MANA Bi-Election Wellington Hekia Parata

SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER 2010

I helped out my whanaunga Hekia Parata campaign in her electorate of Mana in Porirua Wellington. The bi-election goes to the polls on Saturday 20 November.

What an interesting township. It’s apparently the fourth wealthiest suburb/ward in the country. For those of you who know the area, it takes in the lower socio-economic region of Cannons Creek – a high umemployment, state housing district and yes, that's where we live a high proportion of us, our Maori and Pasifika whanau. This is Porirua east. Is it surprising then that Mana is a left leaning and therefore Labour stronghold? All those aspects, lower socio-economic, blue collar working, Maori-Pasifika whanau are traditionally left-Labour supporters. So why is it then that this is the fourth wealthiest suburb in New Zealand? Not knowing the area at all – I’m figuring there must be pockets of wealthy, moneyed streets, perhaps Pauatahanui and Pukerua Bay.
The bi-election is being held because Labour incumbent Luamanovao Winnie Laban has retired to take up a position at Victoria University. Taking up the red-reins is former TVNZ journalist Kris Faafoi. The Christchurch born Tokelauan is former Chief Press Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition and Chairperson of the Rongotai Pacific Branch of the Labour Party.
I showed up at Hekia’s Mana office with a couple of National Party mates from Auckland and Palmerston and was immediately impressed by the volunteer support. The queue of helpers snaked out the door and onto the footpath. There was a mix of older Pakeha, middle-aged corporate public servant types (you can tell them they maybe casually dressed but they have the tell-tale crease down the jeans). The standout groups and there were two of them, both on the under 25 year side of life. I labelled one of the groups ‘Young Nat’s but they told me they had graduated, to what I don't know because they looked to me too young to be in the 40-below group. The other largish roopu there; were rangatahi Māori. It wasn’t just that there were a significant number of them about a dozen – but my goodness they were tall about 5’6, 5’7 slim young men and women aged about 16,17 all stuffing envelopes. Hekia’s relatives, I bet.

So off I went door knocking down Mungavin Street in Porirua. Heavily state housing area with about 90% Māori and Pasifika whanau. The street is both hilly and flat. The houses on the ridge had the best view back over to Titahi Bay. The houses on the flat are still on their original ¼ acre sections which means the area hasn’t succumbed to Auckland’s population squeeze and the need to infill. What struck me about this street was the amount of apathy locals have towards the bi-election. This is probably the hardest obstacle to tackle for any Politician. Trying to convince people to take control of their future, to have a say in what happens to them, their whanau and kids is difficult. You’re battling in some instances generational lethargy, indifference created by years of welfare dependency, disillusionment, disappointment and yes sheer bloody laziness. What to do about it takes concentrated co-ordinated effort from community agencies the Government and individuals. It’s not to say it isn’t happening already because it is. But ultimately the will to want to progress, be prosperous, be ambitious needs to come from the whanau themselves. My whanaunga Hekia Parata represents ambition, prosperity. Coming from a small rural East Coast town called Ruatoria – it has never been an affluent township. But concentration on furthering her education a determination to develop economically both on a personal and community level has seen Hekia and her immediate whanau in business and now in Parliament. Hekia is a great success story for the people of Mana, Titahi Bay and Porirua. This is what the National Government is all about prosperous, successful New Zealanders including Māori. So if you’re in Mana, go to the polls on Saturday 20 November and vote Hekia Parata National. Just a reminder it’s a vote for the MP only there’s no Party vote in a bi-election.

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER: GO LICK YOUR OWN WOUNDS! IT AINT OVER!

DAY AFTER:
Sunday 10 October 2010
Well it’s all over bar the screaming and a-shouting! I wasn’t selected for Local Board Owairaka subdivision of Albert-Eden-Roskill. In fact none of my C&R team mates made it over the line. Chris Fletcher won her race and Paul Goldsmith was pipped at the post by City Vision’s Dr Cathy Casey.

