On the 1st of November a new form of Auckland city comes into existance. Before then you'll have the chance to vote for a mayor, a councillor and a new community board. There are 18 candidates standing for 5 positions on the Waiheke Community Board.
In this first of two opportunities to hear from the candidates Waiheke radio has given each of them two minutes to answer the question, "Why should Waiheke people vote for you?"
After you've listened to the statements we encourage you to make comment and ask questions. Later in the election process we will ask each candidate back on-air for an interview which will include your questions. We look forward to your input.
UPDATE: We have now conducted an interview with this candidate incorporating some of the community feedback and questions. Take a listen
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Island Life
Colin, what's your position on Waiheke becoming a Biosphere reserve?
If elected I will table a motion at the first Local Board meeting along the following lines:
"Waiheke Local Board resolves to take all steps necessary for the Island to be nominated as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. It requests Auckland Council to initiate a Local Bill asking the Government to make the nomination. It also resolves to create a Working Party to propose a membership of the Waiheke Biosphere Reserve Management Committee and to determine how it should be funded."
With a committed Local Board, i believe that we could achieve Biosphere Reserve status within the lifetime of the first Board (i.e. three years).
Are you a single issue candidate?
Absolutely not.
I have chaired Friends of Miro Valley for 5 years and spent days in the Environment Court understanding planning issues. I have chaired Artworks Community Theatre for three years and understand the need for a new arts and culture policy for the island. I have worked in transport and am worried by the divisive approach to transport taken by the Community Board. I believe in affordable housing and am researching legal schemes whereby this can be enacted. I belong to or support seven other local organisations.
But I do believe that the Unesco Biosphere Resercve proposal is by far the biggest and most far-reaching policy issue facing the island at this time. In local government terms, Auckland is just about to get a whole lot bigger. If we don't do the same we are going to have no voice at all.
Thats's good enough for me Colin. Not getting my vote!!
Hi Colin
I'm interested in knowing more about the candidates 'collective' view on some of the 'things' that help people work effectively together, so have posted the same 3 questions to all candidates
cheers - dougal
1. What do you see as being the 3-4 key ‘things/areas’ the new board should focus on or understand within the first 90 days of being elected?
2. What do you believe are the 3-5 key capabilities/skills the new board need to have/develop in order to work effectively
3. What would be your answer to the question “WHY does the community board exist?” (WHY it’s meant to be doing whatever it does)
Note: Colin's response below - he had trouble logging in so I have posted it for him, that is why the comment is attributed to Chris.
1. In the first 90 days I think the Board will have to (a) develop a team approach by negotiating what we can and can't achieve as a group, (b) develop a workable way to include other members of the community in the processes of the Board (for example, by creating forums in different areas and perhaps allowing these to be chaired by non-Board members), (c) develop an effective strategy for negotiating with Auckland Council and CCOs -- we are unlikely to have been given the power to do many of things, unless people have been lobbying the Transition Agency (I have but I haven't heard of many other people doing it).
2. Key capabilities are: the ability to digest a huge amount of paperwork and deal with committees; the ability to keep in touch with the electorate; the ability to look ahead, identify important issues and deal with them early; and the ability to maintain a positive sense of direction.
3. Why does the Local Board exist? A very good question! I think Islanders see it as the political representation of the Island. To work well, it needs a long-term vision which should reflect what most islanders think and feel, but the Board will need to play some leadership role in this. My personal vision is to protect the environment and way of life of the Island so that future generations can enjoy it as we have. But I may find that other Board members do not share this, then we will have to find a constructive way forward. I don't think it is there just to respond to proposals coming from Auckland Council. It needs its own agenda and should be free to approach other organisations and agencies if that helps promote Waiheke's interests.