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MIKE LEE: TRUE LIFE - STRANGER THAN FICTION
LOCAL NEWS MIKE LEE: TRUE LIFE - STRANGER THAN FICTION
True life can be sometimes stranger than fiction, can’t it?
Who would have dreamed that I would be back as the councillor for Waitematā and Gulf only a few months ago? Certainly not me. The Super City imposed on Auckland twelve years ago is not working. In terms of both financial performance and democratic accountability, it is clearly failing.
The remarkable outcome of the recent elections shows that the people, especially of this ward, have had enough and are demanding change. In Wayne Brown we have a new mayor and a refreshed governing body. Essentially we have been given a mission to save Auckland. We must not fail.
My thanks to all those people who supported me in this campaign, here in the city and out in the Gulf Islands. A special thanks to all those volunteers led by Puneet Dhall who worked so hard for this result. My success was due to local people who put national politics and labels to one side because they recognised the council and its CCOs were out of control.
They wanted accountability - not apologists for the council and AT. They recognised that the only way ordinary people have any chance of standing up to the system was to come together. That’s why the ‘Auckland Independents’ was formed. It’s high time we put Auckland first – not Wellington.
The election outcome is a firm riposte to the government’s ill-advised National Policy Statement on Urban Development which if it proceeds will effectively destroy our special character suburbs. I campaigned long and hard on this and while I have heard predictable ‘tut tutting’ about my ‘broad church’ of support, bear in mind the attack on our special character areas is not just government policy, it is a firm policy alliance between the Labour, National and Green parties.
This has now been firmly rejected by the people of this ward because nowhere in New Zealand would these policies do more damage than here - the historic heart of Auckland. The people of Auckland Central have spoken. The MPs and the council would be wise to heed the message.
I intend to ensure that this is acted on by the council. Hopefully, rather than inexpertly trying to rig the supply side of the market to somehow engineer cheaper housing prices, the government will stop relying on property developers and begin to act like a genuine Labour government and start actually building houses as Labour governments famously once did. Also on my agenda is the need to address planning rules which govern consents for helicopter landing sites. There is widespread public opposition to these right across the electorate, from Westmere to Waiheke to Great Barrier Island. I am presently getting expert advice on how to tackle this problem which has been ignored for too long by those in authority. I will be consulting with the local boards, Waitematā, Waiheke and Aotea-Great Barrier on my planned way forward.
Another major concern is the deeply unpopular Auckland Transport. The new mayor has already put this organisation on notice. Changes around the boardroom table will not be enough. Thoroughgoing root and branch reform is needed.
In the meantime in response to complaints, especially from Grey Lynn and Surrey Crescent small businesses and even cyclists, about the ‘Inner West Cycleways and Street Improvements Project’, I have written to the mayor asking for a moratorium on funding for this and AT’s other big spending projects until the council‘s finances are sorted out. AT does not listen, therefore we must turn off the funding tap until it does.
Then there is the state of the Hauraki Gulf, which is facing an ecological crisis. The government’s response touted as ‘Revitalising the Gulf’ frankly will not. The government is proposing 14 so-called ‘High Protection Areas’ (HPA) from which all fishing will be banned - except for ‘customary fishing’ by Māori. The Seafloor Protection Areas (SPA) will ban bottom trawling, but fishing from boats will continue.
Two ‘Protected Areas’, adjacent to Leigh and Cathedral Cove marine reserves will come under intense pressure to be open to ‘customary fishing’. None of these concepts are yet legal; they are experimental, and because of their mixed objectives and discriminatory nature they will be controversial. Moreover they will do precious little for nature conservation.
The Friends of the Hauraki Gulf, which I chair, is running a petition calling for the Hākaimangō-Matiatia (NW) Marine Reserve, which was supported by 93% of 1303 submitters during its recent public notification through the Marine Reserves Act, be included in the plan to give it some credibility. Again, the government would be wise to listen. A council term is 156 weeks. That’s time I have given myself to make a real difference. My thanks again. It’s good to be back. (MIKE LEE) PN
www.mikelee.co.nz
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THE FESTIVAL IS ON…
WITH MORE DIVERSITY, CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC EVENTS THAN EVER
Celebrate diversity at the annual community-organised Grey Lynn Park Festival on Saturday 19 November from 9.30am to 6pm.
Come for your Christmas shopping, eat from around the world, enjoy our mix of free music and family friendly fun at Grey Lynn Park, Dryden Street, Grey Lynn.
New Zealand art, craft, fine fare, music and dance – it’s all there to enjoy without burning a hole in your pocket. Stroll through the gypsy village and meet up with those who prefer the mobile home to the city pad. Kids can enjoy Larry and Rosie’s Fun Fair, Farmyard Fun Circus and other activities.
Discover new market stalls. Come and listen and talk to experts at the TALK TENT on environmental sustainability, New Zealand Herbal Medicine, Qigong, Essentially Men’s Group, Grey Lynn Cohaus Community Composting.
So much to enjoy: watch out for the bin fairies and clown doctors; Machine Park gives lovers of steam engines a treat and a yarn; engage with the Circus Kumarani, the little entertainment company, song writers for climate change; be uplifted by Kimata’s African sound and a host of other roaming performers.
For the main stage we have a great line-up of live music this year with some up-and-coming young musicians from the greater Auckland area including:
Yah Yah – Coast Arcade – Skinnyandsoft – Levyne – Who Shot Scott – Franko Heke – Base FM showcase - Voices of Ukraine and the Grey Lynn School Kapa Haka Group.
Plus the Base FM Soundsystem stage all day from 10am – 6pm.
But wait, there’s more: a smaller stage featuring The Ministry of Folk - grab a place on the grass and enjoy an eclectic mix of some of Auckland’s top acoustic musicians.
Remember we are a zero-waste-festival, so while having fun with the bin fairies put your waste in the right bin and we will compost it or recycle it. The festival runs from 9.30am to 6pm. There will be an EFTPOS machine but put cash in your pocket, grab that sun hat and a smile on your dial.
If you wish to get involved with next year's event, send us your brief CV or ideas. Email: greylynnparkfestival@gmail.com
The Grey Lynn Park Festival is a community event that is managed by a registered non-profitable trust called the Grey Lynn Park Festival Trust.
www.greylynnparkfestival.org
