City Counselling

In late May, Auckland council unveiled their Draft Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan. While the plan is due to be submitted at the start of August, Auckland residents can submit feedback until the 17th of June. 

The plan goes over the council’s approach to funding and enacting policies to improve the city’s transport networks over the next decade, including the prioritisation of trains, buses, and cycleways over car based travel. 

Additionally, later today the government is due to announce this year’s budget, which follows cuts to the regional fuel tax leaving a hole in council funding. 

In our weekly catchup with Auckland Council, temporary Wire host Castor spoke to counsellor Shane Henderson about the Regional Land Transport Plan and the council’s hopes for the upcoming budget announcement.

For City Counselling this week Caeden speaks to Lotu Fuli about yesterday’s Auckland port announcement.

Under a new plan, the port would stay under Council control despite Mayor Wayne Brown previously investigating a 35-year lease for the port. 

The plan also includes returning Captain Cook Wharf and Marsden Wharf to Auckland Council, as well as increasing public access to Bledisloe Wharf.

Caeden also asked about Whanganui Council passing a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

They started by asking her to explain yesterday’s Port of Auckland announcement.

A proposal to merge the Ōtara-Papatoetoe and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local boards has been met with criticism, with consultation opening at the end of next month.
A new report has also been released on the quality of living in Tāmaki Makaurau with our city receiving mixed results by scoring high on some areas (the environment), and lower on others (education). 

Wire Host Caeden speaks to Counsellor Lotu Fuli about both these topics for City Counselling.

Yesterday the Western line was closed for some stops including between New Market and Britomart, while two Britomart stations remained closed due to KiwiRail maintenance issues. This won’t surprise commuters in Tāmaki Makaurau who are far too used to trains not running or turning up.

Caeden spoke to West Auckland based counsellor Shane Henderson about our public transport woes and the success of the cost-cutting budget. Here is that interview.