Of course I’m disappointed not to have made it over the line – you don’t enter a race to come second or last. I think I did well on the streets, I did a good door knock campaign, I really enjoyed meeting people – if there was anything I would change about that part of the campaigning strategy it would be that I would knock on more doors and I’d probably want to go round a second time. So next time and there will be a next time I’ll give myself more lead-in. Believe me there will be a next time and it won’t be in three years either. Now that I am not on a Local Board, it frees me up to seek nomination for a central government candidacy. There’s no need for me to feel compromised by my duty to the Local Board and my determination to get to Wellington. Whether I get a nomination will depend on several very key factors:
a) How hard I campaigned at this Local Board level b) What skills I bring to the Party c) Team-ship; my dedication to the Party and its policies.
Selection will be up to me – how hard I work, how well I can convince the Party that my skill and experience will not only compliment but enhance the Party and although I have ‘Boss’ and ‘Leadership’ roles in my professional life I am also a very good follower. I hope also to convince the Party that I’m actually quite a nice person as well. I'm well conditioned that Party members can take me home to meet the husband/wife/kids and I won’t eat the pot plants and kick the cats. Don’t get me wrong….I said earlier I’m disappointed but age and business ownership has toughened me up I take very few things personally and I always have a contingency plan.

Should I take defeat personally….hell no. I know what Maori media commentators will say; Pakeha didn’t vote for me because I was Maori…and because suburbia is by and large homophobic they won’t vote for a gay. Well I don’t believe that, I refuse to buy into that paranoia. That’s rubbish.

What I do think is that, it’s harder to run at Local Board Level if you don’t already have a very big profile at the coal face. There is scant to no media coverage given to Local Boards but rather the ‘sexy’ stories are up at Mayor and Councillor level. Which means for those of us who haven’t worked at flax roots it takes a lot more leg work, and you do need to diversify the methods of community contact: door knocking, community hui, telephone canvassing, fund raising events and there’s no substitution for actually working with and for charity and community groups. Those that won in Owairaka were Community people – absolutely they were; there’s no denying it. So when it came time to vote, as much as residents said they wanted change, Owairaka voted conservatively and stayed with those they knew. Because they knew these people the community felt they could trust them. I can understand that. It had nothing to do with ‘Left’ and ‘Right’ but everything to do with ‘Local’. The Super City is after all an unknown quantity. All communities are concerned and rightly so, about how they will fare. Will they be overlooked in the transitioning phase? Will they be bossed around by the CCO’s? Will their rates and rents increase? I’m not saying Owairaka chose correctly – they didn’t they should have chosen me. What I need to do is to convince them that they should have voted for me and they can vote for me next year.

In respect to the big-picture view of the elections, the ‘left’ – particularly the unions and Labour Party faithful worked strategically to get South Aucklanders to vote. They were methodical and meticulous and their efforts paid off. It took organisation and time and a lot of people power, but it worked. How desperate were the ‘left’ to get Len Brown into the job, very desperate. You got to admire the job they did on South and West Auckland. They rallied the people, constantly attended to them, it was almost bully-boy tactics. How desperate were they, very desperate.

So now I go back to my other job. I will not be licking my wounds, I am not battered, or bruised physically or emotionally – that’s for kids! I go back to my day job, armed with my A4 exercise book crammed full of notes on how to run a bigger, smarter, slicker campaign – not in three years time but next year.
Follow me if you like. I’m still going to call the blog ‘Diary of a Campaigner’ and since I work in TV I may as well make it a VBLOG. That’ll be fun. To all of you who supported me with votes and good wishes – mauri ora koutou katoa!

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER: MAORI MOANERS

DAY FORTY-EIGHT:
Thursday 07 October 2010
Have you voted? It’s not too late to get your forms in – take them to any Council today or tomorrow Friday and to any public Library on Saturday before midday. The preliminary results of the Council for the new Auckland will be known by 1pm on Saturday 09th October.

