We need to build safer roads for everyone. With urgency.
There are too many near misses, serious injures and deaths on our roads. Children are scared to walk or cycle to school. This has to change - we need to build more physically separate cycle and walkways across Auckland now. As Emma McInnes says in this piece, with urgency.
Our council needs to listen so I'm here to hear your questions and concerns
We deserve a council that listens to the people, so as a candidate I'm making sure I'm available to hear your concerns and dreams for our city.
Community planting day a success
Another fantastic community planting day, this time at Ōhuiarangi / Pigeon Mountain. Great turnout with families, the Scouts and other groups helping out too.
Cockle Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association planning another busy year
Residents associations play a really important role in ensuring that locals are informed and have a voice. The Cockle Bay Residents and Rate Payers Association have had a very busy year which they celebrated their AGM on Saturday 27 July and I was pleased to attend.
My campaign video
I’ve launched my campaign video - a quick explanation of why I’m standing, what my priorities are and how my skills and experience will help make them happen.
Thefts from vehicles still on the increase
Last night was a wild and windy night for Botany Crime Watch Patrol. I saw this story in the Times just before we went out to help the police and our community.
Howick Youth Council continues to show leadership and action
Howick Youth Council recently held their annual youth summit, bringing over a hundred young people from 9 schools together to understand the issues that are important to them.
Our environment needs action at all levels
There’s definitely an appetite to do more for the environment. Over the weekend we had a number of events focused on the environment with Howick holding its first Ecoday event on Saturday, followed by tree planting with Macleans College and then Bucklands Beach clean up on Sunday with the Howick Youth Council.
Localism the council's greatest weakness
Last night I attended the Howick Local Board meeting and Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore was present to provide an update on regional issues, starting off by noting that localism was the council's greatest weakness. This sums up a lot of the issues that we heard last night but also throughout the city.
We've planted a million trees Auckland!
It was a stunning day for tree planting in Mangemangeroa Reserve on Sunday 16 June when I joined Howick Youth Council who had organised tree planting with support from Friends of Mangemangeroa Reserve.
We need more passion, ambition and leadership to make Auckland everything it could be.
Auckland is a fantastic place to live but we need more passion, ambition and leadership to make it everything it could be.
Ormiston Town Centre is coming (soon)!
We've all seen the residental developments around Ormiston and Flat Bush but it's exciting to see the long awaited town centre happening.
We're making progress on transport, but there's a way to go
Auckland has some serious transport issues but there is light at the end of the congested tunnel. And that light is public transport and active modes like cycling and walking.
Lloyd Elsmore Skate Park in desperate need of upgrade
Lloyd Elsmore has a skate park but its in desperate need of attention. A small group of us caught up this afternoon to see what can be done.
It doesn't take an expert to see that the skate park is tired. There's big cracks and splits in the concrete, the rails are worn and the surface is rough which wears down tires (and riders if they fall off).
Building CRL is an investment in our future
Getting the City Rail Link built is correctly a top priority for Auckland Council. It will transform transport across our city (even for non-train users). It’s expensive and the project costs have risen by $1B to $4.4B. Auckland Council was asked to cover half of it.
Ending domestic violence will take a community approach
Domestic violence is a terrible scourge on our communities and families. We've all heard the news, seen the statistics but its ruining lives, destroying futures.
David White is one such person - he lost his daughter, murdered by her husband. Instead of retiring, his wife and him have been raising his grandchildren, dealing with the aftermath.
Auckland's growth needs to be managed so local voice not lost
It's no secret that Auckland has been growing at a tremendous rate, in many cases faster than our infrastructure can keep up with. It's put a massive strain on our housing, transport, water and environment as well as the people who live here.
Cockle Bay Domain restored by community
On Saturday the weather was perfect for community planting day at Cockle Bay Domain as volunteers planted around 300 natives.
Local Board Meetings great opportunity to hear from community
I make an effort to attend every Local Board meeting. It's a great opportunity to hear from locals, on their concerns and ideas for our community. And tonight was no different.
Auckland needs a bold vision for stadiums
I don't for a moment think that stadiums are our most pressing issue but leaving issues till we're desperate isn't how we should be running our city (despite our track record).