275 Times May 2018
Mangere community news. This month: have your say on Auckland's Fuel Tax, stand up for Ihumatao, pathways for performing arts, rethink waste - and more!
Mangere community news. This month: have your say on Auckland's Fuel Tax, stand up for Ihumatao, pathways for performing arts, rethink waste - and more!
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2<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
Aloha!<br />
I’ve been<br />
getting a lot of<br />
good tips from<br />
our community<br />
about weight<br />
loss, after my April<br />
editorial on “Bucket List Wants”.<br />
Thank you all for your concern and<br />
willingness to help. I can’t wait to<br />
try some of your ideas. (Although<br />
for the sake of the world, I will<br />
forego the pole dancing workouts<br />
for the foreseeable future).<br />
I will however, stand... on the land.<br />
We’ve been talking about the<br />
Wallace Block land in Ihumātao<br />
forever now. It is atrocious that<br />
we are still having to talk about it<br />
in such a negative light today.<br />
Once this land, which is of cultural,<br />
historical and archaeological<br />
significance, is developed into a<br />
housing area, there’s no going back.<br />
It doesn’t always need to be about<br />
money. In some instances, what<br />
something means to a community<br />
– to a people – is far more<br />
important than what goes into your<br />
wallets or bank accounts. This fight<br />
to Save Our Unique Landscape<br />
is one of those instances.<br />
We’re heading into winter and<br />
if the recent bout of unpredictable<br />
weather is anything to go<br />
by, then we will need to get ourselves<br />
prepared for emergencies.<br />
I’m not talking Doomsday bunkers,<br />
but making sure you have<br />
emergency supplies including<br />
water – and food that’s easy to<br />
store and carry – to last you and<br />
your family at least 72 hours.<br />
(Don’t forget your pets!)<br />
If you still have fallen trees and<br />
branches from the last storm<br />
blocking footpaths around<br />
your property, please contact<br />
Auckland Council: 09 301 0101.<br />
Lastly, we celebrate mothers<br />
this month. So on behalf of<br />
the staff of <strong>275</strong> <strong>Times</strong> – HAPPY<br />
MOTHERS’ DAY to all mothers.<br />
Hermann<br />
Tuataga Hermann Arp Jr<br />
Editor<br />
DOES AUCKLAND<br />
NEED A FUEL TAX?<br />
>> continued from page 1<br />
decision than what ratepayers<br />
and motorists are facing.<br />
After months of reading and<br />
pondering the options, the IAB<br />
decided against a regional<br />
fuel tax because it was unfair,<br />
provided no alternative, and did<br />
not deliver sufficient revenue.<br />
In its favour, it did not require a<br />
change to any legislation, and would<br />
be relatively easy to implement.<br />
A better solution<br />
Our preferred option was<br />
something called a variable<br />
motorway charge. This was<br />
similar to a congestion charge<br />
but applied only to motorways.<br />
It served the dual purpose of not<br />
only raising the revenue required<br />
but also providing an incentive for<br />
people to travel off-peak where<br />
possible. A regional fuel tax offers<br />
no incentive to travel off-peak.<br />
Lastly, a motorway charge still<br />
gave people the option of not<br />
using the motorway. The tradeoff<br />
was that they would take more<br />
time to get to their destination.<br />
A motorway charge isn’t perfect,<br />
but it is more equitable than a<br />
fuel tax, and directly addresses<br />
reducing congestion.<br />
Taking from the poor...?<br />
There is a further problem for<br />
South Auckland: given Auckland<br />
Working together<br />
for the community<br />
Transport’s priorities, it seems<br />
likely that a fuel tax will mean<br />
Auckland’s poorest residents (that<br />
is, those who travel the furthest<br />
to get to their low-paid jobs) will<br />
effectively subsidise light rail for<br />
the benefit of the wealthiest.<br />
So, do we need a regional fuel tax?<br />
No. There are smarter options.<br />
Find out more:<br />
If you’re going to make a submission<br />
on the regional fuel tax, you can<br />
read the IAB’s full report at www.<br />
shapeauckland.co.nz/media/1182/<br />
section-113-alternative-transportfunding-informationa4.pdf<br />
HAVE YOUR SAY TODAY!<br />
Submissions close 14 <strong>May</strong> at 8pm.<br />
Visit akhaveyoursay.nz to read<br />
the consultation documents,<br />
and give your feedback online.<br />
You can also have your say:<br />
• in person at a Council Service<br />
Centre, your local library, or<br />
on Tues 8 <strong>May</strong>, 6pm–8pm at<br />
Manurewa Intermediate School,<br />
76 Russell Road, Manurewa<br />
• by FREE post: AK Have Your<br />
Say, Auckland Council, Freepost<br />
Authority 182382, Private<br />
Bag 92 300, Auckland 1142<br />
• by email: akhaveyoursay@<br />
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz<br />
• on Twitter or Facebook:<br />
@aklcouncil #akhaveyoursay<br />
The Working Together Group has generously donated seven new sewing<br />
machines for the sewing classes at the Māngere East Community Centre.<br />
Centre Manager Hone Fowler (centre in white t-shirt) received the sewing<br />
machines at a recent community gathering at the Māngere East Hall,<br />
which was also attended by Local Board member Christine O’Brien (left).
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