Last month Western Springs was back on the agenda of the Governing Body.
It will be recalled that in October 2024, CCO ‘Tatataki – Auckland Unlimited’ managers, after more than 10 years of trying, backed by Mayor Wayne Brown and a majority of councillors, evicted Speedway from Western Springs - its home for nearly 100 years – to Waikaraka Park.
At that meeting neither Speedway supporters nor officials of Ponsonby Rugby were allowed to be heard. A clear breach of s.78 of the Local Government Act.
Furthermore council officers refused to reveal what they had in mind to replace Speedway and Ponsonby Rugby, talking only of a ‘higher and better’ purpose.
But not long after it became clear the council favoured transferring control and effectively ownership of Western Springs to US billionaire Bill Foley, along with fellow owners of Auckland Football Club, local ‘Rich-Listers’ Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams. In response in April 2025 lawyers representing the Western Springs Speedway Association filed judicial review proceedings against council‘s decision. In May 2025, six months after the eviction decision, Council belatedly decided to undertake some public consultation.
For consultation the Council heavily pushed its preferred option – the billionaire soccer proposal branded as ‘Western Springs Arena’. There was a second option. Eccles Entertainment allied with Ponsonby Rugby branded ‘Western Springs Bowl’, plus a third, ‘Other’ option. At the May meeting an amendment by councillors to include Speedway as an option was defeated, as was an amendment by myself to pause consultation until the outcome of Speedway’s legal proceedings.
After that meeting council officers split the third option into 3a & 3b, in effect creating 4 options. This I suspect to reduce the chances of an insurgent ‘write in’ by Speedway supporters coming out on top, which it arguably did anyway. What is beyond argument is that the Council’s heavily hyped preferred billionaire ‘Arena’ came in last with only 21%
Fast forward to March 2026. ‘Tataki Auckland Unlimited’ has now fallen back on the ‘Western Springs Bowl’ which received only 30% support. But this is significantly different than the original proposal with for instance a $2.5m stage to be built across the track (which would physically block any return of Speedway) and Ponsonby Rugby only getting a 5-year extension of its 30-year tenancy.
At the recent March meeting in which the council sought to lock this in,
Cr John Gillon proposed an amendment to include public consultation for a Speedway option.
Here is a transcript of what I had to say in the ensuing debate:
“There was dismay last week when a survey indicated that public confidence in government is only 49%.” Here in Auckland, we have our own measures. the ‘Quality of Life Survey’ and the ‘Citizens Insight Monitor’. The latest figures show public trust in Auckland local government at 27%; confidence that Auckland Council makes decisions in the best interests of Auckland 29%; and belief that the public has influence over council’s decisions 34%.
“Those figures are damning given that we consider ourselves a democratic organisation. Interestingly, they align closely with the 29.4% of registered Auckland voters who bothered to cast a vote at the last council elections.”
“This speedway affair and its predetermined outcome has not helped the reputation of Auckland Council, nor has it improved Aucklanders’ confidence or trust in the council. The obligation on us is to try to address that. It’s a question of what is right, what is honourable, what is democratic.”
“We should bear in mind the Court of Appeal’s criticism of Wellington City Council’s decision making and its “unlawful funnelling of choices”. That goes directly to s.77 of the Act.”
“Before taking office we swear a solemn oath to uphold our obligations under the Local Government Act. The sections on Decision Making are mandatory obligations and should be taken seriously.”
“Holding a public consultation six months after evicting speedway is a travesty, What would we think of a country that called an election, having six months earlier permanently exiled its most popular candidate. Would we consider that country truly democratic? Or what would we call it?”
“So my plea to my colleagues here today, including to you Mr Mayor, is to support this amendment. Giving Speedway and the people of Auckland a fair go is very difficult to argue against in terms of honesty, justice, fairness, and democracy.”
Sadly the amendment was lost. The case will now be decided by the High Court.
(MIKE LEE)
www.mikelee.co.nz
