As part of its submission on a Local Government New Zealand issues paper exploring electoral reform, Auckland Council has expressed its support for a four-year electoral term.
In exploring local government reform, the LGNZ paper also looks at public understanding of local government, public awareness of candidates and policies, and voting methods for local elections, raising questions about who’s responsible for improving these areas and what the future of local government voting might look like.
For the first interview of 2025, producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about Council’s LGNZ submission as well as Council’s general plans for 2025.
For City Counselling this week, producer Sofia caught up with Councillor Shane Henderson about proposed time-of-use charging to solve congestion problems in Tāmaki and Council selling their remaining Auckland Airport shares last week.
For City Counselling this week, Producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about changes to Auckland Transport’s responsibilities, nationwide bus and train fare hikes, and concerns over the opening of the City Rail Link.
For City Counselling this week, Producer Sofia caught up with Councillor Shane Henderson about the new police station on Federal Street in Auckland CBD which was announced earlier this week to be opened in mid-2025.
Earlier this week, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown released his draft mayoral proposal for Auckland Council’s annual plan for the year 2025-26.
Within this, a major part of the proposal is a council controlled organisation reform which could see Auckland Transport stripped of its planning, strategy and policy roles, council’s urban regeneration agency Eke Panuku Development abolished, and the roles of the council’s economic development and regional facilities agency Tātaki Development Auckland reduced.
Additionally, a new space for homeless support in Auckland’s city centre, Manaaki Tangata, has opened up as a collaboration between Māori wardens, Auckland Council and Eke Panuku Development Auckland.
Producer Sofia caught up with Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics.
For City Counselling this week, Producer Sofia caught up with Councillor Shane Henderson about Auckland Council's response to Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and Council's $1.3m Christmas tree that is being put up in downtown Auckland.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has criticised Auckland Council’s cultural and economic agency, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, for spending $737k to boost positivity about the city through their ‘Happy Guide’ campaign.
Additionally, last week Auckland Council voted to move all speed racing to Onehunga, meaning nearly 100 years of speedway racing at Western Springs is coming to an end.
For City Counselling this week, Producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics.
Maungawhau station, formerly Mt Eden station, closed in July 2020 for reconstruction as part of the City Rail Link. Delays during the COVID-19 lockdowns extended the construction process, and the station is now expected to reopen in early 2024.
Starting on October 14th, Western line trains have been running at reduced frequency to allow for testing at the station, indicating that the station may be almost completed.
Trains across the city have also been affected by unplanned disruptions over the past few months, most recently on the Western line with a series of power outages.
For City Counselling this week I asked Councillor Julie Fairey about the timeline on Maungawhau station, the upcoming Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-ā-hape stations, and power outages across the rail network.
Ports of Auckland has said the Fast-track Approvals Bill is the only way to keep its promise to Auckland Council regarding its deal to sell the Captain Cook and Marsden wharves back to Council to be converted into a waterfront attraction.
Ports of Auckland has committed to exiting Cook and Marsden in the period two to five years, saying the Fast-track would allow them to ‘honour that commitment to the city’.
The Fast-track Approvals Bill, since its introduction, has been subject to much criticism, with concerns surrounding its impact on the environment and a lack of public consultation.
Additionally, earlier this month Auckland Council introduced a new roaming dog squad to address the increase in dog attacks and roaming incidents in Auckland over the past year.
Sofia spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.
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