KEY POINTS:
A woman who took Auckland City Council to court over its art gallery extension plans and opposes sales of public infrastructure assets now wants to be the city's mayor.
Coralie van Camp, 63, said yesterday she was joining the five other declared candidates in the mayoral race because "I'm an idealist who has had enough".
That big pink heart on the front of her jumper was not for the camera's benefit. "Though, I can't help wanting to get involved in the city I love when there is something wrong."
The widow of chocolate-maker John van Camp, she said she understood business, governance and building and was qualified to take on cereal-maker and mayor Dick Hubbard.
"I'm conscious of the fact that I am in a privileged position," said Mrs van Camp, who has a home in Remuera and invests in the sharemarket.
She had spent the past three years trying to establish herself as a truly independent voice in the community. This followed unsuccessful bids to get on the city and regional councils and losing her place on the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust.
Her past battles have been to try to stop a partial float of shares in the power company Vector and progress on the Eastern motorway.
More recently, she, as a shareholder, attacked Fletcher Building for its involvement in the waterfront stadium proposal, saying the company risked being branded the "bad guys".
The Environment Court is considering her appeal, with others, against the city council getting resource consent for the art gallery $90 million extension plans.
"I have spent close to $100,000 of my own money trying to stop this impractical and unsympathetic intrusion into historic Albert Park," she said.
A second gallery building - either on the Tank Farm or Queens Wharf - would save the destruction of a heritage park and gallery building.
Mrs van Camp wants to save such beautiful old buildings and protect important city assets from falling into private control "at the whim of councillors coming along every three years".
She said the city was going through a farce of public consultation over whether it should sell its Auckland International Airport shareholding.
"I'd like to see the Government or the council acquire more shares and put them in a holding trust held by the Auckland Regional Council under protective legislation."
Vector should be taken off the market permanently through a trust structure such as that used by the ARC for the Ports of Auckland.
Mrs van Camp also supports the ARC's bid to have the Watercare Service returned to it.
Her aim is to make the community aware of other options regarding important city issues. Nominations for candidates open today and close on August 24. Others to announce their bids for the mayoralty include Mr Hubbard, former mayor John Banks, community activist Lisa Prager, first-term councillor John Hinchcliff and businessman Steve Crow.
Just the ticket
Other declared Auckland mayoral candidates are:
* Sitting mayor Dick Hubbard.
* Former mayor John Banks.
* Community activist Lisa Prager.
* First-term councillor John Hinchcliff.
* Porn king Steve Crow.
