My Account
If it was a horse race, it would be on a par with the Melbourne Cup.
When nominations closed earlier this month, 23 men and women had put their names forward as contenders for the top job in NZ’s largest city – Mayor of Auckland.
They are an intriguing bunch.
One candidate claims to be a pirate, while another grabbed headlines when in 2006 she dashed across Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium during the All Black’s test against Ireland clad only in a bikini. Several candidates appear to be campaigning incognito, with Auckland Council’s electoral services unable to furnish any contact details. There is also a grandmother who has run for mayor six times in three different cities, including twice in Auckland.
Not surprisingly, Auckland’s growth and the challenges it brings to infrastructure and lifestyles has been identified as an important issue by the candidates profiled on the following pages.
In 10 years or so, it is estimated that the population of Auckland will reach two million. This will have an enormous impact on the lives of all who live here, especially in the north as green fields turn into suburbs. The state of the roading network, housing affordability and environmental degradation are just some of the weighty issues to be confronted. Not to mention the fiscal prudence and accountability needed in a post-Covid landscape, which cost council $900 million in lost revenue. Just balancing the budget to provide the status quo will be a challenge, let alone addressing the financial pressures of managing growth.
In the Auckland pre-election report, which focuses on the key issues of climate change action, addressing inequity across Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland and finance, chief executive Jim Stabback says this is not a time for the faint hearted.
“Steering a path through these uncertain times is demanding and will be challenging for each and every one of our elected members,” Stabback says. “The good news is that if we tackle these challenges then we can make a meaningful difference in terms of maintaining and improving the quality of life for Aucklanders, our communities and our whānau.”
It is the Mayor’s job to set the vision for Auckland and lead the development of regional plans, policies and budgets to achieve that vision. Here’s a closer look at the people who would like the job.
Candidates are presented in a random order, pulled from a hat.
NOTE: There was no response from Gary Brown, Wayne Brown, James Dunphy and Ted Johnston to our invitation to submit a short profile and tell readers what they would do for residents in the north. Contact details were not available for John Alcock, Tony Corbett, David Feist, Robert Hu, Pete Mazany, Phil O’Connor, John Palino and Ryan Earl. In Kaipara, Brenden Nathan and Gordon Walker did not respond.
Lisa Lewis – NZ Voice
My name is Lisa Lewis. I was born in Takapuna, North Shore, Auckland. Growing up, I attended Torbay Primary, Northcross Intermediate, Rangitoto College and Long Bay College. I am an independent woman who puts work before my personal life. In 2009, I was nominated for Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year. I believe in respecting people’s property, boundaries and privacy. Council has an obligation when considering resource consent and making decisions surrounding a city on how matters will impact residential areas. I am someone that excels in perseverance. I once pursued a Council for five years to ensure a business was compliant with the Resource Management Act. I will not ignore you based on my own experience of knowing first-hand what it is like to be ignored.
From my research, Silverdale and the development and infrastructure appear to be moving at a liveable pace. Most residents in Silverdale don’t want to go over to Auckland City and are happy with the way Silverdale is flourishing in living, shopping and recreational activities. The feedback I have mostly received is that Silverdale residents are concerned with traffic congestion and improvement needs to be in traffic flow.
When they get the Whangaparaoa Peninsula link to the motorway that is when the traffic will improve from the coast, and morning and rush hours will be more manageable.
A Mayor must be voted in that does not forget about Silverdale. The volume of traffic can be reduced only if a Mayor uses their position and power to consult and follow up with organisations like Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport, Auckland Council and the Government into pushing through with delivering the Whangaparaoa Peninsula link to the motorway.
If elected, I can promise you that I will not forget about the people of Silverdale and the future we will travel within and through Silverdale.