It’s a time of reflection for me on how I campaigned. This is the first time I’ve actually run for a political position. Make no mistake about it Local Board is all about politics. I only bring this up because I had on the campaign trail been told that Local Board members aren’t real politicians – we’re ‘different’. By ‘different’ I think the person meant we’re at the coal face of the community and that we are the community. I agree with this premise – we are the community. But we have a responsibility to ensure that we positively exploit every policy, budget, legislation, Act and bureaucratic mechanism to advantage our communities. That entrenches us firmly in politics and makes us politicians. You can’t deny what you are by ignoring the facts and calling yourself another name – a rose is still a rose by any other name says Shakespeare.

As a current affairs journalist and programme producer I’ve covered many local body elections – essentially to critique and scrutinize candidate’s policies and promises and to analyse their campaigning strategies.

Working in Maori media and covering local body elections the tone and tenor of coverage is always one of cynicism, and derision not of any person but of a system that some Maori believe to be racist. A system they say does not allow for Maori to vocalise and champion Maori topics. A system these critics say does not allow Maori to be themselves. I do not agree with these cynics. I think these types of commentators perpetuate the very ideology they say they’re fighting against.

By continuously bleating that Maori issues are ignored and over-looked creates a perception of separatism. By publicizing that Iwi can’t be ‘themselves’ on a campaign trail undermines the strength of Maori as individuals and collectively. For too long now we have listened to naysayer Maori, cynical Maori bemoan our position in this country as less than equal. For too long now Maori have followed these commentators and championed them as leaders. For too long now the dissemination of this type of almost conspiratorial ideology has contributed to a repressive world view.

Don’t get me wrong, there are very real historical injustices that still need to be addressed. Maori have faced systemic racism. Some Maori have and still do face personal workplace and street level racism. Maori do make up the majority of those at the bottom of the economic and social ladder.

Don’t get me wrong I do think vocalising injustices and often reminds us to continuously seek level playing fields and to seek justice. But to relentlessly complain without offering solutions is wrong. To demand redress for historical injustices without consideration to the long term affect on individuals and communities is irresponsible. To bleat incessantly about other people’s racist viewpoints toward Maori for publicity is in itself inciting hatred.

What I learnt on the campaign trail was humility. Past all the politicking and racial rhetoric was a community called Owairaka made up of Maori, Pakeha, Asian, African, European, Pasifika determined to live a life of prosperity. A community of people focussed on contributing positively to each other in some way. I met Mums and Dads working hard to give their children a better education than they had and greater opportunities to express their potential.

Owairaka like Maori do not need a constant barrage of cynical oppressive racially divisive diatribe. Nor do we need negative social statistics constantly reinforced as a permanent state of being. What we all desire are advocates of ambition, promoters of a hard work ethic, supporters of self responsibility and community champions.


Good luck to all those running for Council positions around the country, well done for standing up and wanting to make a difference.

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER DAY 40: MATT McCARTEN'S B**S PICKS

DAY FORTY:
Wednesday 29 September 2010
The ballot papers are on the benches, pinned to kitchen boards and refrigerators. In 10 days time this great city of Tamakimakaurau/Auckland will have a new council and take on a new direction. Have you voted?

I have got my nose way outta joint! Why….because Matt McCarten didn’t name me in his Auckland Supercitypicks.com. I’ve known Matt professionally for about 7 years, we have a mutual friend, actually this mutual person is one of Matt’s closest mates, and I’m a tag along or was.

McCarten reckons he’s posted his picks out to about 50,000 people. He says he based his votes partially on the following criteria as well as other considerations:

Being pro-community and not in the pockets of business interests
A track record of political reliability, the ability and talent to actually to do the job they want
A good chance of winning

McCarten knows my work in broadcasting means I’ve got to be across all issues affecting the country and at all levels from local to regional to central. I’m a Documentary and Current Affairs programme Producer so I have the type of over view that allows for big picture strategy and micro analysis. Matt benefitted from my personal hard work and determination in an aggressive broadcasting industry. He was a regular guest on our current affairs programme ‘Eye to Eye with Willie Jackson’ where he was able to challenge opposing politicians, commentators or business interest groups. So when it comes to strength and courage against odds to not only get a job done, but to give voice to all sides, groups and interests - Matt has conveniently forgotten me. Perhaps Matt McCarten thinks I might win. He wouldn’t want that because that would split his ‘left’ leaning team and Matt’s nirvana is a left leaning Auckland City. What I find most interesting however is that for someone who champions tangatahwhenua, Matt didn’t acknowledge the Party with Maori on its ticket. When all is said and done Matt is keeping true to his political ‘faith’. He is after all a ‘leftie’ and a hard core one at that, so he’s being consistent. Let’s hope his picks are completely wrong – for the sake of our city and the sake of our future.

