Albany Ward Candidates 2022

Yes, at the very least for students, those with disabilities, those who require financial assistance and gold card holders.

2) What other measures will you take to incentivise public transport use and reduce congestion? 

We need to ensure that public transport is efficient and reliable, and multi-modal. I support getting light rail transport to the north and north west sooner.

3) How will you address the causes of crime?

We need to work with community organisations to support those in society who commit crime due to poverty. Working to prevent young people making poor decisions by providing more community support and investing in better education outcomes.

 4) Do you support or oppose halting construction of the marina at Pūtiki Bay?

I believe there should be no marina constructed at Pūtiki Bay.

5) What measures will you take to protect renters, including tackling rising rents? 

I support rent increase limits, as well as more rights designed to protect renters, such as longer term rental agreements.

6) Will you vote for the creation of Māori wards in time for the 2025 elections?

Yes. I believe in partnership with Mana Whenua at all levels of governance.

7) What will you do to end houselessness in Auckland?

 Support the zoning and development of more community housing in all areas where it is practical.

8) Would you support Auckland Council procuring or building council housing, or financially assisting communities and iwi to procure or build additional housing to combat the housing crisis?

Definitely. We need to look at alternatives to beat the housing crisis, and that includes Auckland Council playing a role in zoning and procuring areas for affordable and intensified developments.

9) What will you do to implement Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri (Auckland’s Climate Plan) and ensure Auckland reaches its 2030 and 2050 climate goals?

Improving public transport options to encourage mode shift from private transport use, requiring emitters to contribute to invest in emissions reduction schemes, and working with community groups and iwi to find solutions that reduce emissions.

10) What is your position on sections of the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013 which have empowered police actions against rough sleepers?

I believe that our communities need to be safe, and that includes safety for rough sleepers and the homeless who have a right to exist safely in our communities. I also believe that environmental damage to parks and beaches by overnight campers needs to be addressed.

11) Academics Joanna Kidman and Vincent O’Malley recently highlighted once again the continuing presence of statues and street names celebrating colonial figures. Following the recent example of Hamilton City Council and others, will you invite mana whenua to decide what should happen with these symbols of colonisation? 

Yes, and I believe the council needs to invest in more public artworks that celebrate minority groups, the LGBTQ+ community, and indigenous figures.

12) Limited trials of a 4-day working week with full pay show minimal or no loss in productivity, while studies suggest a shorter working week would significantly reduce emissions. Would you support a 4-day working week for council staff? 

Yes, and in fact, I would like Aotearoa to move to a four day working week as a whole.

13) In your opinion, should Auckland Council allow the use of public venues by controversial speakers who are seen as pushing misinformation, such as conspiracies related to Covid-19, or hate speech like racism, homophobia and transphobia?

There is a difference between hate speech and free speech, and I believe that Auckland Council should not make public venues available to those promoting and spreading hate speech towards vulnerable groups and minorities.

I would want to see the economic and climate arguments before deciding.

2) What other measures will you take to incentivise public transport use and reduce congestion? 

Suggest replacing bus lanes with T3 lanes and increase the number of T3 lanes across the city, support a CBD congestion charge ahead of reducing road access in the CBD, lobby to reduce central city street parking replacing it with mixed drop and go, PSV and loading zones, suggest a wider use of electric micro buses to increase suburban street access to a bus to the nearest main through road, and lobby for elimination of car parking in narrow suburban streets to attempt to decrease car access in easy to commute from suburbs.

3) How will you address the causes of crime?

Lobby central government to do their job and eliminate consent requirements around bollards that decrease ram raid targets

 4) Do you support or oppose halting construction of the marina at Pūtiki Bay?

 I support people’s rights to do what they want within planning limits on their property.

5) What measures will you take to protect renters, including tackling rising rents? 

Central Government, not Council, is responsible for tenancy issues including renter protection and rent control.

6) Will you vote for the creation of Māori wards in time for the 2025 elections?

Yes

7) What will you do to end houselessness in Auckland?

Central Government, not Council, is responsible for housing issues.

8) Would you support Auckland Council procuring or building council housing, or financially assisting communities and iwi to procure or build additional housing to combat the housing crisis?

No, Central Government, not Council, is responsible for housing issues. However, I would not support disposing of Council owned houses other than to recognised housing charities with a proven track record for managing social housing.

9) What will you do to implement Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri (Auckland’s Climate Plan) and ensure Auckland reaches its 2030 and 2050 climate goals?

I will support seeing climate impact decisions by Council and importantly its CCO’s being measured against the Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri (Auckland Climate Plan) and in particular the pathway to lower transport emissions in Auckland so that decision makers clearly understand the climate ramifications of today’s decisions.

10) What is your position on sections of the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013 which have empowered police actions against rough sleepers?

I do not see police action against rough sleepers as a high priority in this day and age and would not support actions against them other than where they present a clear and present danger to themselves or others or where they cause clear commercial nuisance.

11) Academics Joanna Kidman and Vincent O’Malley recently highlighted once again the continuing presence of statues and street names celebrating colonial figures. Following the recent example of Hamilton City Council and others, will you invite mana whenua to decide what should happen with these symbols of colonisation? 

No, I believe to avoid the mistakes of the past we must understand and learn about them. I would support anyone, mana whenua or otjerwise, in establishing education that helps people contextualise how awful colonisation was in conjunction with such symbols. They represent magnificent chances for education and understanding the impact of historical decisions on the indigenous people of the world, not just Aotearoa New Zealand.

12) Limited trials of a 4-day working week with full pay show minimal or no loss in productivity, while studies suggest a shorter working week would significantly reduce emissions. Would you support a 4-day working week for council staff? 

With a proper economic, service delivery and climate impact analysis, probably yes.

13) In your opinion, should Auckland Council allow the use of public venues by controversial speakers who are seen as pushing misinformation, such as conspiracies related to Covid-19, or hate speech like racism, homophobia and transphobia?

No