Saturday 19 October 2019

Profiles of Successful Candidates

Margaret MILES

Independent

Upper Harbour Local Board candidate

Candidate Profile Statement

I am a longstanding resident of the Upper Harbour Local Board area with extensive Council experience, North Shore City Councillor for 15 years and Upper Harbour Local Board Member for the past 9 years. I am currently Chairperson of the Board. I am a Justice of the Peace, an accredited Resource Management Act Commissioner, a retired physiotherapist, and have continuously served on sports club committees since the childhood years of our 3 children. In 2018, I received the Queens Service Medal for service to the community. This was indeed an honour, as is the opportunity to continue to represent residents of Upper Harbour. I am concerned that a large proportion of rates taken from Upper Harbour residents are used for city-wide projects with insufficient money spent on maintenance of local parks and roads. I will continue to make myself available to listen and take action on resident and community issues.

Why are you standing for this position?

I enjoy representing the residents of the Upper Harbour Local Board area which I have done for many years. I have a strong awareness of local issues and am passionate about listening to and then advocating for residents and community groups. I believe that Upper Harbour has a wealth of parkland, open space and recreation opportunities and wish to ensure that there is sufficient funding to maintain these to a high standard. I support the council honouring an agreement signed by the former Waitakere Council to purchase land at Bomb Point, Hobsonville which I believe is essential for the families who live there currently and those who will move into the many new homes to be constructed. The lack of local public transport by way of feeder buses is an issue across the less populated areas of Upper Harbour where local bus services would not currently be sustainable. There is a lack of parking available for these residents and others who would take public transport to the city if only they could access a car park. Therefore, I believe that Auckland Transport should provide more parking with urgency at the Albany bus station. Ideally a car park building with opportunities for small commercial activities would be an excellent solution. I will continue to advocate for this to Auckland Transport on behalf of the residents who have frequently provided me with feedback about their frustrations of being unable to find car parks. I also wish to focus on protection of our environment through continued funding for water quality control, pest eradication and management of kauri die back. As a Local Board member, I believe that I have a unique opportunity to work with the residents to provide a legacy for future generations that we can all be proud of.

What do you love most about the area you are seeking to represent?

The Upper Harbour area has a unique combination of environments. It has the provision of wonderful parks, such as the 100-acre coastal park at Sanders Reserve, Paremoremo, significant areas of local reserves throughout the board area and many bush reserves that offer residents enjoyable bush walks to experience walking among the many native trees that grow there. Playgrounds are provided for residents with a mix of play equipment to cater for different age groups including fitness equipment at some reserves for adults to use. Boat launching facilities are available at Greenhithe, Herald Island, Hobsonville, Whenuapai and West Harbour with beach access for swimming also provided across the coastal areas of the board. Upper Harbour offers key sporting facilities; Rosedale Park, home of North Harbour Softball where international tournaments are played; the AUT Millennium Centre, a high performance centre for athletes and also catering for community use; the North Harbour Stadium which has national and community sports events; the new world class facility and home for Harbour Hockey and the Vantage Black Sticks is currently under construction at Rosedale and will replace their existing facility; the Albany Tennis Centre with indoor and outdoor courts; and numerous club facilities for a wide range of sports for both competitive and community use. The Albany Stadium pool is a family destination with its leisure pool and interactive water features. It provides learn to swim programmes and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. Residents have access to the Albany Village library and education opportunities are provided for residents’ children at highly regarded schools throughout the area. Tertiary education is offered at the Albany Campus of Massey University. Most importantly residents of Upper Harbour are engaging and keen to care for the area with volunteer groups always willing to help with planting days in parklands and being custodians of our environment.

What will your priorities be if you’re elected?

My priorities if re-elected to the Upper Harbour Local Board:

• Advocating for greater allocation of funding to Local Boards to distribute funds for local parks and community projects.
• Listening to the needs of local residents and community organisations.
• Recognising the needs of rapidly growing areas of Upper Harbour including Albany, Hobsonville and Whenuapai.
• Acknowledging the maintenance requirements of reserves throughout the Local Board area.
• Obtaining parklands and open space for current and future generations.
• Supporting the previous agreement to acquire Bomb Point in Hobsonville for use as park land.
• Prioritising funding to protect our environment through water quality control, pest eradication and putting in place management for the containment of kauri die back.
• Advocating to Auckland Transport who have the decision-making role, for our roading, footpath and cycleway projects.
• Advocating to Auckland Transport to significantly increase the car parking at the Albany bus station by the construction of a car park building, in order to provide car parks for residents so they can then use public transport to the city to decrease peak hour traffic congestion.
• Supporting community groups with funding through the grants scheme to provide services for their communities.
• Supporting sports clubs with funding through the grants scheme to provide opportunities for residents of all ages to participate.
• Supporting volunteer groups with funding through the grants scheme.

