Incumbents Sarah Trotman, ONZM, Greg Moyle and Allan Matson have been re-selected to represent C&R and they’re joined by new candidates Nick Nielson, Leo Grachev, Muy Chhour and Anne Batley Burton.
The C&R team are capable hard-working community advocates with a depth of governance experience, area knowledge and subject matter expertise needed on a Local Board. They bring experience ranging across business, social services, heritage preservation, environmental protection and animal welfare and they are committed to ensuring that local concerns are heard and represented effectively.
The C&R Waitematā Local Board team recognises the significant issues facing the Local Board area – from transport, intensification and crime, to the future of Auckland’s City Centre, the Hauraki Gulf and our city parks.
Since Auckland Council was formed in 2010, there have been endless projects disrupting the city and surrounding suburbs – all with the laudable aim of improving the public realm, but many of which appear unnecessarily expensive and some unnecessary altogether. Local Board members are provided with little in the way of cost-benefit analysis of those projects and consultation with the public leaves much to be desired. C&R decries wasteful spending and will seek robust justification of projects as a basic part of its oversight of expenditure under the Local Board’s control.
C&R recognises there are worthy projects, of course, and they will support those affordable evidence-based ones that make the city and town centres safer, cleaner and more welcoming places for all – visitors, residents, shoppers and business owners. Businesses in particular need to survive in order for those areas to thrive, but many of them have been severely challenged by construction going on and on around the Local Board area. C&R sympathises with local businesses and will continue advocating for them as a matter of priority, particularly about minimising the effects of infrastructure projects and disruptive transport initiatives.
Auckland currently has around 550,000 dwellings for 1.7 million people. In 2016 after considerable research and expert analysis, the Independent Hearings Panel enabled 900,000 dwellings – a robust 30-year supply target. That Unitary Plan took years to create with input from those who know Auckland best, and that plan is already supporting intensification. Central government’s recent imposition of two million dwellings, however, would result in a city of over six million people – bigger than Sydney, and that’s likely to come at a considerable cost if done at the pace envisaged.
The C&R team supports enabling future development around train stations and along major transport corridors, and they welcome Minister Bishop’s decision to remove the blanket MDRS zoning that would enable ‘3x3' development as a permitted activity across virtually any residential neighbourhood in Auckland. They also understand the notion of good planning. It's all very well enabling a city the size of Sydney, but without the necessary infrastructure it’s an ill-conceived idea. Infrastructure needs to be properly funded and sequenced to meet the needs of intensification, and if Auckland is to achieve quality outcomes with greater financial certainty, the C&R team believes sound planning is needed first.
They acknowledge the concerns of residents across the Local Board area about upzoning that could see large intensive developments just plonked within character areas from Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Freemans Bay and Ponsonby in the west to Grafton and Parnell in the east. While most Aucklanders accept the need for intensification done well, and done in suitable places, they’re also opposed to an overdose of central government planning that would see the unnecessary loss of special character areas, random high-rise development and poor urban design outcomes.
The people of Auckland have inherited a beautiful environment with wonderful amenities, and because the C&R team believes in intergenerational sustainability, they will advocate to protect both our built heritage comprising our unique shopping precincts and historic residential areas, as well as our parks and natural environment.
The C&R team want to push back, not only against central government’s imposition of excessive housing targets, but also against its erosion of local governance. They agree with Councillor Christine Fletcher that the Government’s growth targets “position our unique isthmus to be obliterated, our maunga surrounded by towers and cookie-cutter urban landscapes.”
Like Councillor Fletcher, the C&R team believes that Auckland’s growth should be properly planned, not by central government in Wellington, but by Auckland councillors and local boards – local government representatives with firsthand knowledge of their city. They will insist on quality comprehensive information for prudent decision making and, most importantly, they are committed to meaningful public consultation on matters that affect the community.
Allan Matson: A current member of the Waitematā Local Board, Allan has a background in banking and architecture. He’s most concerned about the significant challenges facing Auckland and particularly the Waitematā Local Board area due to the city’s accelerating intensification. These challenges include the pressure of development on the character and heritage of our built and natural environment, both of which he feels need stronger protection. He sees the role of the board as representing the interests of all communities and residents, with decision-making that is properly informed, well reasoned and financially prudent.
Anne Batley Burton: Anne is a passionate animal welfarist and the founder of the New Zealand Cat Foundation, working to reduce the stray cat population and protect animals from cruelty. She describes herself as a doer, not a talker; a giver, not a taker. She was the first female director of a publicly listed company in New Zealand and, as such, she understands well the need for support for businesses in the city centre to enable them to thrive. She believes in sticking to the basics and would like the Local Board to address issues of traffic congestion, crime and quality of life, particularly in the city centre.
Greg Moyle: A financial adviser, former police officer and former university lecturer, Greg grew up in Grey Lynn and now resides in Herne Bay. He has served on the Western Bays Community Board, Auckland Council and the Waitematā Local Board, currently as the latter’s Deputy Chair and representative on the Heart of the City Board. He holds qualifications in accounting and law. Greg has been actively involved in numerous local organisations and he supports further investment in our cultural and sporting organisations, community facilities and parks.
Leo Grachev: Leo believes Local Board members have a responsibility to deliver better value for ratepayers and residents. He is no stranger to putting in the hard yards to get things done, from his day-to-day work supporting small business owners, to his work in the community. Listening to and addressing the needs of the community is his top priority. He would also like to address transport gridlock, save our parking, ensure safer and cleaner streets, protect our character and parks and support local businesses.
Muy Chhour: Involved in business most of her life, from serving customers at the family dairy, to managing 11 Asian supermarkets across Auckland, Muy brings deep business experience and advocacy to the team, along with a balanced common-sense approach to resolving issues. For five years, she was Chairperson of the Karangahape Business Association. She is passionate about making Auckland safer and more liveable for all who travel in it, whether by car, public transport, bike or foot.
Nick Nielson: With deep lasting roots in Waitematā, including 10 years as a small-business owner and active community member, Nick has a passion for the area and has contributed to the community’s energy while seeing clearly the need for focused leadership. His board experience involves five years on the Ponsonby Business Association, including its Safety and Security Committee, leading initiatives to enhance and protect our community’s wellbeing while promoting thriving businesses. He also has seven years with a national charity for burn survivor victims – five years as its president and trustee.
Sarah Trotman, ONZM: Sarah has served on the Waitematā Local Board over the last two terms and sees this role as an important responsibility. She is an experienced business leader who has a track record of insisting on quality information before decision making, and she recognises the importance of listening to the community. One of the many successes she is proud of during her recent term on the Local Board is initiating the opening of the board’s weekly workshops, thus enabling transparency for communities and residents. She was also very effective in motivating the community in support of the lease extension for the long-term and successful current operators of the Olympic Pool in Newmarket.
Voting is by postal vote. Voting papers will be delivered to your postal address from 9 September. The pack you will get from the Electoral Office will tell you how to complete your vote and where to deliver it by 12 noon on 11 October. C&R encourages you, your family and friends to get out and exercise your democratic right to vote and help Auckland to thrive.
