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City Counselling

Two alternating Auckland City Councillor's Julie Fairey and Shane Henderson tell us the latest in Council news every Thursday on The Wire. 

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Proposed reform to Auckland Transport and council-controlled organisations and rates w/ Councillor Julie Fairey: 15th August, 2024

 Proposed reform to Auckland Transport and council-controlled organisations and rates w/ Councillor Julie Fairey: 15th August, 2024 Proposed reform to Auckland Transport and council-controlled organisations and rates w/ Councillor Julie Fairey: 15th August, 2024, 28.81 MB
Thu 15 Aug 2024

Last week, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown announced plans to ‘dethrone’ Auckland Transport and instead put elected representatives in control. 

With additional plans to abolish the council’s development agency, Eke Panuku Auckland, and its events and economic development agency Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the proposal is part of Council’s biggest restructure of council controlled organisations since the Super City was formed in 2010. 

Additionally, last week when Producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about Council’s average 6.8% rates increase announced in its long-term plan this year we received two texts from listeners informing us their rates bills saw a 25-29% increase. 

In other news, figures released from an Official Information Act request found last week that in the last five financial years Auckland Council has paid out $315 million in ‘secret’ financial settlements for defective buildings, weathertightness issues, employment settlements and civil damages claims on behalf of ratepayers. 

Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about these topics. 

Rates and investing in parks and community facilities w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 8th August, 2024

 Rates and investing in parks and community facilities w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 8th August, 2024 Rates and investing in parks and community facilities w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 8th August, 2024, 11.81 MB
Thu 8 Aug 2024

Over 34,000 ratepayers in Auckland are behind on paying rates. 

This comes after Auckland Council confirmed an average 6.8 percent rates increase in June. 

Additionally, last week Auckland Council announced it was investing $47 million dollars in parks and community facilities. 

Producer Sofia asked Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.

Privatising leisure centres and improving Auckland Transport w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 25th July, 2024

 Privatising leisure centres and improving Auckland Transport w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 25th July, 2024 Privatising leisure centres and improving Auckland Transport w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 25th July, 2024, 6.37 MB
Thu 25 Jul 2024

As Auckland Council plans to review its operating model for pool and leisure services, the Public Service Association has criticised moves to privatise management without public consultation. 

Additionally, Auckland Transport has introduced a $50 fare cap for buses, ferries, and trains. 

Producer Sofia spoke to counsellor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.

Increasing speeds limits and the 2023 review into Local Government w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 11 July, 2024

 Increasing speeds limits and the 2023 review into Local Government w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 11 July, 2024 Increasing speeds limits and the 2023 review into Local Government w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 11 July, 2024, 6.51 MB
Fri 12 Jul 2024

The National-led government has proposed increasing speed limits across Aotearoa.

They’ve also opted not to go ahead with any of the recommendations of the 2023 Local Government Review, which aimed to improve Local Government and Local Government elections.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shane Henderson from Auckland Council about increasing speed limits in Auckland and the improvements Local Government still needs.

Matariki Events and Auckland Council’s Strategy for Crime Prevention w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 27 June, 2024

 Matariki Events and Auckland Council’s Strategy for Crime Prevention w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 27 June, 2024 Matariki Events and Auckland Council’s Strategy for Crime Prevention w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 27 June, 2024, 11.16 MB
Thu 27 Jun 2024

Auckland Council has announced $60,000 in funding to youth crime prevention group, Turn your life around. This is part of a broader plan of the Council to increase community safety.

Wire Host Caeden asks Councillor Shane Henderson about this funding, and also about what’s happening in Tāmaki Makaurau this weekend for Matariki.

Congestion charges, Fast Track Legislation, and Airport Shares w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 13 June, 2024

 Congestion charges, Fast Track Legislation, and Airport Shares w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 13 June, 2024 Congestion charges, Fast Track Legislation, and Airport Shares w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 13 June, 2024, 15.15 MB
Thu 13 Jun 2024

A lot has been happening in local government recently from Auckland Council discussing Congestion Charges to Wellington Council selling their Airport shares. National’s controversial Fast Track legislation may also impact local government’s control and capacity.

For City Counselling Wire Host Caeden talk about these topics with Councillor Shane Henderson.

The draft Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan and Auckland council's hopes for the budget w/ Shane Henderson: 30th May, 2024.

 The draft Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan and Auckland council's hopes for the budget w/ Shane Henderson: 30th May, 2024. , 14.33 MB
Thu 30 May 2024

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.

Selling our Airport Shares and the Long Term Plan w/ Lotu Fuli: 23 May, 2024

 Selling our Airport Shares and the Long Term Plan w/ Lotu Fuli: 23 May, 2024 Selling our Airport Shares and the Long Term Plan w/ Lotu Fuli: 23 May, 2024, 15.61 MB
Thu 23 May 2024

Last week Auckland Council passed their hotly contested long-term plan, after huge debate and community engagement. 

Councillor Lotu Fuli attempted to amend the plan to not include the sale of Council’s airport shares but was defeated. She also reached headlines for excluding the independent Māori voices on Council from voting on this amendment. 

Wire Host Caeden asked Councillor Fuli about the long term plan, and the controversy surrounding her amendment for City Counselling. Here is that interview.

Auckland Port Announcement and will Auckland Council call for a ceasefire in Gaza? w/ Lotu Fuli: 9 May, 2024

 Auckland Port Announcement and will Auckland Council call for a ceasefire in Gaza? w/ Lotu Fuli: 9 May, 2024 Auckland Port Announcement and will Auckland Council call for a ceasefire in Gaza? w/ Lotu Fuli: 9 May, 2024, 15.45 MB
Thu 9 May 2024

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.

Council’s stance on the Palestine protests and the end of half price fares w/ Shane Henderson: 2 May, 2024

 Council’s stance on the Palestine protests and the end of half price fares w/ Shane Henderson: 2 May, 2024 Council’s stance on the Palestine protests and the end of half price fares w/ Shane Henderson: 2 May, 2024, 15.11 MB
Thu 2 May 2024

Weekly Palestine protests have taken place in Britomart since last October, and an action in support of Palestine with several hundred students took place at the University of Auckland last night.

For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden asked Councillor Shane Henderson for his stance on the Palestine protests, as well as Council’s view more generally.

They also ask about the community impacts of half priced public transport for under 25s, which ended on May 1st.