Anna ATKINSON

Living Upper Harbour

Upper Harbour Local Board candidate

Candidate Profile Statement

I stand for the Local Board to protect the way of life that we cherish and to ensure that the Upper Harbour area reaches its full potential. I offer my enthusiasm, business acumen and leadership to advocate fiercely for our area. I love living in the Upper Harbour region. I am a keen cyclist, kayaker and sailor. I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children in our parks, playgrounds and on our beaches. I have twenty years in business as a chartered accountant and I will use my experience to ensure your rates are spent effectively, efficiently and with accountability. My aim is to protect and enhance the environment and advocate for better transport options. Working alongside other Living Upper Harbour candidates, I will support healthy active communities, growing green spaces, and greater transport choices, by making smart equitable decisions.

Lisa WHYTE

Upper Harbour Local Board candidate

Candidate Profile Statement

I am a passionate, committed and experienced advocate for Upper Harbour, the lifestyle we enjoy, and the infrastructure challenges we face. I have successfully led complex decisions that have delivered great outcomes for our community. There is much to do to ensure our world class lifestyle and public assets (including our marina) are protected for public benefit in our fast changing area, and that we get a fair share invested back into our community from our rates. As an accountant I bring commercial skills and prudent financial governance to decision making, and I offer a future focussed and inclusive approach to the role. I have proudly served our community for 15 years, currently as Deputy Chair, and previously as Board Chair and North Shore City Councillor. A vote for me is a vote for sensible progress, mindful of all that we value today, and for future generations.

Why are you standing for this position?

Upper Harbour is the fastest growing community in the country, and the physical and community infrastructure challenges we face are real. I have the experience and the relationships both within council, and with outside organisations to get things done. Local government deals with the every day issues that affect peoples lives every single day. It is essential that governors of our city understand how best to achieve positive outcomes for our community, and my commercial skills and practical local government experience qualifies me for this role. My passion for the community I serve, and the desire to get the best possible outcomes are what I offer you. Local Boards cannot deliver on all of the things our community needs, for example transport infrastructure is controlled by Auckland Transport – what we can do is listen to your concerns and channel them to the appropriate place for the best chance of a good outcome. I will be your effective voice at council and commit to acting with integrity – I pride myself on always being honest when requests come to the board. If it is in my power to help I will, but if it isn’t I will say so. This is a service role that I have been proud to hold for 15 years, and I value your support in continuing to do so.

What do you love most about the area you are seeking to represent?

Upper Harbour is an incredibly diverse fast changing environment, which brings challenges and opportunity. We have the opportunity to help shape this new community from the street names, to the park benches and the play equipment in our open spaces. We are a collection of both new neighbourhoods and established villages, each with its’ own character, and as a local board it is incredibly satisfying to work with the communities on their priorities. We have amazing people doing incredible things in the environment, community and sport and recreation space. I look forward to working together to achieve great things into the future as we grow.

What will your priorities be if you’re elected?

There are a number of projects that need continued leadership, in addition to working with communities as issues arise and population increases around the board area. This includes supporting volunteer activity and developing the pest free plan for the area. One of the tasks early in the term is updating the local board plan – this involves engaging with our community to ensure our priorities are aligned. We need to secure funding to complete the overdue Scott Point Sustainable sports park. Redevelop Caribbean Drive playing surface and provide changing rooms and a toilet to ensure we are maximising its’ use’. Complete the park and greenway initiatives we secured from the compensation funding from NZTA as part of the Northern Corridor project Deliver the new playground at Huntington park in Greenhithe. Progress the acquisition of Bomb Point in Hobsonville as reserve land. Find a solution to the Hobsonville Point Marine recreation centre Retain Hobsonville (West Harbour) marina in public ownership for Public benefit Continue to lobby AT for better parking solutions at park n ride stations and improved feeder bus services, along with completion of long promised but overdue projects like the Dairy Flat Highway/Avenue intersection upgrade, the Gills to Other link and Brigham Creek road upgrade.

Uzra Casuri BALOUCH

Upper Harbour Local Board candidate

Candidate Profile Statement

Upper Harbour resident, Justice of Peace, MSc. Applied Psychology and your current elected representative at UHLB Auckland Council. It’s been a privilege serving you. With decades of business experience, operating within budgets my priorities will be to advocate for affordable rates for families, especially our seniors. Ensure prudent financial management. Build infrastructure to support growth and new development – a library and a multi-storey car park at the Albany Park and Ride. Complete transport and Greenways projects with frequent feeder buses and cheap tertiary student fares. Provide a network of sustainable sports facilities and reserves. Assist youth into work with the help of local businesses. Consult our diverse communities in development decisions. preserve the heritage, character and natural environment of our communities like Bomb Point. Contact: uzrabalouch@gmail.com or 0211046287. Vote Uzra Casuri Balouch, I pledge to be as always, accessible, available and your strong local voice at Council. Thank you.

