Auckland Mayoral candidate Efeso Collins, who is endorsed by the Labour and Green parties, wants a mayoral taskforce to challenge the Government to stump up more funding for climate action
The Auckland Mayoralty is an 80 hour a week job. At 76, Wayne Brown won't have the energy or the skills to accomplish anything significant, (& I'm speaking as a 75 year old). Efeso Collins is the face of Auckland's future.
its a bit rich to see that Collins lists himself as an independent on the voting forms. He has the full support of Labour and all their mailing lists, PR army and now direct endorsement of the PM. We also know that with Labour endorsement comes the obligation to follow the party line. This is deliberate dishonesty.
I disagree. He threw his hat in the ring under his own steam while Labour were still trying to figure out what they were doing (and given the choice, I’m sure they’d have thrown their support behind Richard Hills if he’d taken a tilt at the job).
In 1936 the National Party set up the C & R Association to contest all of Auckland's local body seats under the slogan, 'keep politics out of local government.' Because there was no ward system back then, wealthy C & R councillors from the eastern suburbs dominated council decisions with crack pot decisions such as pumping the city's sewage into the harbour & that the only transport system Auckland needed was cars & motorways - they blocked Mayor Robbie's rapid rail transit plans. Auckland is still playing catch up due the C & R's/National's short sighted stupidity.
I agree and its not all single sided. Weve seen the vitriol and absolute hatred between the two council blocks expressed openly in public meetings. The polarisation and egos are appalling on both sides and Auckland ratepayers are not well served.
The mayor has little real power to stop block voting along party political lines. I dont know the solution but perhaps a term with a case hardened shock treatment mayor might bring about a shift. Its a gamble of course, Brown is divisive, but none of the other candidates are likely to move the dial. Auckland has stalled and crime and costs are out of control. A one term circuit breaker to get things moving again could be just what is needed.
If that rankles the current member for Rongotai is standing as an independent in the Wellington Mayoralty race, when he is unequivocally aligned to Labour. At least in Collins' case, as alluded to by Hilary, he didn't have the explicit endorsement until after the paperwork was printed some weeks ago.
I only recently realised the dysfunctional relationship between central and local governments. Efeso Collins is right on the ball in challenging this master / slave arrangement.
Well yes on the fiscal brakes. But also the human rights and legal obligations to the citizens they have. It’s not actually a “choice” to obey the law. Enjoy the polar blast especially Mothers, children and vulnerable that need to get around and often in numbers not able to be transported on bikes and in all weather and safely. I like the idea of a barge for bikes from the other candidate but these are minority and fringe issues that only speak to a few (men usually).
“Build it and they will come”. Respect peoples property and legal, human rights. Be efficient and don’t get distracted by divisive suburban neurosis minority debates. I think they’ve decided well but aren’t acting in a timely or effective, practical way. Hopefully both candidates can deliver better. Between them they both seem to have strong capabilities. Not “ratshit” ones … which I actually found understandable, very Kiwi and very funny.
If Mr “Fixit” Brown makes it to be mayor (certainly not my choice) it will be interesting to see how he handles the Auckland Transport bombshell just been dropped regarding extensive closing of railway lines for what seems like far too long a period. Interesting timing for this announcement
The Auckland Mayoralty is an 80 hour a week job. At 76, Wayne Brown won't have the energy or the skills to accomplish anything significant, (& I'm speaking as a 75 year old). Efeso Collins is the face of Auckland's future.
He never did
its a bit rich to see that Collins lists himself as an independent on the voting forms. He has the full support of Labour and all their mailing lists, PR army and now direct endorsement of the PM. We also know that with Labour endorsement comes the obligation to follow the party line. This is deliberate dishonesty.
I disagree. He threw his hat in the ring under his own steam while Labour were still trying to figure out what they were doing (and given the choice, I’m sure they’d have thrown their support behind Richard Hills if he’d taken a tilt at the job).
In 1936 the National Party set up the C & R Association to contest all of Auckland's local body seats under the slogan, 'keep politics out of local government.' Because there was no ward system back then, wealthy C & R councillors from the eastern suburbs dominated council decisions with crack pot decisions such as pumping the city's sewage into the harbour & that the only transport system Auckland needed was cars & motorways - they blocked Mayor Robbie's rapid rail transit plans. Auckland is still playing catch up due the C & R's/National's short sighted stupidity.
I agree and its not all single sided. Weve seen the vitriol and absolute hatred between the two council blocks expressed openly in public meetings. The polarisation and egos are appalling on both sides and Auckland ratepayers are not well served.
The mayor has little real power to stop block voting along party political lines. I dont know the solution but perhaps a term with a case hardened shock treatment mayor might bring about a shift. Its a gamble of course, Brown is divisive, but none of the other candidates are likely to move the dial. Auckland has stalled and crime and costs are out of control. A one term circuit breaker to get things moving again could be just what is needed.
If that rankles the current member for Rongotai is standing as an independent in the Wellington Mayoralty race, when he is unequivocally aligned to Labour. At least in Collins' case, as alluded to by Hilary, he didn't have the explicit endorsement until after the paperwork was printed some weeks ago.
I only recently realised the dysfunctional relationship between central and local governments. Efeso Collins is right on the ball in challenging this master / slave arrangement.
Well yes on the fiscal brakes. But also the human rights and legal obligations to the citizens they have. It’s not actually a “choice” to obey the law. Enjoy the polar blast especially Mothers, children and vulnerable that need to get around and often in numbers not able to be transported on bikes and in all weather and safely. I like the idea of a barge for bikes from the other candidate but these are minority and fringe issues that only speak to a few (men usually).
His other good idea was conversion to apartments of business sites closer to town.
“Build it and they will come”. Respect peoples property and legal, human rights. Be efficient and don’t get distracted by divisive suburban neurosis minority debates. I think they’ve decided well but aren’t acting in a timely or effective, practical way. Hopefully both candidates can deliver better. Between them they both seem to have strong capabilities. Not “ratshit” ones … which I actually found understandable, very Kiwi and very funny.
If Mr “Fixit” Brown makes it to be mayor (certainly not my choice) it will be interesting to see how he handles the Auckland Transport bombshell just been dropped regarding extensive closing of railway lines for what seems like far too long a period. Interesting timing for this announcement
I'm listening to this interview in August.
I wished he didn't die.