The Herald spoke to retailers in the central Auckland ward about the issues that affect them
Improvements to public transport are top of the agenda in Albert-Eden-Roskill, as residents seek to balance a need to accommodate the ward's growth with a desire to maintain their leafy green suburbs.
The ward stretches from Mt Eden to Mt Roskill, with the different suburbs having unique needs from the council.
Mt Albert Residents' Association co-chairman Sir Harold Marshall said he was concerned about the impact the planned development of the Unitec campus would have, with more than 1000 new homes planned, and the congestion this would bring along Carrington Rd.
He said Mt Albert had been a "forgotten suburb" since the Super City amalgamation in 2010.
"It's definitely been neglected in the past but it's very much in better heart now and things are beginning to improve."
He said Auckland Council was beginning to engage more with Mt Albert residents and he was confident improvements would be made to the area's centre.
Auckland University Students' Association president Will Matthews lives in Sandringham, and said housing and transport were the biggest issues for students living within the ward.
"Those issues go hand-in-hand because the further out you have to move, the more expensive your transport becomes.
"If you're where I am, at the bottom of Sandringham, near Mt Roskill, you're entirely reliant on buses to get in [to the central city]. If the buses aren't running, it's impossible to get into the city.
"The availability and quality of public transport is a huge thing for people who are having to get up Dominion Rd or Sandringham Rd on a regular basis."
Meanwhile, in Mt Eden village, people spoken to by the Herald were mostly indifferent to the elections.
Most were concerned about the area's growth, and how transport would be affected.
Divisions within Auckland's political right are under the spotlight in the race for Albert-Eden-Roskill's two council seats, as a fresh-faced lawyer with National Party backers goes up against former mayor Christine Fletcher.
Rob Harris is standing for council on behalf of Auckland Future; Communities and Residents' Fletcher is one of two incumbents along with City Vision's Cathy Casey.
Harris said housing, transport and rates affordability were hot topics within the ward, and he believed there was a need to speed up consent processes.
He said the area was "crying out" for more sports fields and green space.
Fletcher said transport was "undoubtedly a key issue". She supports light rail initiatives within the area.
"People are nervous about the Unitary Plan, but there's general support for it," she said.
"We haven't had the physical or social infrastructure to support our massive growth. Most people accept there will be intensification, provided there is the infrastructure there to support it."
Fletcher felt residents were disappointed that the council hadn't been more sensitive to protecting the area's heritage.
Casey said there was a need for more affordable housing, provided it was "well-designed".
She also said it must "not be at the expense of the community".
