Where were you this time last year? After an elated, Covid-free election night in our central city, I had returned down to Parliament.
As we waited for the special votes to come in (eventually doubling our lead in Auckland Central), it was pretty clear how the political chips had fallen and we were in the swing of getting back down to business. At home, we’d made history. For the first time in more than twenty years, the Greens had won an electorate seat.
It’s a privilege that I work to honour every single day, for those who trusted me with their vote and those who didn’t quite. A year in, much like a year ago, I want to hear from you.
While every week we work from our (currently remote) Auckland Central office with constituents and local businesses to resolve problems and direct advocacy for systemic change, I wanted to mark one year by throwing open the flood gates and encouraging any and all to offer your feedback in the easiest way possible (you can do so via www.chloeswarbrick.co.nz). I want the good, bad, beautiful and ugly.
While some may importantly reflect on the immediate, urgent struggle, I also invite and encourage radical dreaming about the potential in our collective future. It’s these kinds of leaps of faith, hard yakka and investment that drive us to plant trees we’ll never sit in the shade of, like the decision of the 1874 ‘City Parks Committee’ who saw that, "upwards of 1100 deciduous and coniferous trees of the choicest kind [were] to be planted” in Western Park, between Ponsonby Road and Beresford Street. At a cross-roads in the world we choose to step back out into, we get to make those same decisions of investment for our kids and generations we’ll never meet.
There’s no stage managing how difficult and tough this most recent lockdown has been. As a Green MP in a constructive and sometimes constructively critical relationship with the Government, I’ve been straight up about how and where things can and should be done differently. I’ve had regular contact with Northern Regional Health Coordination Centre on vaccinations and testing, the front line of keeping our community safe. I’m beyond proud that Ponsonby and surrounding Bays have at the time of writing hit over 90% eligible population for first doses, nearly cracking 80% for the second. This is the best armour we’ve got and if you’ve got any creative ideas for outreach, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.
While I would love to be inviting you all to join me at Beau in Three Lamps on Sunday 7 November, the uncertainty of event planning means we’ve shifted our upcoming community hui to the digital realm. You’re all invited and I can’t wait to see you there.
In the meantime, I’ll be on the blower to Principals of our local schools, our business associations and health organisations to ensure we’re on track for the smoothest (and best possible) re-opening when we can finally put this strange interregnum behind us. (Chlöe Swarbrick)
Chlöe Swarbrick, T: 09 378 4810, E: chloe.swarbrick@parliament.govt.nz
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Published 5 November 2021