As an interested and long-term resident of Ponsonby (approaching some 46 years now), I was interested to read Genevieve Sage’s attempt to defend and / or justify her actions of three years ago, in response to my letter of June 2025 in Ponsonby News. NB: I prefer to describe myself an interested long-term resident, and when appropriate a “Auckland City Council and Auckland Transport Insultant! - as opposed to Ms. Sage’s epithet “Self-appointed community advocates.
I offer suggestions, I criticise, when necessary, I highlight issues, and I praise those who deserve and justify recognition.
Clearly Ms. Sage’s performance these last three years, does not in any way qualify for the latter.
Voters will recall that my letter was reminding the local community of when Genevieve Sage “crossed the floor” after standing as a C & R candidate, and immediately accepted the far left’s offer of the Chairmanship, (and the salary that goes with that) so long as she voted for the exact opposite of the policies that she had stood for as a candidate.
Ms. Sage, states in her response “Let’s start with the importance of telling the truth” but then provides no argument as to what was NOT the truth in my previous correspondence
- It is a fact that Ms. Sage deceived the voters.
- It is a fact that Ms. Sage “Crossed the floor” immediately after the election.
- It is a fact that Ms Sage has voted as a City Vision (read left leaning) member of the Waitemata Local Board, and:
- It is a fact that Ms. Sage has been responsible for the creeping destruction of our suburbs by supporting Auckland Transport and the idiot left’s policies of hollowing out the CBD, ruining our roads, our parking, our easy access around our suburbs and our enjoyment of life. All the while wasting enormous amounts of our ratepayer's money on projects no one sane, would ever have asked for, funded or supported.
Ms. Sage uses Meola Road as an example of her “achievements”. Let’s evaluate the results of this $40,000,000 plus project.
- A loss of vital parking for dog walkers.
- A loss of vital parking for parents and families who use the playing fields next to MOTAT.
- Reduced road lanes – restricting easy use and access.
- A cycle way on BOTH sides of Meola Road – a totally unnecessary waste of money by any measure.
- Constricted roundabouts – which deliberately disrupt the traffic flows in Garnet Road and Point Chevalier Roads.
- Bus stops that project out into the roadway, so that ALL traffic must stop behind any bus that is stopping at a bus stop (madness).
- Multiple speed “calming” judder bars
- Multiple traffic lights and:
- Multiple pedestrian crossings.
We all agreed that work needed to be done on Meola Road, but to completely ruin a major thoroughfare in the name of political ideology (and at the expense of millions of critical ratepayers dollars) is a madness that the Waitemata Local Ward voters would do well to consider when we vote shortly.
I challenge Ms. Sage to provide any evidence that I did not “get the facts right”, or that I did “mislead” anyone in any of my letters.
When it comes to making a “fool of yourself”, I leave that privilege to Geneveive Sage – whom I will NOT be supporting in coming elections – or anything else for that matter.
Ms. Sage’s tenure as Chair of the City Vision party has been an unmitigated disaster for the local residents who clearly voted for a shift to the right at the last election, by supporting C & R as the most heavily supported team – only to see Genevieve Sage defect to the opposition and thereby ensure that the voters did NOT get anywhere near what they voted for.
This is deliberate deception of the voters by Ms. Sage, and is a stain on democracy. It must be recognised accordingly,
That is telling the truth. These are the facts.
Genevieve Sage has every right to feel both ashamed of her personal ethics and must now cringe at the destructive results of her manipulation by the City Vision team. Waitemata ratepayers and residents – Please vote accordingly.
Roger Hawkins
Herne Bay
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