Why are you standing for this position?

A vote for me is a vote for a local, experienced and passionate voice for Upper Harbour. I love this community and I have been working hard in Upper Harbour in business, volunteer and governance roles for 17 years, the last three as your elected representative. I approach this role with an attitude of serving you. I am an accredited Justice of Peace and a Treaty People Facilitator. I am a prudent financial manager who actively seeks your views and preferences when making decisions and I am proud of accountable for each one made on your behalf. My vision for Upper Harbour is one that has empowered, engaged and connected communities ( this is number one outcome in our current Local Board Plan- proud to have suggested it), a thriving, innovative, inclusive and resilient local economy with job opportunities for local residents close to home, an affordable well connected and accessible transport network, frequent feeder buses and more capacity at the Albany Park and Ride by optimising the current site and building a multi-storey carpark, Investing to make sure that Upper Harbour has fit for purpose infrastructure future proofed for growth, that our residents have access to sports and recreational opportunities and are engaged in enjoying, protecting and restoring our environment. I will advocate for affordable rates, the acquisition of Bomb Point as a reserve and the retention of Westpark Marina as a public asset in perpetuity. I pledge to be a voice for you and I look forward to earning your vote. I have worked very hard to connect with you and make a difference and I will continue to be accessible and available if given the opportunity to serve you again.

What do you love most about the area you are seeking to represent?

Upper Harbour is an amazing place to live, work and play and I love my community. My husband and I have raised our two gorgeous boys here who have both attended great local public and private schools and then gone onto University. We have both worked here and taken advantage of Upper Harbour being a Tech and Innovation Hub and enjoyed the wide variety of parks and reserves, some so beautifully restored by our amazing group of volunteers. I love the access that I have to lovely cafes run by locals, the Christmas Beach on Herald Island for a quite picnic with family, Sanders Reserve in Paremoremo for awesome walks and cycling and views to die for and the biggest Mall in New Zealand, in Albany is a destination for Auckland shoppers on weekends.

The Lucas Creek waterfall, off Gills Reserve is a hidden gem worth visiting as is the coastal walkway in Hobsonville. We have amazing community halls and facilities in Whenuapai, Albany, Unsworth, Hobsonville and Herald Island for our communities to hire. We are home to many sports codes and are fortunate to have facilities that benefit our communities and position Upper Harbour as a major sporting and recreational precinct for the region. These provide significant employment, economic and social benefits for the community. Some of our great facilities include the QBE Stadium, the AUT Millennium Institute, Tennis Northern, Harbour Hockey and North Harbour Softball. These facilities regularly host major national and international events. I love the diversity of our community but what I love most is connecting with local residents across Upper Harbour, addressing their concerns and finding solutions for them, passionately advocating on their behalf and making sure their priorities and preferences are heard at the decision making table.

What will your priorities be if you’re elected?

My priorities if elected will be to :

1. Ensure that the residents and communities are empowered and engaged and are able to influence what happens in their neighbourhoods.
2. Advocate for an affordable well connected and accessible transport network, frequent feeder buses, active transport infrastructure and more capacity at the Albany Park and Ride by optimising the current site and building a multi-storey carpark.
3. Advocate for affordable rates, the acquisition of Bomb Point as a reserve and the retention of Hobsonville Marina as a public asset.
4. Fund awareness programmes to minimise the negative environmental impacts from urban development, fund enhancing and restoring the NorthWest Wildlink, a Pest Free Upper Harbour Strategy and our amazing volunteers.

Nicholas MAYNE

Living Upper Harbour

Upper Harbour Local Board candidate

Candidate Profile Statement

Nicholas grew up in Upper Harbour and has lived here most of his life. He currently lives in Unsworth Heights with his two sons, three chickens, and pet rabbit. He is seeking re-election after his first term on the Upper Harbour Local Board. ‘In three years I achieved a lot of what I campaigned for at the last election; but more importantly I have learnt a lot that I want to apply to the next term of the Local Board.’ Nicholas’ achievements on the Local Board include a review of Upper Harbour’s Play Spaces and Path Network, plans for a new playground in Greenhithe, increased community participation in ecological restoration projects, and progress on a Pest Free Strategy. Working as part of a proactive team, with other Living Upper Harbour candidates, Nicholas hopes to support Healthy Active Communities, Growing Green Space, and Greater Transport Choices, by making Smart Equitable Decisions.

