Super City
Auckland Refugee Council hopes for more support for migrants
Refugee and asylum-seeking organisations are hoping the new Auckland Council will improve support for new migrants to the city.
Refugee organisations say information about Auckland is difficult to find, which is hindering refugees’ settlement.
Elizabeth Walker, executive officer for the Auckland Refugee Council, says while progress has been made with refugee settlement, “Auckland City still [had]a long [...]
Network of cycleways proposed for Auckland Plan
As Aucklanders battle traffic congestion, a former architect is hoping to transform Auckland’s transport system with a network of cycleways across the city.
Stephen Smythe, 65 and now semi-retired, has been working on the Greenways Project for the past four months.
His plan incorporates a route around the Auckland isthmus, with paths for cyclists and pedestrians that [...]
Thumbs up for waterfront progress
Former Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey says the ongoing redevelopment of Auckland’s waterfront will put the city on par with San Francisco.
Speaking this week at an event hosted by the Property Council New Zealand, Harvey, who is chair of the board for Waterfront Auckland, said a planned tramway will look similar to those in San Francisco [...]
Maori Board row heads to High Court
The Auckland Council is in the High Court this week, defending its decision to slash the budget for the Independent Maori Statutory Board. Annual funding of $3.5 million for the board was initially agreed upon, but the council voted to reduce that figure to $1.9 million.
The unelected board has been a contentious issue. Khylee Quince, [...]
Residents still oppose Super City
Although Auckland’s “Super Mayor’ has been announced there is still controversy over the creation of a “Super City”.
Ex-Manukau Mayor Len Brown has taken the coveted title, beating closest candidate John Banks by over 60,000 votes.
Brown has a big job ahead, working to meet his campaign promises and also unifying a diverse and large city.
Many areas of [...]
Water privatisation protesters target National MPs
A small group of protesters rallied outside the offices of two Auckland MPs today in opposition to the potential privatisation of water.
Organised by the Our Auckland coalition, the dozen or so concerned citizens gathered outside National MP Paula Bennett’s office in Waitakere before moving to Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye’s office in Ponsonby.
Many groups, including [...]
Super city secures project safety
The impending super city merge will not result in the loss of community projects, according to the Auckland City Council.
Western Bays Community Board chair Bruce Kilmuster assured local residents existing projects will be safe during the amalgamation.
“We have been advised by officers, who have been in consultation with the Auckland Transition Authority, that any projects [...]
Brown looks to shake up rates
Len Brown has pledged to find a “fairer” way to charge council rates if he is elected mayor of Auckland’s new supercity.
The Manukau mayor, currently leading rival John Banks in the polls, says the existing system of calculating rates on property value disadvantages people who are property-rich but income-poor.
“We have constant debates with the elderly, [...]
Newmarket Park development riles residents
Angry Hobson residents voiced their opposition to the Newmarket Park development project at a Community Board meeting this week.
Earthworks on the southern slope of the park, which is between Ayr Street and Bassett Road, began in January due to a risk of land slips near the children’s playground.
However, Hobson resident Ethne Thomas says that the [...]
All power to super central Auckland?
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey’s comments that a super-city will favour central Auckland are being backed by some of those in the urban development industry.
Director of Planning Consultants Jan Crawford says the proposed new structure will give power to those already in power.
“The way the Government reacted, it’s really concentrating power to the Auckland City [...]
