North Shore Ward Candidates 2022

​Yes

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

​a) investigate and potentially co fund or subsidise rideshare services on e-shuttles that complement PT routes with flexible routes
b)e-bike purchase through rates schemes
c) research education related congestion and develop strategies to address this

3) How will you address the causes of crime?

​We could end crime in Aotearoa if we treated it as the outcome of psychological and social dysfunction. This would entail swinging our penal system to a rehabilitative focus and shifting our welfare system to a permanent support system for low wage workers.

At a local authority level the best action possible is any actions that reduce the cost of living, helping local boards support community-support networks and organisations that undertake community outreach, enabling affordable housing that also responds to the cultural needs of Pasifika and Maori (healthy larger houses that enable extended family occupation), supporting community gardens and local food markets.

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

I don’t support this marina development.

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

This is difficult to address at a local authority level. It may be possible to place rates penalty charges on houses (and business premises) that are left unoccupied for the purpose of landbanking or residency strategies. I have a host of policy to address this from a central govt level.

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?

Support the development of affordable housing. Again, at a central govt level I think we need to look at the way we build houses, supply materials etc as well as how people access funding for housing. Both these areas need a complete overhaul.

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?

​Only if there was a democratic consensus from Aucklanders to do so. It is an area that has fallen outside of Auckland Council’s perception of its core business and council is generally seeking to divest such assets to entities like Kainga Ora. This can make sense where specialist housing providers have much better developed housing support services.

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?

Whilst council has declared a climate emergency the focus so far seems to be on often pre-existing community work like tree-planting and food waste reduction as well as congestion strategies. I have been advocating for a wholesale review of council’s core business practices like the vast regime of mowing and weed eating, much of which could be reduced in area and frequency, council’s use of concrete and hard materials like gravel for paths. I’m for wildflower berms and park fringes and there is a growing movement call “No-Mow” which is focusing on the ecological benefits of reducing mowing which I have been and will continue to advocate for.

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

​Greater work is needed to ensure there is appropriate support and safe locations for rough sleepers to be. Sadly, rough sleepers have been the cause of significant aggressive behaviour, often alcohol fuelled, and harassment of women in particular in my local business area. I support police being able to move people on or arrest people where they are posing these hazards to others.

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, it’s a shocker. On my local board I have continuously argued that we have 150 years of Pakeha history entirely wall-papering over 800-1000 years of Maori history right here where we live. I and the Kaipatiki Local board support the return of Maori names through a dual naming process. I would like to see Auckland Council develop means of creating more urban references to Te Ao Maori in our parks, playgrounds, public buildings, roads etc.

I’m open to that.

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! This is something I have recently considered from a staff wellbeing point of view. I believe a 4 day week is the next step in increasing quality of life and reducing ecological harm. I’ve just added that to my policies – thanks! https://www.adriantyler.co.nz/policies#h.aavs49y6kfc4

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?

This is a tricky one. For instance, I don’t support people having the legal right to declare their own sex and then have biologically male people using women’s toilets/changing rooms etc, nor do I support the right of trans-women to compete in sports against women who were born female (although frankly, the whole concept of competitive sports is an anachronism as far as I’m concerned). So, I don’t consider women’s groups who advocate for this to be pushing transphobic messaging; and although I am vaccinated, I certainly don’t think the jury is in on whether covid vaccines will prove to be safe or whether they will be found to impact the human immune system in negative ways. People researching this should not be characterised as conspiracy theorists any more than people claiming Covid was leaked from a lab should be prevented from submitting their evidence. The first problem with a prohibition like this is that council is currently not qualified or resourced to make these judgement calls. Perhaps local boards could be notified of groups intending to rent premises and could request an interview with any they may be concerned with to give final approval? The general principal of free speech must not be suppression but the expectation that all ideas are expressed with respect and a willingness to listen to, and care for, others.

​Yes, but not only for students, low income families and beneficiaries for the time being until council finances are in order. It seems the message is focused on the cost for every person of nearly $400m and no information if only the selected group get free service. After witnessing empty buses driving round the suburbs in most hours of the day for the last 10 years during the times when kids are at school or in between office hours, I have not issue with providing the service at no additional overhead costs.

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

Public Transport schedules and destinations should reflect the needs of the residents in the area with specific direct destinations to community facilities, shopping centres, grocers, universities, other city centres (Manukau, Waitakere, etc.). In the short term to improve air quality and reduce congestion due to poor and limited public transport options, lack of drivers, etc. Auckland Transport must explore other options to improve the flow of traffic as a key performance measure such as the use of dynamic lanes on Whangaparoa Road that can be replicated on many major arterial roads to significantly increase productivity for the area. Banning cars on the road will disrupt the economic recovery of the whole region as public transport do not have the capacity (lack of drivers), implementing congestion tax will add costs to many businesses that are struggling or recovering from the lock-downs. These added costs will often affect the low socio-economic group with cost-of-living increases. There is not one size fits all, let start by focusing on wellbeing and addressing the needs of those that have been marginalised and not had their voices heard.

3) How will you address the causes of crime?