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER: DAY39 VOTE NOW

DAY THIRTY-NINE:
Tuesday 28 September 2010
We have the ballot papers. In 11 days time this great city of Tamakimakaurau/Auckland will have a new council and take on a new direction.

The voting returns are well down this year with only 17.96% or 172,272 received so far out of a possible 959,120. In my ward of Owairaka Albert-Eden out of a possible 32, 741 votes, only 5,369 or 16.4% have been received.

I’m hoping people are leaving the run till the last week although if you need to post off no later than Wednesday 06 to guarantee the vote reaching the electoral office on time. To check and see how other areas in Auckland are faring checkout the website:
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/2010Elections/Voting/Pages/Home.

I’ve been in Wellington these last few days and being in the Capital you get a sense of Central Government issues and politicking. You get a sense that decisions here impacts on local councils around the country. So it’s vitally important Councils have the strength to act in the interests of its region, communities and people. Local boards is where the rubber hits the road in terms of personal impact and influence of policies and decisions. So it’s crucial everyone gets out and votes for the board that will act in the best interests of the people serve willingly and commit responsibly. Obviously I think the Board that can best serve this community is C&R Owairaka.
Let’s all get out and exercise our democratic right to vote. So take the papers out of the evelopes, off the fridges, out from under the stack of mail, tick those boxes and Vote now! VOTE C&R.

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER DAY 33 BARMY POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

DAY THIRTY-THREE:
Wednesday 22 September 2010
The ballot papers are in the letter boxes. There are 17 days until ‘D’ day decision day on 09th October.

I wanted to address a comment made by one of my Facebook ‘adds’ regarding my kids on the hustings with me. The ‘add’ said: “Keep kids safe, including from politics, until they are old enough to make their own informed decisions rather than their parent’s ones. Look at Fiji. There is a reason you have to be eighteen to vote.”
Firstly having my children on the hustings with me is part of what being Maori and tangatahwhenua is all about. This is about our future their future our rangatiratanga. This is about them being a part of the process and understanding what happened in their life time that affected their future and that of their mokopuna to come. This concept of having children campaigning isn’t reserved solely for Maori, many other people’s have done the same thing, not just here but around the world. Physical safety is paramount and at the fore front of any parents’ mind when they take their tamariki out in big crowds and particular attention is paid during hustings. But to say ‘keep kids safe from politics’ is politically-correct nonsense wrapped up in patronising religious fanaticism. It’s a holier-than-thou attitude not towards tamariki but towards a people who dare to vocalise and proudly their sovereign right to campaign to protest to activate the minds and hearts of their people and especially their children. The kind of ‘keep them safe’ the add refers to is a ‘say nothing-see nothing’ ideology usually practised by groups with something to hide. Maori are about whanau, we will include our Pakeke and tamariki, our kaumatua, kuia, tāne, wāhine in everything, all the time. All parents know that when tamariki grow up they make their own decisions, informed and ill-informed. I would hope that the informed decisions my tamariki make are based on some of the experiences I have given them and the knowledge I have imparted. I would hope that the ill-informed decisions are few and far between because of the experiences I have given them and the knowledge I have imparted. Our tamariki like many other children in Aotearoa/New Zealand and around the world have been and will always be an intrinsic part of political activism. And so it shall be.

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER DAY 34 DEVELOPMENTS BEGBIE AND CHEWED TO BITS

DAY THIRTY-FOUR:
Thursday 23 September 2010
The ballot papers are in the letter boxes. There are 16 days until ‘D’ day decision day on 09th October.

