Three years ago, I was offered the role of Deputy Mayor by His Worship the Mayor, Wayne Brown. I’ve been proud to serve in that capacity and am excited that the Mayor and I are back for another three years to keep delivering for Aucklanders.
We are sitting on the cusp of some significant opportunities thanks to the reform of Auckland Transport and the go-ahead for a new plan change. These decisions have created opportunity for huge change in where and how we live and how we move about our city – two of the most important things to our everyday lives/Aucklanders.
The local water done well deal has also allowed Watercare to properly fund depreciation and prepare for growth. We are spending record amounts on infrastructure because getting the basics right for the running of our city – like pipes and traffic – is what Aucklanders expect from us.
We must also look to the future and be focused on economic growth where there is the most opportunity for it: in technology and innovation, housing and tourism. We must make the most of these growth opportunities. We will continue to focus on building a more resilient region. Whether it be coastal erosion or local amenities and our city centre, people deserve to feel safe, connected and heard.
I am there to support the Mayor in delivering those goals, but in my own way.
Last term, I chaired the Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee delivering a record $608m of financial benefits (savings, property sales and better procurement) in just three years. That financial focus remains an important work stream along with a pipeline of work to assess whether we are getting good value for money from our capital investment.
We also need to be open to the idea of wealth creation for council, not only just how to spend and save what we have, but how to create money from what we have. The Future Fund will also continue its strong start to make our city more financially resilient. We are already earning more from that than we received from the airport shares we held, and local projects are feeling the benefit from the ‘fix and finish’ initiative.
It has been a painful time for many economically, and the long period of major construction across the city with the likes of the City Rail Link, the Central Interceptor and private projects like the NZ International Convention Centre have caused even more challenges. But infrastructure improvements are desperately needed and the council will continue to improve its infrastructure and the city’s resilience via projects such as the Making Space for Water programme that emerged from the lessons of the big floods we suffered in 2023.
The Mayor has also given me a role to support our arts, culture and sports and recreation delivery. These bring life and vibrancy to our city, so its important to make the most of that which we have spent so much time and money on.
Our arts quarter in the midtown area needs a plan to maximise the benefit of being next to the busiest CRL station.
We also need to make sure we have a series of major events lined up not just for those of us who live here, but to bring visitors from overseas and around New Zealand to our city. Key to that is securing a long-term funding solution for our major events in partnership with central government.
Our cultural institutions need to prove they are compelling. Again, not just for us, but so that they act as ‘must do’ attractions for tourists who come through Auckland.
So, as you can see, there is much to do and, by the time you read this, we’ll be sworn in and have got cracking. I look forward to supporting the Mayor, collaborating with my new colleagues and tackling these and other tasks to make our city better in every respect. (Desley Simpson)
WAYNE BROWN: AUCKLAND MAYOR: YOUR NEW REPRESENTATIVES!
I’m taking a moment to welcome back and introduce to you the newly elected and re-elected representatives as part of the Waitematā and Gulf Ward and Waitematā Local Board. Alexandra Bonham, Caitlin Wilson, Anahera Rawiri, Peter Elliott, Kara Kennedy, Greg Moyle and Sarah Trotman will be your local board representatives. Mike Lee remains your ward councillor.
They get to serve our vibrant community of Ponsonby. The mandate they have received from you is clear, and I look forward to working with each of them to deliver real, tangible improvements for this historic and culturally rich corner of Tāmaki Makaurau. Their election marks the start of a crucial term, one where local knowledge and energy will be more vital than ever in navigating the challenges and taking hold of the opportunities ahead.
The Ponsonby community is known for its strong sense of identity and its advocacy for local issues. The conversations and commitments made during the recent campaign have highlighted several core areas where focused, collaborative action is needed.
A key topic that consistently emerges from Ponsonby residents is parking and transport management. The area's unique character, defined by its historic villas, narrow streets, and commercial strip, makes for some complex logistical challenges. I recognise that the Residential Parking Zone has been a significant point of discussion. While reviews have shown positive impacts on resident parking availability, we must remain vigilant and responsive, monitoring the data—particularly on high-demand streets like Brown Street and Fitzroy Street, and during evenings and weekends—to ensure the solution continues to work for residents, visitors, and local businesses. Our commitment must be to smart, data-driven management of our existing infrastructure, ensuring better access without sacrificing the neighbourhood’s liveability. Finally, I, and other councillors, are very much looking-forward to having decision-making control of transport in Auckland. Watch this space.
Chris Biship and I have opened the door to a replacement plan change for Auckland which means we have great opportunity in front of us. We can now do away with the rigid planning rules we had before of three-by-three everywhere, to a more bespoke approach that concentrates intensification where it makes sense; around key transport hubs and where we have invested significantly in infrastructure. It also allows us to stop building homes on flood prone land and means we can maximise the benefits of our Making Space for Water programme.
Residential, traffic and parking pressures aside, the local board and ward member will be essential advocates for infrastructure resilience and community amenities that help make Ponsonby, Ponsonby. We care deeply about our local environment, green spaces, sports fields, playgrounds, paths, recreational facilities. And it makes sense—these things affect our quality of life—comfort, convenience, and enjoyment. The protection of Ponsonby’s heritage and social spaces, the things that make it iconically Ponsonby, investment will be important here, I encourage you to get to know your local representatives and what solutions they may require your support for.
Much of my reform of Council-Controlled organisations is underway. We have brought the economic development arm of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited in-house, as we have done with the urban regeneration functions of Eke Panuku. The decision-making of Auckland Transport, decisions about local roads and footpaths, will also come to us, increasing democratic accountability of Transport decisions. This means elected officials will be closer to the decision making in these functions than they were before.
To the returning representatives, your experience is invaluable; to the newcomers, your fresh perspective is welcomed. You have been elected on a platform of listening to your community and getting things done.
This is a time for pragmatism, focus, and collaboration. I urge you to forge strong working relationships with each other and to get to know your elected representatives who make decisions on your behalf. Let's hit the ground running, work hard, and make this a term defined by real, positive change for the exceptional community of Ponsonby.
See you out there.
Ngā mihi nui. (WAYNE BROWN)
#ponsonbynews #iloveponsonby #loveponsonby #auckland #aucklandshippestrip #onlyponsonby #ponsonbyroad #Greylynn #freemansbay #westmere #ponsonby #hernebay #stmarysbay #archhill #coxsbay @followers #followers @everyone #everyone #waitematalocalboard @highlight
