parents can feel more confident their kids will get to school safely – without having to be driven. Libraries and such services that are highly valued need to be kept free. The same rates support argument above (re elderly) applies also.

Ross Craig My answer to this question is essentially the same as the one I gave to older people on fixed incomes

• Disability - How will you ensure the North Shore Disability strategy mission is championed: An inclusive city where people of all abilities are highly valued and contribute to the community?

Joel Cayford This code and mission needs to be applied on a case by case basis. I am aware – for example – that while many council strategies have fine words around disability access, when it comes to actual projects these strategies are often ignored. Therefore I support a regular process of disability audits being conducted of services and facilities that are popular, so that council understands obstacles that are there, and develops and funds programs to steadily to remove them in a staged program.

Ross Craig I have worked with the Rodney Disability Advisory Group for the last 3 years We have monthly meetings and I am very supportive of assisting them in issues they have. The issues are wide ranging, I am confident that the Local Boards with the staff assigned to them will continue to improve the built physical environment to make it more friendly for the disabled. RDAG is run by the members of the group and they have achieved remarkable results. They do contribute to the community in this way.

• Health - The Quality of Life Report indicates that the overall health of North Shore residents is rated as very similar to the New Zealand average. What do you consider are the three most pressing health needs of the North Shore Community and what is your vision towards addressing these over the next three years?

Joel Cayford In difficult economic times there is increasing pressure to provide – this will inevitably lead to depression and other emotional and family pressures. I think this will be the main health issue for North Shore. Pedestrian safety is probably not seen as a health issue – but road pedestrian and cycling safety is a significant issue. Accidents are not good for health. Other health issues such as cleaning up our air quality (because particulates do shorten life spans), and obesity because of an unhealthy life style are also issues for North Shore.  In terms of Council priorities, I consider that better public transport, safer footpaths and cyclelanes are a priority – especially in North Shore Village and Town centres.

Ross Craig I have been on the Rodney Health link for the past 3 years. For the Albany Ward which importantly includes the Hibiscus Coast Community the most pressing health needs I am aware of are;

1. Meeting the needs the elderly have for accessible health care including shuttles to get them to appointments at the 3 or 4 hospitals they frequently attend.
2. Running seminars for young mothers in relation to rearing their children.
3. Encouraging different culture groups obtain greater value from the public health system. Frankly I consider that the Health Links and PHO’s under the WDHB have the responsibility for vision to address issues I have identified.

Laurie Condor

1. Safe water at reasonable cost.
2. Provision of indoor and outdoor sports and recreational facilities.
3. Careful trafficplanning to ensurer emergency vehicles have ready access to all properties.
4. The provision of health care is a Central Government responsibility.

David Willmott

1. A prosperous society able to hold its head up in the world with confidence earned by achieving and sustaining positions on OECD tables with which we are comfortable, and creating wealth beyond that level with which we can purchase social and environmental “goods” without inducing economic decline – unlike today.
2. Re-allocation of scarce rates and taxes from squanderously-wasteful and foolish projects such as rail transit and tunnelling any and all additional roads, to doubling the size of North Shore hospital, paying our medical staff salaries which will incentivise enough of them to stay here, and re-instituting the effective supplementary services (eg Plunket) which have played such valuable roles in the past,
3. Re-instituting parental and school authority and discipline, recognising that loss of respect for parents and authorities is significantly responsible for the way some kids treat them today. … and what is your vision towards addressing these over the next 3yrs? How to do it? See Appendix. Much more on our website

• Tangata Whenua How will you meet the obligation to Tangata Whenua in the Treaty of Waitangi in the business of the new Council?

Joel Cayford I supported seats being allocated to Maori, and that Maori would decide who sat in those seats on an issue by issue basis. However. That is not to be. I am aware that there is to be a substantial Maori Liaison Team in the new council. That is good, but it is not enough. Often those Maori Officers are seen by mana whenua as “mallow puffs” – brown on the outside but white on the inside. Major issues will arise that require hui and other forms of engagement which are genuine with tangata whenua. We have to do as much as possible to avoid the “dollars for principles” negotiations which have too often characterised Local Govt relations with Maori.

Ross Craig I have been on the Rodney Health link for the past 3 years. For the Albany Ward which importantly includes the Hibiscus Coast Community the most pressing health needs I am aware of are;

1. Meeting the needs the elderly have for accessible health care including shuttles to get them to appointments at the 3 or 4 hospitals they frequently attend.
2. Running seminars for young mothers in relation to rearing their children
3. Encouraging different culture groups obtain greater value from the public health system. Frankly I consider that the Health Links and PHO’s under the WDHB have the responsibility for vision to address issues I have identified.

• Economic Development How will you foster economic growth and increase the cities wealth and employment opportunities?

Joel Cayford I favour a long term sustainable development approach to this matter. I am concerned that if Auckland is drawn into another cycle of motorway building it will generate short term GDP growth, but transfer the costs of that to future generations (long distance commutes, reliance on expensive car trips, distance breaking communities, poor public transport provision, high energy consumption economy). But to break the present cycle will require an approach to spatial planning and economic development that aims at reducing transport energy demand, and also at providing more affordable housing.

Secondly I believe Auckland needs to understand exactly what its compoarative advantages are before rushing into a downward spiral of economic investment which is not really connected with reality (which is that we are 2000 kms from our nearest trading partner). Auckland needs to develop itself as an authentic tourist destinations (rather than copying other cities). We have a stunning harbour – but we have done a lot to damage it, and reduce its attractions for locals let alone visitors. Auckland has become a centre of education excellence. This is also an export. We need to rethink some of our economic assumptions. Film industry and food industry and marine industry good. But we also need to add to that Auckland’s life style attraction as a place for knowledge workers who want to be able to catch a snapper in the inshore waters of a big city. And be happy to eat it.

