275 Times. September 2016.

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6 MĀNGERE’S VOICES ON COUNCIL: WHO WILL YOU CHOOSE? >> Continued from Cover page. FILIPAINA: As people would know, the only person who can revoke SHA62 is Minister Nick Smith and I will support any correspondence asking for the Minister to reconsider his decision not to revoke. I have already advocated that the voice of mana whenua has to be heard and will continue to do so. MUA & TAMEIFUNA: The Council has already made its decisions on this. There is no process for a single councillor to overturn a decision made by Council, but we can happily meet with SOUL (Save Our Unique Landscape) to discuss their concerns and ensure that their voice is heard. 2. Consider a trial period of fare-free public transport in South Auckland to help cut traffic congestion? COLLINS: Yes, I would definitely consider a free public transport trial period. This is motivated by freeing up our roads but also for the economic benefit of Manukau residents who are more often than not, of lower socio-economic backgrounds. CORBETT: Yes. To achieve the best return on our huge investment in commuter rail we need it to be so attractive to commuters that they will leave their cars and choose rail and bus as the default way to get around Auckland. If rail and bus use is not maximised we will be faced with extraordinarily expensive pressure to build more roads. The East-West Link between State Highway 1 at Ōtāhuhu and State Highway 20 at Onehunga/Māngere Bridge is estimated to cost $1.5 billion. This will speed the journey between congestion at Ōtāhuhu to congestion on Māngere Bridge at Onehunga and do nothing to reduce the number of cars on the road - and may even encourage more cars. We have been experimenting with free travel for seniors with the Gold Card and it has been a wonderful, positive, life changing policy. Many young school-leavers face economic obstacles travelling to work or training opportunities. Free travel could have a major impact for these young workers gaining employment across the city. Auckland commuters are aware of the congestion load when schools and universities are open. Free train and bus travel for all students could arguably reduce congestion by 20 to 25 %. To build 25% new roading capacity would be an astronomical amount. Let’s be creative with our community assets. I see public transport as how we move around modern cities. This is why I will advocate for a trial of free travel on trains and buses. FILIPAINA: This has already been discussed around the Council table and for public transport to be free in South Auckland, we need at least another $28 million to come from ratepayers or taxes. I am unsure if our ratepayers would want to pay the extra. If the residents of the Manukau Ward wish me to advocate for this, I will. MUA & TAMEIFUNA: Auckland Transport has just conducted a review of public transport fares. We will be monitoring closely the effects that fare reductions such as these have on getting more people out of cars and into buses and trains. We need a lot more investment in a range of transport initiatives over the next three years, and getting Auckland moving again will be a major priority of ours. 3. Increase affordable housing? COLLINS: Absolutely. This is pivotal to a civil, caring and decent society. CORBETT: Yes. Possibly the most pressing issue in Manukau and Auckland in general is the availability and cost of renting or buying a home. It is outrageous that homelessness, and sleeping rough or in cars, has been tolerated by WINZ and Council agencies. Private construction companies will not build low-cost housing. Council and government agencies must fund and project manage the urgent construction of emergency housing. Leaving volunteer groups and Marae to do the work of government is criminal neglect. Affordable housing is possible and examples such as the Waimahia Estate at Manurewa demonstrate how this can be done. Thousands of tradespeople are being trained across Auckland by schools, polytechs and private training providers and with some coordination they could be the workforce that will help deliver the thousands of houses needed. I will advocate in council to support groups working to solve this issue. FILIPAINA: I have advocated for affordable housing across the region but like everything else when you are dealing with regional issues, you are just one vote amongst 21 people. MUA & TAMEIFUNA: Auckland has not built enough houses for the last 30 years. This has meant that housing has become unaffordable for far too many Aucklanders. The Unitary Plan provides for 420,000 more houses to be built. Auckland Future has been supportive of the Unitary Plan since the Independent Hearings Panels reported back. The only way to make housing more affordable for more Aucklanders is to increase the supply of housing. Auckland Future has a range of initiatives to make sure that the Council delivers on its plan. 4. Extend rail services to the airport? COLLINS: Yes. I still can’t understand why this hasn’t been done to this point in our history. I also support a heavy rail option to the airport. CORBETT: Yes. This is a critically important piece of infrastructure. Auckland Airport has accepted the reality of how a modern airport of this scale should operate and is building a railway station into the new terminal as we speak. They are yet to decide if it will be light or heavy rail but it will be rail. I will advocate to get a commitment from Council to build the airport branch line heavy rail from either Wiri or Onehunga. This must be decided and implemented now. FILIPAINA: I am on public record for supporting the heavy rail option to the airport.