I door knocked streets around the back of the Westfield St Lukes Mall this afternoon. The residents there have been vocal about the extent of the development which will see the Mall expand North East and along the side of Aroha Ave. The Mall already owns many of the homes across Exeter St and Morningside Dr two streets that sit adjacent to Aroha Ave and Bournemouth Street. Indoor floor space will increase from 4.5ha to 9.2ha, eclipsing the 7ha Sylvia Park shopping centre in Mt Wellington and Westfield Albany, which is also around 7ha. This will be the largest shopping complex in the country. The residents have valid concerns regarding the development. The traffic that comes with these things is overwhelming. St Lukes would remain a vehicle-oriented centre as it’s not well served by public transport as other large centres such as Newmarket and Sylvia Park, and according to Mall Authorities the nature of shopping is such that public transport is not an ideal means of carrying more than a handful of small purchases home. As well as the concern over traffic the impact on the aesthetics of the residental properties is also very real. There would be those that champion for the development because of the economical benefits it brings to the area. A development this size will bring a significant number of jobs and for some areas within Owairaka and the wider Auckland these positions will be a ‘god-send’.

I moved a little further along Sandringham Rd and into Begbie Place. This has always fascinated me this cul-de-sac. It reminds me of Don Croot St in Western Springs, where the majority housing is privately owned flats or units. The Begbie residents are culturally diverse – Iranian, Asian (Indian, Chinese) Pasific Island, Pakeha and Maori. I spoke with many of the residents who were keen to share their concerns several coming out onto the street to talk with me. Parking seemed to the major issue for these residents. It seems the street is used as an unpaid park ‘n ride bay. In fact while I was chatting to the locals three people walked around the corner from Sandringham Rd jumped in their cars and drove off. One of the ‘parkers’ admitted using the street for several months as a ‘park ‘n ride’. Coming from Mt Roskill the gentleman said he could save time and money by driving to Begbie Ave park for free and pay a 2 stage bus fare to town. Begbie is north of Balmoral/St Lukes and Sandringham Rd intersection. The ‘park ‘n ride’ cars take up both sides of the narrow street, making coming and going by residents difficult. There is ample off street parking for residents as these units and flats are very well catered with carports, car pads and garages. In my korero with the residents they said they didn’t know who to complain to about the congestion. It’s obvious this street like countless others across Owairaka are being ignored or overlooked. I felt for these residents and I look forward to working with them.

Earlier in the day I recorded CitizenA with host Bomber Bradbury at Triangle TV. The other guest was left-wing political commentator Chris Trotter. I’ve worked with Chris, he was a regular guest on ‘Eye to Eye’ the current affairs programme I executive produced which screened on TV1 for 7 years. Trotter is well respected as an analytical, insightful commentator. He and Bomber spared me no quarter. The moment I spoke they literally tore what I said to shreds. Lucky I’m used to conflict, a weaker person would have buckled and bowled-on-outta there. But the more they ripped into me the more I felt complimented. If they thought I was a ‘flake’ and a ‘fake’ they wouldn’t have challenged me. Anyway that’s my take on the situation and I’m sticking to it!

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER: DAY 32 IF YOU DON'T STAND FOR SOMETHING YOU'LL FALL FOR ANYTHING

DAY THIRTY-TWO:
Tuesday 21 September 2010
The ballot papers are in the letter boxes. There are 21 days until ‘D’ day decision day on 09th October.

Someone told me or I read it somewhere that if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything! I think I’m already making a difference with the work I do in television programming making. The stories I tell are about accessibility. Gaining access to sectors of the community that are difficult to enter in order to get better information to make more informed decisions about ourselves, others and our country has been the driving force of my Company FRONT OF THE BOX PRODUCTIONS LTD. I want to continue making a difference and I know working for the Owairaka Local Board is the way to go. Now that I have a little family my attention must be refocused and brought back to my own backyard. I’m doing that here in Owairaka because this is where I grew up and this is where my children are now growing up. These are the 5 issues of priority for me. I know they resonant with Owairaka locals and I’m looking forward to achieving these goals and more.

