I'm standing as the Mana Movement candidate for Auckland Mayor for four main reasons. I'm sick of Auckland's awful traffic; I want every family to have a decent home; I want Aucklanders to earn enough to keep their families safe and healthy and I want us to share the burden of rates and council charges more fairly.
These are the four biggest issues facing families in Auckland and Mana has four bold solutions that will not increase overall rates.
We all know the problems with Auckland traffic, but the Government's solution - roads, roads and more roads with a smaller chunk for public transport in seven years' time - is a dead-end answer from the 1950s.
Mana's solution is free and frequent buses and trains with free WiFi, which would all cost less than half the proposed spending on big roading projects. Most importantly, it would deliver gridlock-free travel in less than 12 months. No rates increases, no extra fuel taxes, no road tolls, just two great choices - travel on free public transport without traffic congestion or drive a car on gridlock-free roads. The choice is yours. And we'd be helping the environment at the same time. Fifty-six per cent of Auckland's greenhouse gas emissions come from cars and trucks. Public transport is far cleaner and greener and would significantly reduce Auckland's carbon footprint.
Mana will also ensure Auckland City leads the way with liveable wages through ensuring every council employee and every employee of a council contractor is paid a minimum of the living wage - currently $18.40 an hour - again without increasing rates.
