IT’S A TEAM EFFORT... WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT OUR CONTRIBUTORS

CONNOR CRAWFORD

I am a working artist and photographer with a colourful and rhythmic perspective. I enjoy shooting the front covers of Ponsonby News.

DAVID HARTNELL - MNZM

For the last 53 years I’ve been a freelance entertainment journalist and author. I’ve lived in the Grey Lynn area for over three decades; I have met and interviewed some amazing people.

GAEL BALDOCK

We each follow our moral compass shaped by training. Mine is sculpting, architecture, sociology, anthropology and betterment of our shared world by community advocacy… and saving trees.

HELENE RAVLICH

A freelance writer and copywriter for almost 20 years, I have written for publications all over the world and couldn’t imagine myself in any other job.

KEN RING

My yearly NZ Weather Almanacs began in 1999. During the tragic 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, my work created international interest. I currently live in Ponsonby.

LISA PRAGER

A life long advocate for community issues, I am passionate about protecting and enhancing our natural environment and built heritage.

LUCY KENNEDY

I am a young local writer who loves to read! Each month you will find my reviews of new books for people who love to read as much as I do.

MIKE LEE

I am the councillor for Waitematā & Gulf. A former seafarer, former chair of the ARC, conservationist, PT advocate, and author. I have represented the Ponsonby area since 1992.

PHIL PARKER

Journalist and published author, I have had a career involving both wine writing and hosting boutique wine tours in the Auckland region.

PUNEET DHALL

I am an Aucklander of Indian origin, Punjabi and Sikh. I have a keen interest in food, wine and politics.

ROSS THORBY - QSM

I have had a wanderlust for travel ever since I was old enough to own a passport. Since I discovered cruising, I have become unstoppable.

STEPHEN PARSONS

I am currently undertaking a Master’s of Health Science at Auckland University, looking to undertake a PhD in Chinese Medicine, while still working full-time at The Health Clinic.

Lunch: Friday and Saturday Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday

23 Ponsonby Road T: 021 379 700 kolauckland.co.nz

Limn Gallery is excited to announce our upcoming show titled 'Monochome' taking place at 119 Ponsonby Road from the 15th to the 30th of July. Prepare to be captivated by a mesmerising display of original works where the power of black and white takes centre stage.

This extraordinary showcase unveils an eclectic collection of original works, all available for purchase, from some of the best urban artists from around the world. Immerse yourself in the raw beauty of black and white, a timeless palette that effortlessly commands attention and provokes introspection.

Whether you are an avid art enthusiast, a seasoned collector, or simply a curious soul seeking inspiration, this exhibition promises to leave an indelible mark on your artistic sensibilities. Join us as we celebrate the global language of art, transcending cultures and continents, and revel in the awe-inspiring beauty of original black and white masterpieces.

MEET SOME OF THE ARTISTS:

MadC's graffiti-inspired style features vivid colours, dynamic calligraphy, and transparent layers that capture the energy of street art on a massive scale. Her work has been showcased in renowned publications like National Geographic, FAZ Magazine, Saatchi Magazine, GO, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, The Source, and GraffitiArt Magazine, among others.

HelioBray is an ever-evolving artist, continuously exploring his unique form of artistic expression. With a natural inclination towards alchemy and a deep empathy, he embodies the fusion of technical mastery and emotional expression. Throughout the years, HelioBray has traversed various stages and styles within the realm of graffiti, skillfully blending different techniques along the way.

ASKEW ONE's art evolves through absorbing influences, pushing boundaries, and exploring new ideas. His post-graffiti practice encompasses portraiture, text, abstraction, and urban investigations. He seamlessly shifts between screens, streets, and studios, constantly balancing aesthetics and concepts.

Ash Hayner, also known as Wolfdog, is an Atlanta-based artist who began his career as a graphic designer. He has developed a minimalist visual language, blending expressionism with technological layering. Hayner's work spans design, fine art, and murals, earning recognition in galleries and festivals worldwide.

Nerone pushes the boundaries of street art with his unique blend of floral and abstract styles. His captivating works radiate vibrant colours and dynamic motion, delivering a positive message. Featured in global events and commissioned by international companies, Nerone's art spreads joy across cities worldwide.

RAUL paints with instinctive speed and vibrant colours. His art materialises emotions, capturing faces encountered during travels, streets explored, and unfiltered thoughts. His work evokes intense sensations and reflects the boundless possibilities that arise from human connections.

DOES expands his artistic exploration by integrating graffiti artefacts into paintings, plaster sculptures and collage works. He treats graffiti as an archive, physically extracting samples from spray-painted walls. This contemporary urban archaeology showcases his roots and the impact of graffiti culture, employing scientific tools to emphasise his story.

