Rodney Ward - Vince Pereira

Another newcomer to politics is Vince Pereira, of Dairy Flat, who is recommending himself to voters as an “honest, ordinary, hard-working family man”. He grew up on the North Shore where he worked as a chef before making a family and lifestyle choice to base himself closer to home. He is currently employed at a timber yard in Silverdale and runs a home-based web development and IT solutions business. Vince recently formed the political party We The People, which will field candidates in next year’s general election. Asked where the party’s ideology sat, he said it was neither left nor right, but “dead smack in the centre”.

Vince Pereira believes the Auckland region needs fresh ideas and the new Council is a chance for a new beginning. It’s time to get rid of the old habits and the old ways of doing things, he says.

“I don’t have a lot of experience in local government so I’m not sure if I can elaborate more than that. I know I will be learning on the job, but I feel confident that with the experienced people already on the team, I’ll be able to provide a vision and make a positive contribution.”

Vince wants to provide Rodney with an independent and “down-to-earth” voice on Council.

“I want my children to grow up in a region where the focus is on them rather than commercial interest. It is vitally important that our nation wakes up to the fact that each of us ‘embodies’ the ‘resources’ that our country needs to solidify itself as a power in the world. I want the greater Rodney Ward to be focused on the things that make our region unique.

“The contribution to the local and national population that the Rodney farming communities provide, given the size and scope of this “XXL” Ward, is potentially enormous. Farming education is still in its infancy in Rodney. The region is plush and ready to reward us with a bountiful harvest.”

Vince says the construction of the Puhoi to Wellsford highway is a “no brainer”.

“After these elections, the power centre will no longer own all the horses in the race and the hyper expansion of greater Auckland will emerge. It is important as we move forward in our progression that we install a harmony of checks and balances.

“We don’t want Rodney turning into an urban jungle and we don’t want urban development rolling out over productive farmland. To meet Auckland’s need to expand, we should encourage people to move to Warkworth, Wellsford and Mangawhai where growth can be concentrated.”

Vince says NZ is entering a pivotal part of the 21st Century where it can go one of two ways.

“We can either choose more tyranny and become a police state, or we can choose a road that delivers more freedom for the people.”

In line with this, Vince says he would encourage Council to hold referendums on controversial issues.

He believes Auckland needs a fairer rating scheme and hopes the new Council will overhaul the current system.

“I don’t understand the guts behind the current rating policy but I do understand that people are being rated excessively, particularly when we already pay a lot in taxes.”

He thinks the council controlled organisations (CCOs) that are being established under the Auckland Council will deliver greater efficiencies and better services, and is confident they will be accountable.

Independence is an important ingredient in Vince’s campaign. He says too many politicians are beholden to big business.

“The influence of big business within small townships is not healthy in my opinion. It leads to a lack of innovation. Communities become reliant on the mega shopping houses that are not locally owned, produce is not locally sourced and profits are not locally shared. This is leading to an economic and environmental imbalance.

“I wish to see the “people resources” that our villages embody, expressed through the community in new forms of commerce and trade, health and balance at work and at play. We should be more localised in sourcing of goods.
Government initiatives need to be applied to enable local people to produce local product.

“The money that the government proposes spending for the roll-out of fibre optics gives me the chills. I live 20 minutes from Auckland Central but cannot even get fixed line broadband. The monopolistic carriers have provided a satellite or mobile option, however these plans are overly expensive and extremely limiting in terms of data consumption. I think we should look at a national carrier that will enable extremely affordable broadband for our farms and outer city homes.

“I can see with the establishment of the new Auckland Council, a framework of checks and balances that empowers the local people directly. At last we will not have to accept the program of governance from an establishment outside of our locality. We will finally be the judge, jury and executioner of our own locally established policies.”