Peace proposal divides Council

Rodney Local Board members will be asked for their views on whether or not Auckland should become a Peace City.

When the item came up at an Auckland Council regional development and operations committee meeting last month, opinions were sharply divided between those who thought it was a waste of ratepayers money to others who endorsed that it was an expression of principle, leadership, vision and intention rather than a claim that Auckland was totally peaceful.

Cr Dick Quax, who opposed the recommendation, said there was a cult of violence in Auckland and a piece of paper declaring Auckland a Peace City was not going to change that.

“Instead of sitting around singing ‘kumbaya’ we need to concentrate on things that are important to us,” he said.

Cr Alf Filipaina said he quite liked ‘kumbaya’ and awareness was not useless or unnecessary.

“This initiative will only be utilising existing funds,” he said. “We shouldn’t make a judgement until we have heard from the Local Boards.”

One of the City of Peace activities will be to mark the 25th anniversary next June of NZ’s nuclear-free status.

Published July 2011