How’s the humidity? Is it sticky enough for you Aotearoa? A clear reminder that we’re not a second England on the other side of the world, albeit with a slightly better climate, but a Pacific nation on the rim of that great ocean.
Who can forget that first sight of the isthmus as you return from overseas, especially if you’ve been gone some time? It doesn’t look like Europe, or anywhere else, it looks like Tamaki Makaurau - the gateway to our beautiful land. The city with the largest population of Pasifika people on earth.
Later this year our city will elect a new mayor, and for a city that is so multi cultural if you look at the list of previous mayors there is even less diversity than the current National Party caucus – which is a sad indictment.
Other kiwis are quite happy to celebrate the prowess of Pasifika people on the sporting fields, Lomu, Umaga, Taylor. They have captained our traditional sports teams – the All Blacks, the Black Caps, and dominate other professional codes. They excel in the music charts, on our televisions writing, acting, and presenting.
We have good representation in our parliament through Labour and the Greens – which is just as well because none of the other parties have a single Pasifika MP. But we don’t look like having a Pasifika Prime Minister any time soon, and thus far there has seemed zero likelihood that the role referred to as the second most powerful in NZ politics, Mayor of Auckland, would be filled by a Pasifika person.
If you look at the photos of Auckland mayors over the years it looks less like a vibrant city on the edge of the Pacific and more like a parade of Grand Poobahs from the local Masonic lodge of a small home counties town.
All reports are that Phil Goff is set to move on be it parachuted into a new role or to enjoy retirement. Certainly it looks like there will be an opening.
Richard Hill on the north shore, who was reportedly to be anointed the next Labour candidate for mayor, has recently become a dad so has made the call not to stand. Realistically the candidate with this endorsement is the likely winner given the dominance of Labour in west and south Auckland where right wing candidates struggle to take 20% of the vote.
So theoretically as the obvious Labour candidate that leaves a good opportunity for Efeso Collins to run to become the first Pasifika mayor of Tamaki Makaurau.
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.
I’ll admit I was disappointed to read of his past opposition to gay marriage but I guess you have to look at the context of his traditional background and consider that he has subsequently genuinely apologized.
There will of course be other candidates in the race.
The charge from the right could be lead by Viv Beck, Heart of the City CEO – you know the one who regularly pops up on the news whining about health concerns being put before profits during the pandemic.
Or perhaps Vic Crone will give it another shot. Vic, like Nicola Willis but without the warmth and charisma, the darling of the leafy suburbs.
There will be Leo Molloy, the darling of the even further right, climate change denier, advocate for prioritizing the usage of private cars, and opponent of public transport and cyclists. I imagine Leo will only appeal to about 5% of voters, those that don’t think the series Boss with Kelsey Grammer as mayor looked like something to aspire to.
A rerun from Craig Lord, international man of mystery - like what does he actually stand for? The candidate most likely to appeal to those protesting outside parliament with a shared distrust of authority and absolutely no idea how to fix long-term problems.
The right may be keen to recycle National MPs whose career opportunities in parliament are at an end - god where to begin? Mark Mitchell? Maybe the reemergence of Paula Bennett with her confused message of “Westie for life and just say no to dope”
None of them will have a chance unless there is a strong left wing alternative that splits the vote. Failing that possibility Efeso Collins is a shoo-in to become the first Pasifika mayor of the city of Tamaki Makaurau.
About bloody time I reckon!
It would be great if more people actually showed up and voted in these elections. It seems that most people don’t understand just how much power the Mayor of Auckland swings. And yes, go Efeso! What a great appointment that would be.