1. ZERO TOLERANCE TO CRIME
Zero tolerance to crime, littering, tagging and destruction of
public and private property. I will work with the Police, Community groups and residents to ensure all people and property are safe. Greater protection for our hard working business owners and honest shoppers will be my priority. I will work hard to ensure shopping precincts have greater security, better lightening, more parking.


2. REVOKE LIQUOR LICENCES
Revoke licences to off-licence premises. I will work
hard to ensure off-licences are removed from within a 3k radius of all schools, public parks and reserves.



3. CHAMPION LOCAL HEROES
Support Community groups and their work.
I will work hard to ensure community groups have access to resources
and facilities to achieve so they can get on with working for locals.

4. MORE BUSINESSES FOR LOCAL CENTRES
Champion a return of businesses to local areas. I will
work with Business Associations to have small businesses return to local centres
and shopping blocks.



5. PROTECTION OF WĀHI TAPU AND ICONIC LANDMARKS
To ensure the historical uniqueness of the area is maintained I will champion the
efforts of manawhenua/tangatahwhenua maintaining wāhi tapu and all those groups working towards the preservation of iconic landmarks.

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER DAY 31 BLAAA BLAAA BLAAA MONOTONE VOICE ON ROTATE

DAY THIRTY-ONE:
Monday 20 September 2010
The ballot papers are rolling into the letter boxes. There are 22 days until ‘D’ day decision day on 09th October.

So the most interesting thing that happened to C&R today was the ‘sign-off’ between us and City Vision. We read via Len Brown’s Twitter that CV was going to be at the cross-roads of Dominion and Mt Albert Rds so we decided to front up as well. It was very noisy I have to say, what with the traffic and the Len Brown megaphone churning out CV political messages and C&R van pumping out music – it was full on. The thing about party policy messages over megaphones in heavy traffic is that no one hears what you’re saying…because of the traffic noise. So what needs to happen is you gotta be really concise in your korero/speak and also pick your moments when there is a lull in the traffic other wise it sounds like..blah….blah….blah….blah…bla
waaaaaa……waaaaaa…..waaaaaaa – really it does!

Yes in situations like this you have to be quick, snappy, smart and savvy with the messages – you know like a 30sec ad. The only reason why I’m saying all this is because I really wanted to hear what CV were saying and even though I was just across the road and concentrating it sounded like a monotone taped voice on rotate. The thing about the monotone taped voice on rotate is that it comes across as preachy. So I’m only talking about this because in my job as a television programme producer, I have from time to time directed narrators in voiceover recording sessions. Tone and voice inflection is crucial if you want viewer or audience attention and retention. Of course scripting has to be pithy, punchy and precise too, you can’t be cluttered, verbose or unstructured, people or audiences get confused about what you’re trying to tell them. Yes delivery and scripting is vital when trying to capture the hearts and minds of people. That’s why I love Maori activists and activism. The messages from Maori leaders are always uplifting, positive invigorating – they raise the hearts, minds and spirits of the people, especially in our darkest moments. The other thing about Maori leaders when they rally to the masses is that they chant. There is a rhythm and a beat to their korero and of course there is always waiata. My Company produced a documentary Directed by Qantas Award winner Makerita Urale called ‘Waiata Whawhai-Protest Songs’ which detailed the genesis of some of our most iconic protest songs.
Earlier in the day I spent door knocking Sandringham. I covered quite a bit of ground and spoke to quite a few people. The rest of the Owairaka ward will receive their voting papers tomorrow. What an exciting time.

