The local body elections, the elections most people are really not that interested in, like even less than a safe seat by election, are happening again in October – are you excited?
There will be some interesting races no doubt; surely the good folk of Wellington will be looking for a new mayor – surely? The fabulous Steve Chadwick has indicated she won’t run again so my home town of Rotorua will certainly have a new one.
Meanwhile here in Tamaki Makaurau many of us assumed we’d be sleepwalking towards an Efeso Collins mayoralty, post Phil Goff, with the right splitting the vote ineffectively between them as they have since we had the super city. But this week there was a poll done showing things might be rather closer than that.
The Ratepayers’ Alliance-Curia mayoral poll has Labour councillor Efeso Collins and restaurateur Leo Molloy each on 21.7 per cent, Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck on 20.5 per cent and businessman Wayne Brown on 20.1 per cent.
Freelance media operator Craig Lord, who came third in the 2019 mayoral race, was four points behind the leading pack on 16 per cent.
Now the poll is not exactly kosher, with a sample size of only 500, excluding four other candidates, and for a group aligned with the Taxpayers' Union lobby group. But it certainly raises some questions – like on what planet are 62% of Auckland citizens going to vote for one of Molloy/Beck/Brown, the three right wing candidates?
And even with Leo Molloy luring away some of the anti mandate vote from Craig Lord, the tinfoil head-wear connoisseurs preferred option, he still gets about a sixth of the vote?
I generally try to look at the methodology being used, rather than the result, before being skeptical. But this poll is pretty damned far fetched – where did they take it - down at the viaduct?
I’ve written previously about Efeso Collins and why I think he should be the mayor.
Efeso is someone not afraid to speak out, a family man very connected with community, traditional Labour but not afraid to rock the boat. He is focused on public transport, housing, climate change, and an advocate for those who need it most. I reckon he’d be a fine mayor.
Auckland is a Labour town, that feels good to say even as a Greens supporter so I’m going to say it again – my beloved Auckland is a Labour town. OK not the Shore or the Eastern Suburbs but South and West Auckland are staunchly Labour. If this poll is even vaguely right then at least one of these candidates is drawing votes that would traditionally be left.
The Donald Trump effect perhaps where disenchanted voters line up behind an anti establishment candidate despite the fact that he doesn’t give a stuff about them. I’m not suggesting Leo Molloy is a Trump like character, he seems more like the long lost brother kept well out of media sight for obvious reasons.
Leo Molloy is clearing spending some money on social media, I’m not sure how well targeted it is it seems to be of the throw enough of it at the wall and some of it will stick variety. Go to the Herald site and there is a grinning Leo in large advertisements.
Leo hates the PM which seems to be his main point of appeal to the similarly afflicted, that and no money for transport other than roads. Transport is one of the major issues Auckland has - congestion, parking, pollution and clearly public transport is the only solution. To have a candidate opposed to spending on transport other that roads is concerning in 2022.
Forget climate change and the planet, just party like there is no tomorrow with Leo. His slogan is “relentlessly Auckland” whatever the heck that means – doing coke in the toilets at his bar? Who knows?
The right were supposed to have a high profile candidate like a Paula Bennett this time. Watching her in parliament was like witnessing a series of demonic possessions taking place, but she seems to have had these forces exorcised since leaving parliament and no longer seems inhabited by rapidly changing personalities.
In fact she now seems utterly empty and devoid of any real content at all – the perfect right wing vessel. Paninis and bowl lattes for all - hurrah, but no cannabis - naughty.
Regardless of the poll the right really need a couple of their candidates to drop out just leaving one. But I’m not sure if they have the discipline for that, seems to be one of the down sides of being on the right that it is all about the ego of the individual.
Auckland has some real problems especially housing, transport, and infrastructure.
Where I am in West Auckland the unitary plan is allowing some pretty high-density developments to take place. Houses that were the “quarter acre dream” to previous generations are being demolished, or trucked out in the early hours of the morning, and in their place are apartments.
Not the in-fill housing we used to see where people put a second dwelling on their back yard or perhaps redeveloped with three town houses. No these regulations mean than where one house stood there are now 6-10 apartments.
Apartments with no additional infrastructure expected to operate on that built for the low density housing decades earlier. What were once six homes with off street parking are now forty apartments with no parking and there is simply no road space for all those cars.
Higher density housing would be ideal to support greater use of public transport but sadly the councils approach seems to be not “build it and they’ll come” but “create the situation where it is essential and hope it magically appears”.
This election, and addressing these problems, is not just about the mayoral candidates, the composition of the council is at least as important.
This week I listened to Daniel Newman an Auckland Councillor, one of seven to vote against the council’s pretty modest climate budget, on RNZ say again and again that this is not the time to do anything about climate change.
He made some attempt to make it sound as if this was because he was concerned about the cost of living pressures face by those on low incomes. But the more he spoke the clearer it became that he was mostly concerned about road projects, and primarily about spending money on climate change that might negatively impact funding for road projects.
“Now is not the time” to do anything about climate change he said again, although clearly it is something he believes in, he assured us. I was reminded strongly of gun advocates in the US who every time there is a tragic mass murder say “now is not the time” to do anything.
Which begs the question – if not now then when?
What a guy – if you’re voting in the Manurewa-Papakura ward at the upcoming election might want to give that guy a wide berth in the polling booth if you think climate change is something we should do more about than notice.
On the other hand councilor Richard Hills speaking in the same interview made all kinds of sense. I know many people find it hard to get excited about local elections but there are good progressive people out there to vote for, for example out in West Auckland where I am - Shane Henderson.
You know who will vote in these elections? Older wealthier citizens more likely to vote for centre right candidates like Daniel Newman who do not want to spend money addressing important long term issues.
What ever you might feel about the local council the worst thing you can do is not vote. Look at the candidates in your area for council, for mayor, check their statements, for incumbents check their voting record, make an informed vote.
Still Mayor Leo could make for interesting times…
Your choice.
Auck,and is a mess : I used to live in Torbay, lovely village with Long Bay stunning hills and beach. Key times ruined Long Bay with huge houses on small lots majority sitting empty: Chinese buyers getting residency for buying a house ! Amalgamation and Unitary plan have ruined it with as you said developments without thoughts about roads or sewage . I voted for Goff as we all know Lenny was a disaster but disappointed with the way council is run. A wasted opportunity and a waste of money: more than 1 billion for the Viaduct building!
Scary times