By Daniel Newman, Manurewa-Papakura ward Councillor (FB)
Low bastardry this week as the Council embarked on a path that will inevitably see communities squashed in favour of the State. I am referring, of course, to the Planning Committee’s deliberation of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development.
As per Parliament’s direction, Auckland Council is to make dramatic changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan to significantly intensify residential neighbourhoods. The Ponzi-scheme policy known as ‘KiwiBuild’ has been a catastrophic failure. Labour appears desperate to target seemingly every blade of grass across the Auckland region in an attempt to build more houses.
Affordable housing? No, not even close.
Not one new affordable house will be built and sold under this new policy. Increasing the dwelling yield of properties in any part of the Auckland region merely increases the capacity of property developers to build more expensive houses. So, if this week’s effort is about building a property-owning democracy, it’s a massive fail.
Let me be clear, I am not the poster boy for Auckland’s heritage lobby; though my colleagues John Watson, Wayne Walker and Desley Simpson raise legitimate points. As well, local board leaders like Danielle Grant from Kaipatiki and Ruth Jackson from Devonport-Takapuna highlight the democratic deficit whereby communities are being directed to forgo not only their character but also their ability to appeal the merits of the drive for intensification.
My willingness to back a wider definition of heritage homes as a qualifying matter was based on two reasons. First, I am sick of cowering to the Government’s demand for Kainga Ora to build rabbit warrens on your back fence-line. Second, I have a Special Character Area overlay in Hillpark in my own ward – which is based on both the built environment and natural heritage. I am desperate to preserve that overlay hence my willingness to apply a broader rather than a narrower heritage standard as a qualifying matter.
As a Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor I voted with the minority who sought to broaden heritage via an amendment moved by Desley Simpson. It was defeated by 10 votes to 11.
The other Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor voted to oppose broadening heritage, thus effectively limiting heritage protections for all but a narrow group of heritage properties.
This is a tragedy.
While the Special Character Overlay hearings in 2015 and 2016 primarily considered the merits of defending the pre-1944 built environment, the Hillpark Residents’ Association made compelling and ultimately successful submission arguments based on other matters. The Commissioner’s decision to accept the submission evidence of the Hillpark Resident’s Association was a triumph for people power, not the politicians.
By narrowing the criteria for a qualifying matter, Council has not done Hillpark any favours. My overarching goal is to defend the Special Character Overlay in Hillpark so as to stop Kainga Ora from annihilating yet another neighbourhood. How I wish I had more friends around that Council table who shared that vision.
Tonight, I am meeting with more Hillpark residents who have been reduced to participating in a forthcoming plan change where the Council has limited the criteria for qualifying matters; with no appeal rights and with a Government that has been declaratory about its desire to pack people into Auckland cheek by jowl.
I’ll fight hard for my constituents. I always do.
But then I’m a councillor who is focused on the well-being of my constituents. I am not a councillor who is submissively preoccupied with auditioning for future political patronage and directorships. Service to others, not service to self.
The performance of the local boards – a key part of Auckland’s co-governance – was patchy.
Danielle Grant and Ruth Jackson were highly articulate and their advocacy helped to persuade me. Richard Northey spoke for Waitemata. Brooke Loader spoke for Henderson-Massey. Kay Thomas spoke for Whau. Troy Churton spoke for Orakei. Jon Turner spoke for Puketapapa. Margi Watson spoke for Albert-Eden. I respect them all.
By contrast, the Manurewa Local Board chairperson is paid $98,950 per year. That same person was a no-show, he did not come to the Planning Committee to speak for Manurewa.
It rated as one of the worst examples of irrelevant absent leadership at a time when Manurewa needs strong and present advocacy.
$98,950 for a no-show. That standards have fallen to political eunuch status speaks volumes for what happens when people cease taking action when action is needed.
The veneer of congenial decision-making in local government barely disguises the contempt that many colleagues have for one another. And the forthcoming plan change will continue to boil voters who are becoming less and less tolerant of the intensification the Labour Government seeks for Auckland, a transformation that many oppose.
For me, the work continues: doorknocking; meeting people; explaining evidence options and submissions; advocacy at every turn. My constituents deserve people who front up and represent them, which is why I do what I do.
People ask me who do I support for Mayor of Auckland? My answer is I want to know what the mayoral candidates think about the right of my constituents to have a good life.
