Reform high on candidates' agenda

North Shore City councillor Vivienne Keohane. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Vivienne Keohane is reluctantly running for office under a Super City set up.

The North Shore City Councillor, who has been called a "fighter" and "a stirrer", believes the reorganisation was rammed down citizens' throats.

In her view, reform should have been limited to beefing up the Auckland Regional Council to include transport.

Now she is standing for the new Kaipatiki Local Board and also the Auckland Council after being a councillor for three years and Glenfield Community Board member for 12 years.

The part-time potter has shaped a reputation for doggedly quizzing officials on project costs.

Her doubts about the cost to benefit of the reform were shared by some of the 22 other candidates standing for eight seats on the big board, which spreads west from the Northern motorway to the hills and upper harbour bays taking in 86,000 residents.

But Birkenhead-Northcote Community Board is merging into Kaipatiki too, and its chairwoman Jennifer Yorke said some reform was essential in order for Auckland to make progress.

"I've been angry about people going around scaremongering and now standing, because you need someone committed to making it work," she said.

Mrs Keohane said she was independent and free to vote according to personal views or election promises.

On the other hand, Mrs Yorke, who is a member of the Shore Voice ticket with Anne Hartley, said: "I have worked for the National Party and Anne has been a Labour MP.

"However, we work together for the good of the area - none of the A-Team v the Rest," she said.

Also standing for the board is city councillor Grant Gillon and his son John, who is Glenfield Board chairman.

Former board chairman Nick Kearney, of the North Now ticket, and Takapuna Community Board chairman Martin Lawes are also in the running.