Local Democracy
Ad discusses a phenomenon where Local Government is having a greater and greater effect on New Zealand’s development. But local politicians are having less and less effect.
local government
auckland supercity
Collins and the “monster” board
Idiot turn of phrase or deliberately inflammatory? You be the judge.
Phil Goff for Super City Mayor
Phil Goff has formally announced that he is seeking the Auckland Super City Mayoralty as an independent.
Len Brown stands down
Len Brown has announced that he will not contest the Auckland Mayoralty next year.
Five years as a united Auckland
Auckland Council is delivering a publication to all Auckland households celebrating five years of Auckland super city. But is there any reason to celebrate?
The left in Auckland
Ad comments on the change of National’s approach to local government in Auckland and suggests that there should be cooperation amongst the parties on the left locally and between the central organisations of the parties.
Pressure mounts to force Auckland to open up land
Serious Fraud Office, Productivity Commission, Council failings, under-supply of houses, Developer Greed… a recipe for disaster
Future Auckland
There are rumours that National is looking to organise a new regional ticket, Future Auckland, to contest next year’s local body elections in Auckland.
Auckland Council debates the TPPA
Auckland Council yesterday passed some seemingly non contentious resolutions requesting for the text of the TPPA to be released and seeking a response from the Government about resolutions that had been passed a couple of years earlier. But the resolutions were opposed vigorously by right wing councillors who then complained about the time and expense the debate consumed.
Nats endorse Goff for mayor?
The NBR reckons the Nats are tacitly endorsing Phil Goff for mayor of Auckland.
Andrew Little: A better future for Auckland
The text of a speech Andrew Little gave to the Committee for Auckland about Auckland’s future.
English: it’s all the planners’ fault
A guest post from Ad analysing Bill English’s speech where he blames planners for Auckland’s housing woes.
Oil drilling in Maui’s Dolphin’s habitat
The Government this week proposed at considerable expense the purchase of a couple of panda. But at the same time the Government is again proposing to allow the drilling for oil in the habitat of Maui’s Dolphin which is facing extinction.
Auckland Council Mayoral candidates – Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas who has close ties with the National Party has announced that he is going to run for the Auckland Mayoralty next year.
In face of share market meltdown, Govt’s options limited
John Key says New Zealand has options in the face of a share market meltdown and is not like Greece (well that’s a relief). Simon Louisson asks how real are John Key’s options? Thanks to this Government’s profligate past spending, including irresponsible tax cuts, our options have narrowed drastically.
Look at the future of families
In South Korea the colliding intersection between economics, tradition and demographics is probably at its most extreme. However the same kinds of effects are being seen all over the developed world, and increasingly in parts of the underdeveloped world – and here.
How can Auckland Supercity reduce residential rates?
What can be done to reduce Auckland’s residential rates take to make Auckland City a fairer, more sustainable and more affordable city?
Auckland Council and the latest rates rise
Auckland Council’s budget which should have been passed on a pro forma vote succeeded this week by the narrowest of margins with a transport levy that Sky City pays the same amount as a Piha resident and where the share of rates that business pays continues to decrease. Time to rethink supercity?
Hosking wants Auckland Council deposed
From the I kid you not files Mike Hosking believes that Auckland Council is to blame for the housing crisis, not immigration, not favourable tax conditions for landlords, not the global financial crisis and not the lack of restrictions on home ownership. And he believes that Nick Smith should step in and Roll Auckland Council.
Ports of Auckland is out of control
Ports of Auckland’s recent behaviour outlines a major weakness with Auckland super city. Corporate interests are able to take precedence over the wishes of our democratically elected representatives.
Len Brown is toast
Bernard Orsman has reported in the Herald today that Len Brown’s campaign team no longer back him and are considering support for a Phil Goff run for the mayoralty.
Happy birthday Auckland
Happy Birthday Auckland. Body in The Herald comments on “A splendid anniversary”…
Save the Pohutukawa Six
Despite local opposition Auckland Transport intends to fell six prominent Pohutukawa to make way for an extra road lane with dubious transport benefits.
Why John Banks must never be the Super City Mayor
The Herald today suggested John Banks is thinking of another tilt at the Super City Mayoralty. This video shows why he should never be trusted with this position.
Unaffordable housing & the culture of greed
Rental housing remains unaffordable for many. The problem is the greed of investors & speculators, supported by a culture in which housing investment is seen as a way to individual prosperity.
First they sold Auckland, then the rest of NZ…?
A quiet shift in a dodgy Key govt-SkyCity deal: TVNZ land, sold to SkyCity for its convention centre, is to be used for a new hotel. Plus: non-mandated deal between Auckland Transport Authority & a US corporate – intense surveillance of Aucklanders’ diverse activities.
Helen Kelly on Vote Chat: Questions for PoA & Key?
Helen Kelly is interviewed on Vote Chat. Kelly raises questions about the Ports of Auckland & Key’s role in Dirty Politics. She has read some of Dirty Politics, & was axed from today’s the Nation Panel, then replaced by Josie Pagani.[Updated]
Message from Christchurch: Send Help Now
Power has been concentrated into the figure of one man – a man who has in recent weeks shown that he thinks he is above the rule of law. You might think your one vote doesn’t make much of a difference – but it is everything to us here. Another three years of National and Brownlee, and we might not have a vote at a local level at all.
Auckland’s forgotten West
Almost a week after last week’s storm, some people in West Auckland are only just getting their power back on, while others are still without hot water. Some parts of Auckland’s west are becoming increasingly neglected under John Key’s watch, especially since the centralising-moves following Hide’s blueprint for the “supercity”.
The neoliberal power game: cities for sale
An NZ Herald article about Mai Chen’s book on Auckland Council, supports big power, big money, big competition, and economic activities focused on anything but the production of material needs and wants. It ignores the struggling precariat living with housing, income, transport and energy poverty.
Second class citizens. Beggars belief
Out of sight-out of mind seems to be the logic of Auckland City’s bylaw to come into effect next month, to outlaw begging on the streets. The clear message from Native Affairs report, ‘Walk on By‘, last night, is that the bylaw is the result of pressure from the comfortable middle classes. [Update: bylaw only says it’s an offence where begging causes a nuisance]
Auckland Council CCO 2 step
Mai Chen argues that the current review of Auckland Council CCOs will put them on a tighter leash. Tony Holman argues against the whole CCO set up: it’s a trojan horse, 2 step towards privatisation of Auckland assets. Aucklanders need to have their say. Vote out Team Key to prevent such sales.
A glorious waste of money for the titillation of perverts
The fiasco of the wet dick and the perverts shuddered to a conclusion yesterday with the direct bill of around $250,000. Len Brown was strong-armed into paying $40,000 for the audit which turned up nothing much except that his wife brought a lot of hotel nights. Questions remain about who was responsible for the waste caused by the lack of scoping of the external audit. Looks like dirty politics at the ratepayers expense.
Auckland Council’s next 100 days
Auckland Council probably has only 100 days left to sort itself out. Otherwise it is going to be a long three years where the prospects of good being achieved will be poor.
Local govt is on the move
The Local Government Commission is currently proposing to crush a number of local bodies together into the same kind of mess that the Auckland super city has been suffering. Undemocratic and divorced from anything local because only a wealthy few can consider standing and those few can ignore any local wishes from the token local boards. The only defense that citizens have against the LGC is to force binding poll. Be ready to do so for Northland and Hastings/Napier.