Auckland councillors gave their maiden speeches yesterday. Bernard Orsman and Wayne Thompson report on their visions.
PENNY HULSE - DEPUTY MAYOR
We are the representative face of Auckland, Mrs Hulse told the 20 councillors at the conclusion of yesterday's maiden speeches.
The speeches had been a bit like a speed-dating session, she said, albeit more glacial.
"I feel my role is to work with you individually and to work with you collectively as a council. You have my absolute commitment to make sure each and every one of you is ... supported and able to do your very best."
As former deputy mayor of Waitakere, she said the West had an expectation the Auckland Council would deliver for them, saying the council could follow some of Waitakere City Council's lessons of the past 18 years.
When it came to future costs, she asked councillors to think constructively and not be nervous.
"I am extremely concerned about the costs of transition. I think when we open the books we are going to find that those costs are huge. I don't buy the savings and I'm yet to be convinced of that.
"But when we do look at how to save money in the future I would like us to look at sustainable approaches to infrastructure. I don't think we need to spend more and more money on large projects. We need to look long-term in the next 10, 15 or 25 years where we protect our ratepayers from increased costs of water, energy and transport.
"And if that means spending a little bit more money to save money in the future, I would love us to have that debate."
ARTHUR ANAE - MANUKAU WARD
The economic forum chairman said that in the election campaign "we heard that people in the South will come in with all their ill-gotten ways. How sad was that?"
His responsibility was to identify the needs of people and satisfy those needs.
"I don't want to see ghettos and slums in our city. we must strive to create in thinking to make sure it's easier to establish business and employment opportunities for our young people.
"We need a city that is user-friendly and a can-do city that people want to locate in and maximise their opportunities. My vision is a city where people are employed and houses best education facilities and health services second to none; a city that people want to visit, a city that has a heart for its people.
"I pledge myself to deliver on this for all our people - affluent and working classes. Many faces that make us one."
CAMERON BREWER - ORAKEI WARD
As the only novice councillor, Mr Brewer promised to work hard to represent everyone in Orakei, a diverse and increasingly younger urban ward and the home of Ngati Whatua.
He said the council faced the daunting challenge of building the infrastructure required for a region of two million people by 2031 without taxing ratepayers out of the city.
He looked forward to chairing the business advisory panel and the district plan and urban design forum, where he wanted to see the Auckland City urban design panel extended regionwide.
One project he wanted to see real progress on was a second harbour crossing, saying the proposed iconic Anzac bridge could be a powerful statement of delivery.
CATHY CASEY - ALBERT-EDEN-ROSKILL
The social and community forum chairwoman said her Scottish heritage gave her a passion for social justice. She sang a song she wrote about who benefits from council spending on the Rugby World Cup.
"Auckland City Council has spent $60 million on Rugby World Cup 2011. My song is about people at the bottom, about a homeless man I met during the America's Cup who asked: What's in it, what's in it, for me?
Her song mentioned "a mum in South Auckland" with five hungry children hearing the champagne corks popping in the Eden Park corporate boxes, a dad working 12-hour shifts at a freezing works, and a man who had waited two years for an eye operation.
She believed that the trickle-down economic theory "does not go straight to the bottom. It stops at the middle. So in all decision-making here, let's remember the people on the bottom trapped by poverty."
SANDRA CONEY - WAITAKERE WARD
The former Auckland Regional councillor said her family had owned land at Piha since the 1930s and was motivated to protect what was unique about the West of Auckland.
"It is where the populous metropolitan area meets the ancient natural world of forest, water, mists and black sand beaches."
While wanting to build on the eco-city image of which the West was proud, she wanted to foster a regional focus in the Auckland Council.
Ms Coney said Auckland had suffered mainly from planning failures and believed a major impediment to rational regional planning was the Resource Management Act - "a free-market developer's dream".
That was why the Regional Policy Statement, with strengthened provisions for the built form, urban design, heritage, landscape and other areas - was so important to "restore our city fabric and to hold the line against urban sprawl".
ALF FILIPAINA - MANUKAU WARD
The policeman of 33 years' service said he knew the community and would listen. He would be passionate for the ward and also other areas and was looking forward to visits in order to be informed when making decisions.
The culture arts and events forum chairman said that in 2003 he was amazed at how closely Len Brown as Manukau City mayor had gone through the details of that council's 10-year community spending plans.
"It showed me how important it was and the long-term plan we will be facing soon will be a document that again all of us should be going through with a fine-tooth comb."
CHRISTINE FLETCHER - ALBERT-EDEN-ROSKILL WARD
Everyone in Auckland was a migrant, whether born here or brought by plane, ship or waka, Mrs Fletcher said.
As a councillor for one of the most diverse wards in Auckland, she felt it was imperative that migrants could settle quickly into the economic, social and cultural life of the city.
Transport was hugely important, but was simply an artery for the villages of the city. Bold planning was needed to focus on the broader imperatives in people's lives - housing, recreation and commerce to provide employment and prosperity.
"Our job as a council, then, is to join the dots. To make sure the villages can shine in their own way."
As co-leader of Citizens & Ratepayers, Mrs Fletcher deplored political bias getting in the way of consensus based on facts, promising to work constructively issue by issue.
But she warned: "We will not, however, tolerate rates increases for our citizens."
MICHAEL GOUDIE - ALBANY WARD
The 25-year-old former motorsport champion said he had learned to handle pressure and to make the most of opportunities.
He had also grown up in a world where politicians could use new media to reach voters and must heed calls for greater transparency. "You can't hide anything from anyone."
He represented a silent majority who wanted to battle the apathy that prevented Auckland thriving and forced people to look overseas for satisfaction.
"The call for people to fall in love with Auckland rang true to me and I will work my heart out in the next three years to make that happen."
ANN HARTLEY - NORTH SHORE WARD
I am genuine about participation and passionate about women's position in local government, the former North Shore mayor and Labour MP said.
Mrs Hartley said she supported cycling and walking on the harbour bridge, and was proud of the busway.
After a presentation from Watercare Services last week, she said she did a double take when it was implied that the North Shore might have to endure more overflows. "That is not acceptable."
It was a privilege to chair the regional development and operations committee, which had seven forums reporting to it.
"I'm excited about the spatial plan. I like the idea of getting on with that and I like the timetable [end of 2011] that has been set for it. It's the old saying: 'We can do it."'
MIKE LEE - WAITEMATA AND GULF WARD
The transport committee chairman said it was his fervent hope that the council could achieve world-class civic infrastructure, cultural and social fabric "which aspires to the sublime level of Auckland's outstanding natural landscape".
He was comforted that past visionary and radical leaders of Auckland would be right behind the Super City and the aspiration for a greater Auckland.
The former Auckland Regional Council chairman said he supported Mayor Len Brown's call for rapid rail, the CBD loop and rail to the airport, a new cruise ship terminal, waterfront development and holding on to wealth-producing assets and a fair go for the long-suffering ratepayer and, lastly, unity for Auckland.