(Nga Mihi John Miller mo nga whakaahua tawhito)

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER DAY30 DITCH THE BAGGAGE

DAY THIRTY:
Sunday 19 September 2010
The ballot papers are rolling into the letter boxes. There are 22 days until ‘D’ day decision day on 09th October.
I had a great day today. Following a hui with two TV Industry colleagues and friends I went to work knocking on doors in Western Springs, Kingsland and Sandringham. I got to meet quite a few residents in Rocky Nook. It’s the area at the back of Fowlds Park. It’s an unusual place in the sense that the old Auckland Regional Authority (ARA) brought a lot of the properties that backed onto St Lukes Rd with a view that they could disappear, forfeited to the widening of the motorway. But oddly enough the homes survived and the streets flourished and it’s become an enclave. As I walked around knocking on the doors the same comment kept cropping up: ‘…you’re the only one that’s been to see us.’ It seems the incumbent councillors have taken their positions for granted, that they don’t need to go out and meet the people again or perhaps the incumbents are hoping the citizens and residents are too complacent to vote for change. If there’s one thing I’ve found as I’ve been going around the streets is that the people of Auckland are extremely interested in their city. The people are concerned about inheriting debt from other regions, they’re worried about their burms. The Owairaka C&R team is unencumbered by bureaucratic baggage all we know is that we can-do it and we will-do what ever it takes to get the job done. This doesn’t mean we’ll go naively or blindly into the local board role, on the contrary. We’re business owners in our own right and understand systems and processes, what I’m saying is we won’t let the red tape trip us up, we’ll make sure we see the trees past the wood and we’ll set realistic measureable outcomes for ourselves based n community goals and aspirations.

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER: DAY29 WAVING IN THE RAIN

DAY TWENTY-NINE:
Saturday 18 September 2010
The ballot papers are rolling into the letter boxes. There are 23 days until ‘D’ day decision day on 09th October.

It was a relatively slow day campaigning, thanks to the wet and rainy, blustery and cold day. C&R team mate Sarah Turner and I walked through St Lukes Mall handing out flyers and chatting to people. We actually managed to distribute quite a bit of information. Although the voting papers started arriving in letter boxes yesterday, there’s still quite a bit of confusion about how to vote ie: how many to vote for, who are the DHB candidates and does Albert Eden Roskill have a Licensing Trust? Of course Sarah and I are more than happy to talk people through the process.

We then decided to wave at cars. So we took our hoardings and plonked ourselves in the middle of St Lukes Rd. Well when I say ‘middle’ I mean on an island – safely. It’s a great location not only do you get the traffic running north and south but it’s also a pedestrian thorough way between the Mall and the Mega Centre. So we got to ask people for support as well as wave at the cars – two birds with one stone. We had to flag the wave after an hour and a half though because we got drenched neither of us had raincoats. Sarah and I really enjoy waving at cars we think its magnificent for Party branding and keeping the profile visible. In that short space of time we can get the brand visibility in front of about 1000 people, not bad.

DIARY OF A CAMPAIGNER:DAY28 STAND UP AGAINST CCO'S

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT:
Friday 17 September 2010
The ballot papers are rolling into the letter boxes. There are 24 days until ‘D’ day decision day on 09th October.

The day was a busy one. Sarah and I started by waving at cars in Pt Chev, at St Lukes and then in Mt Albert. In fact, we’ve been saluting at cars and drivers for almost three weeks. Sarah and I estimated that at Pt Chev we would have 200 cars pass us in a four-way light exchange. In a one hour evening session, there would be about 1600 cars. That’s a lot of vehicles. What we also noticed were a whole lot of single passenger rides. C&R advocates for people out of cars and into public transport.

We need a more connected transport system that can get workers from one end of Auckland to the other with minimum fuss as possible. More importantly we need to do this as cheaply and as safely as possible. But this means Local Boards must work as a strong united team to champion the needs and wants of the community.
Transportation will be under a Council Controlled Organisation. It will be the responsibility of the Local Boards to control the CCO’s and make them accountable to the people. They must listen to us the people not the other way around. The Local Board needs to be decisive and focussed come 01 November and hit the ground running. That’s why I do not buy into what incumbents and the ‘experienced’ ‘old-hands’ at council are saying, that ‘….no one will know what is expected and how it will work’. That kind of talk comes from those bogged down in bureaucracy. That kind of talk comes from ‘thinkers-of-a-tired-way’. The new Auckland City must have proactive, forward thinking can-do, will-do individuals who can work as a team to ensure best results for the community. That team is C&R Owairaka. The voting papers are out. Let’s make this region succeed. Vote C&R.