Why are you standing for this position?

When it comes down to it I am standing because I am driven by faith to make a difference for other people. It is the same reason I chose my other occupation as an employee advocate, and why in my free time I run an ecological restoration project in Unsworth Reserve. Upper Harbour faces many challenges. We have one of the fastest growing populations in Auckland, a large amount of these residents are migrants, and climate change will only magnify the impact of these challenges. But with all challenges come opportunities to change the way we do things and become better for it. Upper Harbour is also my backyard. I grew up here and I am raising my own children here. So seeing the impact of these challenges and my proximity to them drives my moral responsibility to do something about them. I want my children and my neighbours to enjoy living community; where people feel safety, belonging, and the prosperity of being close to the rest of creation. Standing for the Upper Harbour Local Board is just one more way of working to achieve that. But I can’t do that alone. For a lot of this term of the Local Board I was just one voice of six; and at times my voice was drowned out by the parochial intentions and apathy of older men. That is why this election I am standing with Anna Atkinson under the ticket Living Upper Harbour; and why I am offering support to other fresh candidates standing for election. A robust democracy needs a diversity of views represented, held by people with passion and integrity. I am confident that, if elected, Living Upper Harbour candidates can work with other candidates to bring more life to community in Upper Harbour.

What do you love most about the area you are seeking to represent?

Upper Harbour is my Backyard; so it is full of all the memories of my childhood. Some of those memories are of the things we have lost through development. I will always prefer the memory of eating Strawberries from Paul Mathews Strawberry fields; over the present reality of ques on Paul Matthews drive. But many of the sources of these memories are still preserved for others to enjoy. Most of the forests and streams that I would explore as a child still meander their way from the ridges to the harbour; the sports field my dad would coach football on are still packed with children; and the harbour is still a sheltered place to enjoy various water craft on. Other things have only grown in size and in their potential; such as the various schools in the area and our many new neighbours. I have fond memories of the lectures I had at Massey University; and I am slightly envois of the choices my children already have at school and will have when they get to University. So in spite of all its changes Upper Harbour remains the place I associate with home; it is my backyard.

What will your priorities be if you’re elected?

There are lots of projects I would like to see continued or started in the next terms of the Upper Harbour Local Board. These include:

• A shared path on Bush Road between Harbour Hockey and Bus Stops on Bush and Rosedale Road;
• Opening up Hoskings Reserve (Dairy Flat Highway) and Waiarohia Reserve (Brigham Creek Road) to community lead ecological restoration projects;
• A pump track for Albany; along with other all age play options in other parks; • Acquisition of Te Onekiritea Bomb Point as open space; • A community recycling centre on Roedale Road;
• Delivering more tracks and paths from our Greenways Plan for both recreation and to create connections between communities; • A new play space in Huntington Park;
• And a smarter approach to pest management and park maintenance; But my ability to deliver these and other projects will be dependent on budget, council capacity, and the support of other Local Board Members.

So what I can really say about my priorities are the values that Living Upper Harbour are committing to. These are:

• Healthy Active Communities;
• Growing team sports facilities;
• Developing fun recreation options for all ages in all communities;
• Delivering social events that bring communities together;
• Growing Green Space;
• Lobbying for the acquisition of open space in growth areas for recreation and conservation purposes;
• Protecting and enhancing the North West Wildlink;
• Fostering better access and protection for our harbour;
• Greater Transport Choices;
• Creating destination walking and cycling paths across Upper Harbour;
• Pushing for better feeder buses and management of Park & Ride car parks;
• Providing safer foot paths and road crossings; By Smart Equitable Decisions;
• Proactively seeking the views of local communities;
• Consider all relevant information before making a decision;
• Equitable expenditure for all places in Upper Harbour.

Brian NEESON

Independent

Upper Harbour Local Board candidate

Candidate Profile Statement

As a present board member and former chairman, I’m proud of all the board has accomplished since the beginning of the new Council. There is still much to do. I look forward to continuing to improve our local communities that everyone is proud to be part of. Better transport, more parking, safer streets, more community facilities, better access to motorways, improved cycleways, walkways, environmental protection, fight for better care of our sports fields and open spaces and support local business opportunities. These are some of the challenges that we are working on at present. I look forward to continuing to represent all the wonderful communities that make up the Upper Harbour, which is a wonderful place to work, play and bring up a family. I’m a businessman, JP, member WDHB, former National MP, Assistant Speaker of the House, chair Wilson Home Trust. Vote Neeson Contact 094211897.

Source: Insight Auckland.