7 Which candidates will support the community campaign to save Ihumatao from the SHA housing project? MUA & TAMEIFUNA: There are many projects that Auckland needs to get underway to get Auckland moving again. Many of these come from the Unitary Plan, which is an integrated housing, transport, and infrastructure plan for Auckland. If a rail service to the airport stacks up economically, then we will support it, but it has to be judged alongside all the other big infrastructure needs that Auckland has over the next twenty years. 5. Uphold local democracy? COLLINS: Yes. As a chair of a local board I am keenly aware of the views of local residents and am committed to ensuring that their views are heard and that they are provided with full and unprejudiced information. CORBETT: Yes. Our modern society is built on a foundation of democracy. We must ensure that tradition continues and flourishes. With recent government legislation, for example, the Special Housing Area Act 2013 removed the right of communities to be notified or to be able to object to zone changes for housing. The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2). will give the government the ability to appoint directors of Council Controlled Organisations (e.g. Watercare) instead of elected local representatives having that role. That’s hardly council control. The Government’s preoccupation with privatising public infrastructure will remove local accountability and decision making. The ability of Local Boards to advocate for their communities is also under huge pressure. The courageous Māngere/Ōtāhuhu Board was recently prevented by the Auckland Governing Body from objecting to the issuing of Liquor Licences in Māngere. The Chair, Lydia Sosene, was forced to pursue the case in a private capacity. In no way does this situation represent a model of effective local democracy. These attacks on basic democratic functions of our local bodies must be resisted strongly. I will advocate for strengthening the role of Local Boards and hold the Democracy Services division of Auckland Council to account. FILIPAINA: Yes. The Māngere- Ōtāhuhu Local Board is your local voice and they will continue to be that. MUA & TAMEIFUNA: We are deeply committed to ensuring that local democracy is maintained and strengthened, and that our communities are able to express their views and that Council hears our voice. 6. Restrict liquor & gaming outlets? COLLINS: Totally. Liquor stores and pokie machines are an indictment on our Manukau area and South Auckland has more of these than other parts of Auckland. This is unacceptable and the poor are being preyed on by ruthless business owners and poor laws that allow for this. I have this term advanced the need to review District Licensing Committee (DLC) hearings so that community voices are heard and not made to feel belittled and intimidated. CORBETT: Yes. These businesses offering liquor and pokie machines are destroying people’s lives and have a huge negative impact on family and community welfare. We do not need a liquor store and a pokie outlet in every community shopping area. Our communities must decide where and how many of these outlets should be allowed, not the Liquor and Gaming industry as is happening now. Only 10% of the money generated in the pokies in Manukau is distributed to organisations in Manukau. Once again our community is being exploited and impoverished. I will advocate for community board control of licensing these outlets. FILIPAINA: Yes. I supported the Local Boards in their advocacy for a stronger voice in regards to the District Licensing Committee. MUA & TAMEIFUNA: This is an issue that frequently comes up when we are speaking to church-based communities and door knocking in Manukau. We strongly support the right of local communities to play an active part in the decisions about the number and density of liquor and gaming outlets in our communities. 7. Upgrade community facilities? COLLINS: All our community facilities need to be well maintained and I have experienced a few in Ōtara that are desperately due for upgrading. Our locals deserve the best facilities which extend libraries, sports fields, community halls and the like. CORBETT: Yes. We must be creative and holistic in addressing how we keep our communities healthy, positive and safe. Well-funded and well maintained facilities are essential to achieving a good quality of life and a liveable city of vibrant communities. FILIPAINA: [No response] MUA & TAMEIFUNA: We will always support the development of the community facilities in Manukau. We believe we can do a lot better, through better representation at the Council table and better representation on our Local Boards to ensure that Manukau is getting a fair share of community facility funding.
Page 1 and 2: EDITION #23 SEPTEMBER 2016 275 time
Page 3 and 4: 3 Members of Māngere PIPC Samoan A
Page 5: 5 Korean language week at Mangere C
Page 9 and 10: Cultural brothers & sisters at Bade
Page 11 and 12: 11 MARAMATAKA SEPTEMBER 2016 B y Ay

275 Times. September 2016.

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