Efeso Collins – Independent
I was born and raised in Auckland and grew up in Ōtara, where I attended local schools and was an active member of a local church. After high school, I went to the University of Auckland, finishing with a Masters degree in education. It was at university I also got my first taste for politics, where I became the president of the Auckland University Students’ Association. Before becoming an Auckland councillor in 2016, I worked as a lecturer, researcher and ran a small consultancy business. These varied experiences have shaped me into the person I am today, and also inform how I will lead this great city as we navigate beyond the global pandemic, towards building the kind of Auckland that we can all be proud to leave for the next generation.
The council that the new Mayor will inherit from October will face significant challenges. But despite this, the council needs to enable economic growth, preserve our natural environment and ensure no community is left behind or forgotten. And regardless of the hurdles we face, Auckland remains a beautiful and unique region, with incredible landscapes, harbours, and waterways.
Therefore, among my top priorities will be to introduce fares-free public transport along with more frequent and expanded services, which will not only be a win for commuters as it will unclog our motorways, but it will also be good for the climate and those struggling with the cost of living. We will tackle housing unaffordability, using every lever available to us, to ensure more people have access to healthy, secure and affordable housing. And we will continue to clean up our beaches and waterways so our environment is preserved for generations to come. Finally, I will be laser-focused on ensuring our council services work more effectively and efficiently for everyone, so people can all enjoy what this city has to offer.
Integral to my leadership will be to ensure political divisions and ideology don’t get in the way of serving our communities best. As I’ve shown in my nine years in local government, I’ve made a point of building relationships right across the political spectrum. However, being on council is not just about trying to agree with everyone and at times you have to be prepared to speak up on positions that might not be popular, as I have done when voting against the Regional Fuel Tax or speaking up about council staff using business class airfares.
Therefore, as Mayor I will endeavour to be both courageous as well as collaborative, to ensure we have a council that works well for all Aucklanders.
• I intend to form a strong united voice with mayors across New Zealand to ensure central government returns the GST we pay on rates. This action alone could ensure Auckland had a further $300 million a year to tackle its most pressing of challenges.
• Cleaning up our beaches, streams, and coastlines will be a key priority of the council I lead.
• Critical to preserving our natural environment is ensuring iwi, local communities and ecological volunteer groups are given the support they need to improve the quality of our inland and coastal environments
Mike Kampkes – Independent
I’m 63 years young, born in Hawkes Bay, moving with the family to Auckland in 1997. I’m a middle child in a family of seven. My parents were Dutch immigrants. I am married with three adult children. For 29 years I worked in the food industry specialising in logistics management. I have had small business management experience, through part ownership of two Auckland retail outlets. In 2014, I took an entirely new direction and now work as a builder. I achieved financial security for my family on a single income through good spending habits and direct investment, and have been mortgage free since 2006. Fishing and camping/tramping have been lifelong passions and getting out on my fishing kayak and drifting with the tide on the Hauraki Gulf is my happy space. A few snapper in the bag the challenge for the day.
As mayor, I will lead the council to:
a) Contain intensification to the existing unitary plan zones, using every legal means possible, and petition government to repeal the intensification Act to restore the height to boundary covenants that enshrine the quality of our sun-filled suburbs. There was no mandate from the people living in any of city suburbs to allow three storey buildings (3 dwellings) 12 metres high, to be built just one metre off your boundary. Council has been able to use qualifying matters to halt some areas from being needlessly intensified but more needs to be done to stymie this needless and disastrous law.
b) Reform the consultative process to restore faith in this vital democratic process so that it is community led and truly takes account of the needs of affected residents. The new process starts with the Council, or Council Controlled Organisations, framing the issue to affected ratepayers and seeking solutions from the community, which provides the basis for refinement by council and relevant experts as a second stage. Should expert advice consider options not proposed they will have a responsibility to sell the concept back to the community, effectively turning the process on its head.
c) Petition government to establish a building Ombudsperson so that individual residents can be fairly represented in disputes with developers and councils.
d) Reform the objectives of Auckland Transport and boost the oversight of this out-of-control monopoly. Improve oversight and transparency of all Council Controlled Organisations and their performance measures.
e) Reform growth targets based on objective feedback from the community and plan infrastructure, including roads, to meet the ‘community agreed’ growth aspirations, and communicate these to central government to provide surety for the planning process. Essentially, Aucklanders need to have a conversation about just how big a city we want to be. An extensive survey will be carried.
f) Kill off wasteful spending on the light rail proposal and reallocate those resources to provide high-quality maintenance and incremental development of infrastructure.
