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.
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Island Life
You mention that "all our candidates should be thankful that there is one place they can get coverage" and you suggest that The Marketplace is still an independent newspaper on Waiheke that is "free of political bias". You sold The Marketplace to Australian owned Fairfax a year and a half ago; in light of concerns that the Supercity under Rodney's tutelage will be bent on selling locally owned assets, what is your position on locally managed media, local infrastrucures (like wireless broadband, waste services), and the sale of other local Waiheke assets to international owners? Do residents want a Waiheke that is just another "marketplace"?
Hi Countrymike (but why go under a pseudonym?)
Thanks for your comments. I founded the Waiheke Marketplace as a support for businesses and an independent voice for the community. I am proud that Fairfax have continued the tradition of editorial independence. The issue with any media remains not one of ownership but of integrity and lack of bias no matter who owns what. Having created businesses that have created jobs on the island I know how hard it is to be successful here. I will support measures that make it easier for local businesses to be successful.
You talk about forming a team on the local board but I saw your behaviour at the market a couple of weeks ago and it was clear that you are the arrogant sort of person who wouldn't be able to work constructively with other candidates. You accused a several people who had met for the first time as being a cabal.
The market place publishes property listings everyweek. It is in the thrall of the real estate agents and never carries stories about inappropriate developments, mortgagee sales, the lack of good quality affordable housing or the busting of the housing bubble.
Thank you 'visitor' for your comment/s. Is it you who also posted the second comment on this topic? Again I have to ask why the pseudonym? If you were at the staged publicity event 'speed dating' you must either be a candidate or 'fellow traveller' because they were the only people there when I arrived. If you are going to hide under a pseudonym you do not have the courage of your vitriolic outpourings. What was 'rude' was ostensibly staging an event that purported to be for all candidates when only certain candidates were invited. I was not invited, nor was Faye Storer, nor was Herb Romaniuk, nor was Jim Hannan.
I see the cover story of this week's Waiheke Marketplace was about the lack of good quality, affordable housing.
An individual community member had an idea to hold the event, not any formal organization, and it was advertised in the paper. Candidates who were at the market were all invited to take part, including yourself.
Why did you refuse to take part when invited?
Will you be creating events yourself in the coming weeks and inviting all candidates to take part?
I have to admit the last comment is a fair call. I was there too and, as a staunch supporter of Jo Holmes, I was very disapointed to see the way she dealt with the group of candidates who had gathered for the 'Speed Dating'.
I talked to each of the participants and found that while they held a great many views in common they were certainly no 'Cabal'. Just responsible adults who were demonstrating a willingness to work together for the good of the community.
There are those of us on this island who, while we certainly wish to see progress made with environmental issues, also hope to see candidates whose focus is on job creation and economic success. Jo Holmes may well be such a candidate and I hope she can make the effort to be more agreeable with her competitors in future.
Are you the same 'Visitor' who posted the original comment. If not, again I ask why the pseudonym? Are you ashamed of your comments. You should be. I refer you to my reply to the originator of these comments. Does the bias implicit in the staged event not concern you? Do you understand the fundamental principles of democracy? Excluding certain candidates is not 'working together for the good of the community'.
Again I have to ask why the pseudonym? Are you the same 'Visitor' who made the first comment? Are you ashamed of your comments? You should be. I refer you to my reply to the first 'Visitor' comment. Does it not concern you that this staged event was biased? Do you not understand the principles of Democracy? Are you politically naive? Deliberately excluding people is not 'working together for the good of the community.'
Thanks for your comments 'Visitor'. Why the pseudonym. Stand up and be counted like me. I refer you to my reply to the first comment on this matter. When you're not included on the team it's hard to be a team player.
Jo, what's your position on Waiheke becoming a Biosphere reserve?