Andrea Watkinson
Month
From thisisColossal.com
Remember when it used to be weird to steal a photo from someone online and post it again without their permission?
My, how times have changed.
So, apart from Wikipedia, I haven’t been able to find any decent information on the mayoral candidates for Auckland’s “Super” City, so I thought I’d throw something together.
Most (not all) of them are listed on the elections website – although there’s not much on there about them. I don’t know about you, but I’m quite keen to find out about the policies and values of the people that I’m trusting to run my city. I’m sure they’re not all going to knock on my door and disturb my Saturday morning so I’d like to see each of them put together some kind of policy online (you don’t need a campaign budget for that) or AT LEAST complete their profile on http://www.elections2010.co.nz
Listed in alphabetical order:
Aileen Austin – Nothing online for her, the first of many no policies.
John Banks - “Policies"
1. "Transport” - Improvement of Ferry Services, improvement of rail services, strategic roading improvements, strategic cycling improvements, safer and more enjoyable taxi services (very hard to keep personal opinion aside for this one).
2. “Local Democracy” - Promotion of local board funding and powers, local parks and reserves (not sure what he’s going to do with these), address concerns of local iwi, urban Maori, other sectors to with closely with Mayors office (charity and not for profit, gay, education, business), making CCO’s accountable to elected representatives. Promotion of Local boards online. Promotion of transparency and accountability.
3. “Transition of Services, and finding efficiencies” - Focus on metropolitan areas of AKL using MRF (?) recycling facility in Onehunga (I have no idea what that means), ensure that centralised call centre services maintain local interest to assist in solving requests for service, demand ratepayer savings, “John will not sell strategic assets of the new Auckland Council. He intends to grow these assets for future generations of Aucklanders”.
4. “Defending our city’s heritage and character” - Continue to defend heritage and character areas, ensure urban design oversight, promote the reduction of street clutter, promote a policy of improved pedestrianisation (I didn’t even know that was a word) in our business and mainstreet areas “cars should come second to the safety and amenity of people”.
I lost the will to live after reading that much, have a look at his website for further info.
Marlene Barr - “Top 5 issues”
1. Healthy environments
2. Wise use of resources
3. Transport
4. Community developments
5. Mental health
Penny Bright - The only thing I could find on Penny that was noteworthy is that she’s described on a “blog” as a Professional Protester. Nice.
Len Brown - “What I stand for”
1. Completing the work to build fully integrated transport system linking our roads, rail, airports and shipping ports, with a significant upgrade of public transport.
2. Supporting the business community through the development of high-speed broadband, better regulations, greater support for tourism and events, and a much greater focus on the export sector and business development.
3. Public ownership of assets is crucial to our long-term economic growth. Maintaining our interests in the airport, port and water are crucial to developing those assets for the benefit of all of Auckland.
4. Protecting and enhancing facilities such as libraries, pools and parks, and working towards, over time, extending the free entry to swimming pools and John Walker Field of Dreams policies which currently exist in Manukau across the city
5. Building on the significant work led by Waitakere, and picked up by the other cities. Sustainability must be central to the new city.
There are more, they’re all the same as everyone elses. Have a look at his site.
Hugh Chapman - “Top 5 issues”
1. Reduce Congestion and Pollution
2. A new Transportation Strategy
3. Development Ideas
4. Direct and Monitor Council Controlled Organisations
5. Address Problems (insert generic policy statement here)
Colin Craig - “Policies”
1. I’ll give back 50% of my mayor’s salary to ratepayers.
2. I’ll commit to finding a different solution than the 25% : 25% : 50% offer made by the government to solve the leaky homes crisis; one that is fairer for both victims of the disaster and innocent ratepayers.
3. I’ll minimise your rates and other costs, like water.
4. I’ll give you a cost benefit analysis before undertaking any large expenditure.
5. I’ll protect your local identity.
6. I’ll empower local boards to make local decisions, including rates and expenditure.
7. I’ll facilitate local initiatives, not block or direct them.
8. I’ll make sure the mayor’s office has an independent audit facility to investigate complaints, especially in relation to core services.
9. I’ll openly disclose the percentage of rates spent locally in each local area.
10. I’ll oppose using rates to bulk fund central city projects as a general rule.
11. I’ll hold referendums on major issues with annual input from ratepayers into spending priorities.
Nga Dave - Nga has no online presence. No tick for him.
Harry Fong - I think Harry looks nice, but no policies for you!
Shannon Gillies - Nothing to report for Shannon - no policies for you!
Vinnie Kahui - He’s popular on stuff.co.nz but no policies for you!
Alan McCulloch - Yay he’s mentioned on Wikipedia! But still, no policies for you!
Steve McDonald - This “no policies” thing is getting a bit old..
Willie Morton – Still no policies.
Vanessa Neeson - She seems quite popular according to google but nothing showing her policies - Doom for YOU.
Phil O'Connor – Nope, no policies.
Simon Prast – “Manifesto” (Oh look! Policies!)
Raymond Presland – Back to no policies!
Mark Ross – UPDATE! He threw together a site! Still don’t know what your policies are but yay you! :D
Annalucia Vermunt – Arrrrrrgh no policies!!
Andrew Williams – “Issues”
David Willmott – Lack of internet presence – no policies!
Wayne Young – NO POLICIES!
Seriously people, how HOW do you expect people to vote for you if you have no “transparent and accountable” policies or top 5 issues or a manifesto.
Personal opinion - the year is 2010, if your only internet presence is your “oldfriends” or “linkedin” profile, you don’t have a hope of getting any where near enough votes to win this farce.
If I’ve completely missed something somewhere on one of the mayoral hopefuls, please let me know. I would LOVE to be proven wrong about their lack of information.
Hope you found this helpful, leave me feedback (preferably not negative) if you want!