Last night, some of the new local boards held their first meetings. Herald reporters went along to see local government history in the making
ALBERT-EDEN
The election of a "red" board member in an area that leans "blue" is a good sign, a symbol of a unified ward, says the Albert-Eden Local Board's new chairman.
Peter Haynes, a management lecturer and former policy analyst, became the board's leader at its inaugural meeting.
He is one of five City Vision members and believes his unanimous election indicates the board is about progress, not bickering.
"The feeling we got during the election was that the community wanted people who would get the job done. And I have the full support of my [Citizens and Ratepayers] colleagues."
He and seven other board members were sworn in after a moving karakia and a performance by a Methodist Church choir.
In his maiden address, Dr Haynes stressed the need for consultation on the Dominion Rd upgrade and big developments such as the expansion of the St Lukes shopping mall.
He also emphasised paying special attention to "pockets of deprivation" in the area.
Nurse and mother of two Margi Watson was elected deputy chair.
- Isaac Davison
HIBISCUS AND BAYS
Old and new combined at the inaugural meeting of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board - members met in the offices of the former Rodney District Council.
Families of the eight members proudly filmed as each one read a declaration at a pine lectern engraved with "Rodney 2000".
John Kirikiri read his declaration in Maori, to applause. John Watson raise a laugh with a quip that his support team chose twilight netball instead of being at his meeting.
Patricia Reade, Auckland Council chief operating officer, chaired the meeting until Julia Parfitt was unanimously elected chairwoman. There were no other nominees.
Mrs Parfitt wasted no time in her new position. Before a deputy chair was nominated, she moved that in 18 months, the positions of chair and deputy be reviewed.
The motion was passed, then Gary Holmes was unanimously elected deputy chair.
- Amelia Wade
HENDERSON-MASSEY
A call for the Auckland Council to remove GST from household rates was made last night by new Henderson-Massey Local Board chairwoman Vanessa Neeson.
Addressing the board's inaugural meeting, Mrs Neeson said 15 per cent GST added more than $150 million to Aucklanders' rates bills.
"Removing it would return this money to the pockets of our ratepayers who would use it for milk, bread and school uniforms.
Mrs Neeson urged the new council to take over the campaign against "the tax on property tax" from the Waitakere City Council. "Our new council has a third of the country's people, so it has a lot more clout to petition the Government," she said.
Governments have argued since 1986 that GST on rates is the price paid for consumption of services provided by local councils.
The meeting elected a former mayor of Henderson and Waitakere, Assid Corban, as deputy chairman in what he said would be his final term after 45 years in local government.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown said to Mr Corban: "You started the year I was born, so I will certainly take your advice."
- Wayne Thompson
PAPAKURA
After closing the border and handing out passports in protest at the Super City subsuming the township of Papakura, the local community celebrated the inaugural meeting of their local board.
Papakura has done well out of the reforms. Former mayor Calum Penrose was elected to the Auckland Council and the ticket he backed, Papakura First, won five of the six seats on the Papakura Local Board.
Team Papakura member and former Papakura district councillor Caroline Conroy won the other seat.
John Robinson, a food technologist turned mortgage broker, was elected the new chairman. In his maiden address, Mr Robinson said he was very humbled and excited.
After nearly 30 years living, contributing and working in the community, he now looked forward to the opportunity to drive public outcomes for Papakura.
Mr Robinson said he had an interest in skills development and training, especially for young people, and wanted to establish an apprenticeship programme in the next three years. Another goal was a youth council. "As my mother said, idle hands create trouble."
Mr Penrose said when the Super City was proposed two years ago, there was a lot of animosity and fear in Papakura. But in the past year he had become resigned to it and recently had been impressed with what he had seen.
The Papakura Local Board extends from Drury in the south to Alfriston in the north, and includes Takanini, Hingaia, Red Hill, Pahurehure and the Papakura town centre.
- Bernard Orsman
HOWICK
The Howick Local Board's new leader said he had been looking forward to his swearing-in from the moment the Super City's structure was announced.
Michael Williams, a C&R member and former Manukau City councillor, was voted in as chairman unanimously.
Mr Williams said he had supported the Government's proposed changes because he felt they would allow Howick "to finally be independent and fight for itself". Howick was tired of being "lumped in with Manukau".
In his maiden address he said the board would strive to improve the lives of Howick people, be good stewards of ratepayer money, and make an effort to integrate all the board's diverse cultures into a vibrant community.
The new board was made up of mostly right-leaning candidates. But Mr Williams assured the large crowd at the meeting that "we will not be six C&R and three independents, we will be one team of nine working for our community".
He and the eight other members had already symbolically declared their "independence" 20 days ago in protest at Manukau City Council's rebuild of the Garden of Memories in the council's dying days.
Adele White, great-grand-daughter of original Howick settlers, was elected deputy.
- Isaac Davison