Ross Craig I am not a believer that borrowing more when there is recession

• Minorities - Given that the North Shore is home to a rapidly increasing mix of ethnicities, cultures and languages, how do you intend to ensure there is policy room for minority viewpoints in the new Auckland Council?

Joel Cayford Auckland Council will be a melting pot of approaches from other councils – including Waitakere and Manukau which have considerable experience in these matters compared to North Shore – whose council has tended to be fairly monocultural (apart from various discretionary grants to ethnic groups). We need to learn from other parts of Auckland.

Laurie Condor All ethnic groups have equal rights on New Zealand. They must be encouraged to participate.

• Social Equality - The Royal Commission identified that Auckland has some of the richest and poorest communities in NZ. What will you champion to reduce this inequality?

Joel Cayford First of all the facts of this information need to be brought to councillors’ attention. I am aware that this is not a popular area of research. It needs to be presented in relation to council services. For example it is essential that public transport provision is to some extent driven by an understanding of the level of deprivation that exists in different areas of Auckland. At present the best PT is available to the richest communities – largely. While decile 10 communities in SW Auckland have very ppor and unattractive PT services. PT provision (like library services), need to be seen as a right, rather than only available to decile 1 communities – where rate revenue is highest. This is a challenging area. But we will be judged by how we treat and provides services to the poorest and least able members of the community.

Laurie Condor I believe that central Government policies have resulted in this imbalance. Although some persons decline the opportunities available to them such as education, or refuse to participate productively in society by choice. Student Loans become a burden. I would prefer annual grants renewable on performance results.

The minimum wage has become a legitimate standard and the wage of choice for many employers. It is not sufficient to provide for the needs of a family.

The taxation burden is too great. It is discouraging. This includes Income tax, ETS, GST and special levies.

Essential services were sold to private corporates and residents are plundered by charges increasing 3% or more each year with no commercial justification except it is to meet the cost of inflation! Central Government should review its allocation of tax and levy income .

Local Government need to make responsible decisions . I am appalled that intending Councillors can campaign that they will reduce rates, when experience reveals that each year they make planning and management decisions that result in the increase in rates exceeding double the rate of inflation. A person works to have more than half their money taken by local and central government and spent for them while they cannot afford essentials for their families.

• Housing - How can Auckland Council use its powers to increase flexibility of housing choices to meet the needs of its increasingly diverse population?

Joel Cayford This is the elephant in the room. I believe this matter needs to become a core strategic issue (along with only a few others) to drive the Spatial Plan. Hosuing affordability is  major problem – both in terms of rental property and owner occupiers. The assumption that simply releasing the MUL will solve it is not supported by stringent economic analysis. Local Govt has to learn to work with communities and with development community to deliver more equitable housing outcomes. This includes tools like: inclusive zoning; declaring affordable housing to be “social infrastructure” and funding its development through developer levies (which can be in kind as demonstrated by Queenstown Lakes District Council).  Again, Council needs to be informed by a though Strategic Housing Market Assessment, which describes what is happening in Auckland, by area, by household income, by tenure. The Salvation Army has done some very good work. This needs to be built on by Auckland Council. Council can also advocate for Stats NZ to collect better and more relevant data on this subject.

Laurie Condor Influences outside Local Government have resulted in the present position. Inflation, OCR, particularly mean the low income can never save the deposit and service the borrowing. Redundancy, student loans, and the ongoing costs of insurance and maintenance are not Local Government areas of responsibility. Local Government is responsible for planning and this should ensure Industry is close to housing or suitable public transport is planned to link housing and employment. Rates and consent fees are the responsibility of Local Government and I consider poor budgeting and management result in rate increases.

• Infrastructure - What are your suggestions to fix traffic congestion on the North Shore?

Joel Cayford Road widening damages communities. Better public transport is a core requirement for community building, and also for using transport corridors more efficiently (more people moved/hour/lane). More walking and more cycling improves community development.  I don’t support more road widening projects. I support reallocation fo space (such as in Forrest Hill Rd) to better accommodate all modes of traffic rather than favouring the car. North Shore is suffering – but less and less so now – from a development pattern that assumed it was OK for people to live here, and work in the CBD and south. This is no longer seen as sustainable. So the busway has been built, and considerable effort has gone into enabling employment opportunities and economic development in Smales Farm, Wairau Valley (which needs regeneration), and Albany Industrial estate. Most North Shore people can now find work locally, and don’t need to leave North Shore for work. This reduces travel demand. This development direction is what I favour. Also I support village economic development in our town centres and places so that there are better and more employment opportunities closer to where people live, to further reduce the demand for commuter car travel. These are big picture strategic repairs. They won’t happen overnight. Some of the shorter term ideas that are around will not result in structural change. That is what North Shore needs more of. Not quick fixes.

Ross Craig Improved feeder services to the Albany Bus Station would reduce some of the stifling congestion around Albany in peak hours. Policies to encourage car pooling would also help as would more flexible working hours in Albany businesses.

Laurie Condor
Immediately

1. An integrated ticketing should be introduced to combine commuting services.
2. A Park and Ride should be instigated at Silverdale to reduce the commuting traffic on the motorway through the North Shore. In the longer term
3. Suburban rail should be converted to electricity. Diesel power is expensive to purchase and maintain, and offensive. Electric power is clean, cheaper to purchase and maintain and also easier to extend services using tunnels if necessary.
4. Electric suburban rail should be extended from Britomart to Orewa using tunnels and the existing Bus Way. And I would promote a suburban transport link from Westgate to North Shore.