Markus Genesius continually evolves his writing style, blending tradition with innovation. He refines established forms and explores new possibilities, challenging the observer with complex compositions and dynamic structures. His art exudes a unique aesthetic, often eliciting a "WOW!" reaction upon first encounter, making it a personal signature of his work.

Andrew J. Steel is a New Zealand contemporary artist who focuses on the art of storytelling. "An artist's role is to live a remarkable life and report back on it in their work. I make art to learn more about people & the world, then retell these stories in my work to offer perspective & peace - both for myself and for others seeking comfort through the arts."

MIKE LEE: THE AIRPORT DEBATE AND WHY SELLING ROBS AUCKLAND’S FUTURE GENERATIONS

Edmund Burke once described society as a “contract between three interested parties, the living, the dead and the unborn.”

I was reminded of this during the protracted debate on the sale of Auckland Council’s airport shares. Auckland International Airport was built in the early 1960s by Auckland local authorities and the government. It was opened in January 1966 by then Prime Minister Keith Holyoake amidst much fanfare and Auckland civic pride. Managed by the Auckland Regional Authority, it quickly became the busiest airport in the country and soon Oceania.

As part of the Rogernomics' reforms of the 1980s, the airport was corporatised, the shares split between the government and Auckland local bodies. Soon after, Papakura District sold its shares to the government thereby giving it majority ownership. In 1998 the Shipley government used this to privatise its shares. North Shore City soon followed. In 2002, Mayor John Banks’ first budget proposed to sell all Auckland City’s shares but in the face of widespread opposition, eventually sold half. In response, Manukau City under Sir Barry Curtis bought up more shares to block a takeover by a foreign interest. The remaining shares, along with the Ports of Auckland, were gifted to the new ‘Super City’ in 2010.

This was the situation when, soon after his election, Mayor Wayne Brown announced his intention to sell all the shares. In a case of ‘history repeats’, last month, just as in 2002, the council voted to sell just under half its remaining portfolio.

I, along with Councillors Fuli, Filipaiana, Dalton, Bartley, Leoni, Walker and Watson argued long and hard to retain all the shares. This for three reasons:

No public mandate. Pro-sale mayor and councillors gave no indication to voters of their intention to privatise assets during the recent elections. For my part, opposition to selling airport shares, along with the port and the downtown carpark was an explicit commitment in my election manifesto. Also, the majority of local boards opposed the sale. Finally, the largest proportion of public responses to the council’s consultation questionnaire was for ‘no sale’. (And on the subject of election commitments, I and my seven colleagues moved unsuccessfully for a residential rates’ increase of 6.7%, 1% lower than that proposed by the mayor, but with $140m of additional debt as opposed to the mayor’s $80m — (now $105m.) Regarding election promises, Labour/Green voters will be disappointed at some of their councillors who betrayed election promises to oppose selling public assets.

Legally questionable process. Airport shares are deemed a strategic asset and therefore the council was required under the Local Government Act to adopt a ‘special consultative procedure’ before selling them. Along with other process failings, the council overlooked resolving to do this. Under the Act, council is also required to provide a ‘fair representation’ of key issues in its consultation ‘summary of information’. The loaded questions in council’s consultation material were anything but ‘fair’. Retaining the shares was always conflated with higher rates increases and higher debt, but the financial benefits of retention, including this year’s and future dividends, were never mentioned. Given the bias and the push-polling tactics of the council, it’s all the more remarkable that the largest portion of Aucklanders voted to keep all the shares.

Short-sighted financial decision. Not mentioned in council publicity was that since 2010, despite the Covid years, the value of airport shares has increased by some 360%, benefiting Auckland Council by some $1.7b, comprising $344m in dividends and some $1.4b in capital gains. I reject the argument constantly pushed by council finance bureaucrats that holding airport shares ‘costs’ the council interest, any more than keeping the Town Hall or our parks. It is revealing that at the start of the ‘Super City’, council debt was $3b, now it’s closer to $12b and that has absolutely nothing to do with airport shares but much to do with profligacy and inept financial management.

Had the legacy councils retained all their original shares, Auckland ratepayers this year could have expected $117m in dividends instead of $42b. Now, because of the partsale decision, this will be reduced to $16m. That being said, managing to hold on to most of the council’s shares (11% of the total) in the face of months of intense pressure was something of victory for Auckland public opinion and the tenacity of those councillors who refused to sell out. In the end the mayor was astute enough to compromise on the share sale and to withdraw his unpopular cuts, but I suspect total sale remains on his agenda as well as selling the Port company. In other words, to asset strip Auckland.

;To return to Edmund Burke and his social contract – the shares in Auckland International Airport, like the Ports of Auckland, and prized civic facilities were handed down to us by the visionary generation who built Auckland. They should be managed wisely and handed on to coming generations of Aucklanders. That’s the difference between inter-generational equity and inter-generational theft. (MIKE LEE)  PN www.mikelee.co.nz