Both council and central governments should provide more funding for neighbourhood watch, community constables and similar initiatives. Removable or automatic bollards used in Australia can be installed in many highly sensitive areas. The causes of crime are often limited to lack of proper education, poor parenting or pastoral care. Council can play a part by working with local community groups through its facilities and programmes to address underlying and systemic issue that successive governments have failed to address effectively

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

I am not familiar with the situation at Pūtiki Bay but would have paused the development until all concerns have been properly heard and all issues resolved. Delays in any capital projects incur significant financial costs. The end result will always benefit the construction companies and the losers would be ultimately be the residents and ratepayers from the entire region with increase project costs

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

I would use an adapted model or legislation by the Swiss government that under the the Swiss Code of Obligations, the tenant of residential or commercial premises may challenge the initial rent as abusive before the arbitration authority and demand its reduction, provided certain conditions are met.

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

Council must meet all legislative requirements including Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments and follow due process. As a unitary local Authority Auckland Council is unique as has an Independent Maori Statutory Board (IMSB) in place under its own legislation. Depending on the consultation process, I will vote as per community expectations, it is not a personal choice I’d make. Furthermore my extended family from different iwi has different views of what the Maori Ward or IMSB could better represent them.

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

Auckland needs an estimate of over 17,000 new dwellings to close the gap to address supply requirements and poor living conditions even for those who have a roof over their heads. Mathematically it is impossible to end homelessness. This societal challenge requires the involvement of multiple government agencies, council, community groups and the private sector to work together. I do not wish to see the current situation in Rotorua of transforming motels into emergency housing by authorities while fundamentally had only just provided a temporary solution without addressing the primary cause of why there is houselessness in the first place, as well as and the lack of investments in the past is a key cause together with the health and social support systems in the last few decades that cannot be solved in a short time.

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?

​Council provided social housing before the government stepped in to only fund houses that are managed by community groups. Unless that decision is reversed with significant impact across the entire non-for-profit sector, I cannot support without understanding the financial impact on the rate-payers and residents as well as knowing the fact is just not about houses but equally important is adequate infrastructure to support any housing development. I do not want to create an environment with regular power disruption, insufficient community facilities, constant sewage overflows in the harbour and traffic congestion. Any financial assistance comes with price and tradeoffs for services, council provides and also becomes a burden to future generations.

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?

Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri (Auckland’s Climate Plan) can only be implemented successfully with a change of behaviours of individuals, families and businesses that are not going to significantly disrupt well being or economic recovery efforts in the short term. Europe has started to import huge amount of coal to generate electricity against all Climate Change commitments recently pledged at COP22. There are no other options with the current war incident. It would be naive if they were to make a decision to keep their commitments and let their citizens suffer. Luckily New Zealand is not in the same situation. I believe council can play a big part to assist the government to reach its goals by incentivising use of green energy, EV vehicles, water conservation devices and using green materials and the same time enhance its public transport services. There are other mechanisms such as banning cars on the roads , stop air flights, locked up offices, all of which would be effectively to reduce carbon emission as during the covid lock downs but would impinge on basic human rights and appear to be too draconian for the sake if saving the planet while Australia continues to produce over 1 million tons of coal to meet global needs, continue to increase its carbon emission and create a ‘brain drain’ in NZ. At the moment it seems to be just the “stick” approach and not much “carrot” such as installing power cameras along transit lanes to catch and fine perpetrators while roads are half utilised creating congestion, burn more fuel, emit more carbon and create poor quality across many areas in the region. To reach this ambitious goals would require some innovative solutions that council can implement that do not disrupt the economy or wellbeing of individuals such as increasing urban tree canopies in the centres, on the any street wherever possible. Stop removal of any trees until the same number if not more is planted for any housing development approval.

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

​With recent spate of crimes such as ram, rates, illegal car racing, large brawls at schools and the public, including nd the death of a person in a car on a suburban street that could have been prevented under this Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013 but not enforced because of the lack of bot council and police resources. I support this bylaw but would go one step further to ensure offenders are supported by government agencies to ensure they can normally return back to society. Without this bylaw it would prevent council or the community to help reduce crime and help these disadvantage individuals that only see their contributions as committing crime ad disorder in the area.

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? 

Statues and street names can be both a celebration as well as a reminder of wrongs in the past. Over time with removal of these figures, history will be forgotten. I would instead treat these as a reminder of the dark past many wish to forget and perhaps raised another monument beside, that acknowledge forgiveness and celebrate the recovery process of the many brave Maori individuals, iwi, hapu to raise awareness to those new to the country and not aware of the history. Yes I’ll invite Mana Whenua to make the decision.

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?

In general only managers and back office staff not performing critical work will benefit from this arrangement. Most staff are rostered to be at work in person in many council facilities and customer facing duties. I have also witness the detrimental effect on the city centre with the covid lock downs and staff not returning to the city or continuing working from home. I will support a 4-day week if rate-payers, citizens and business is fine with paying the same price for a shorter opening hours for libraries, swimming pools, consent application, etc. Council is already the highest wage bill for local authorities in the country, I cannot support this idea until all options are explored and thoroughly investigated as to why there is increase waiting times for calls to be answered, responding to urgent emails or delays of staff responding to incidents, building consent delays in the current 5 day working week. Logically, a 4 day week will definitely not help improve the situation.

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?

Ethically no and also Auckland Council has a code of conduct that discourages such behaviour as well as supporting such activities. All venues are managed by council staff or by contractors and service providers that abide by the same code. So, operationally it won’t be able to provide any service to this people.