On Monday, Auckland Council representatives delivered the council's submission on the Treaty Principles Bill to the justice select committee. In the submissions, Auckland Council rejected the Treaty Principles Bill as unworkable, saying there was a lack of good faith engagement with Māori, and that the bill would create legal uncertainty and damage the council’s relationship with Māori.
Additionally, over the weekend several Pride events saw intrusive protests by the 'Man Up' group linked to Destiny Church. Around 50 protestors stormed the Te Atatū library during a family-friendly Auckland Pride event where a drag king was reading to children about the science behind rainbows. Library staff were physically and verbally attacked and the around 30 attendees of the event were barricaded in a room in fear of their safety. This also came after Destiny Church members were seen disrupting the Pride Parade on Ponsonby Road on Saturday.
For City Counselling this week, Sofia spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics, starting by asking what Auckland Council’s stance is on the Treaty Principles Bill.
An Auckland Council proposal could see some off-leash parks become leash only, as well as further restrictions on dogs running free at some beaches. Public submissions close on the 23rd February, with the proposal receiving much criticism from communities so far.
Additionally, in late October, councillors voted 11-8 in favour of $11 million being spent on improvements at Waikaraka Park and moving all speedway events - namely Western Springs - in the city to that venue. This decision has also received much criticism, with action group Save Our Speedway saying proper process wasn’t carried out when the future of Western Springs was discussed at Governing Body meetings on October 24 and October 30 and now requesting judicial review.
Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics, starting by asking her what some of the feedback from people about the dog walking proposal has been so far.
Consultation on Auckland Council’s proposed changes to Auckland’s dog rules opened on Monday and close on the 23rd February. Additionally, over the weekend, a large vegetation fire broke out on the slopes of Auckland's Māngere Mountain.
Producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.
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.
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