All of the above will benefit ratepayers living north of Silverdale.
Craig Lord – Independent
Craig Lord has worked in and with small businesses for 35 years. He is a former maintenance and diagnostics engineer, specialising in factory automation and production lines – hydraulics and pneumatics. Starting his trade at 15 years old, Craig remained with the same company for 16 years, learning all aspects of business and advancing to general manager. He dramatically changed tack 20 years ago and started his own media company focusing on broadcasting and communication. He is still operating this successful company today.
As an engineer, he brings a practical and pragmatic approach with the ability to analyse, fault find, and work on solutions. Combining that with his broadcasting experience, Auckland will finally have a communicator, with common sense and the ability to solve problems.
I intend to bring a new style and direction of leadership to Auckland Council that will focus on supplying core services.
With a heap of common sense, sensible decision-making and placing necessities ahead of niceties, Auckland can become world-class again.
Specific policies will directly benefit the Rodney district.
I will be prioritising an overhaul of the preferred contractor and procurement system. This significant change will allow the small independent local contractors to work locally, saving the city money and producing better outcomes.
Currently, the contractor system is a rort, with slow job completion, excessive pricing and average finish quality.
We need to rectify this. Rodney has an ample supply of able contractors to fulfil many core service tasks. We need to utilise both their local expertise and abilities.
Along with the general services a Council should provide, this local contractor change will spread itself into the roading requirements.
I will place $124 million back into the Mayoral budget for Rodney roads. However, this flow of funding needs responsible allocation. Therefore, I am also making it a policy that we revamp the way local boards operate.
A local board needs to work better within its community, and do so transparently. No more closed meetings and a higher presence in their area. They will also work directly with the new contractor system, which means contracts for items like roading will be open for scrutiny especially to the public.
The most important segment for Rodney is to have a fair return of services balanced with the rates. It is an unfair situation and needs addressing.
I will achieve this by commissioning full audits of every Council department, along with the Council Controlled Organisations such as Auckland Transport and Panuku.
Under my Mayoralty, fiscal responsibility and core services will be at the forefront of all Council departments. As Mayor, I will work on behalf of the Rodney residents to ensure this is achieved.
Dr Michael Morris – Animal Justice Auckland
I became vegetarian in 1984, and then vegan in 2003. I was triggered by a realisation about the hypocritical attitude society has towards animals. At home we treated our cats like part of the family. How did it make sense to cause death and suffering to other animals who were no less intelligent or emotional than our pets?
I completed a PhD in zoology at Auckland University. This has given me an appreciation of animal sentience. I taught environmental science and ecology at senior lecturer level at universities and polytechnics in Japan, China and New Zealand. I am presently working as a researcher in the field of smoking cessation. I am also teaching children about science.
I am standing for Mayor of Auckland on an animal liberationist platform for Animal Justice Auckland.
Our other platforms are justice for the environment and economic justice. All are related. Environmental crises such as global warming, air pollution and pandemics affect animals and vulnerable humans disproportionately. In contrast, more equal societies are better for humans, animals and the environment.
I oppose any entertainment involving animal cruelty. The government has been slow to act on rodeos. I will be faster. The Warkworth rodeo must go. I am sure there are residents who consider that animal suffering is wrong, and will be pleased to help Auckland transition to a low-emissions, plant-based economy.
I stand for free and comprehensive public transport, particularly in areas that are not well served, such as rural communities. Less congested roads will make things easier for those who are too old, too young, too poor, too sick, too scared (or too drunk!) to drive a car. Less congested roads would also make it easier for those who need a car.
Our air will be cleaner, there will be less roadkill, fewer respiratory illnesses and concrete will be replaced by greenery.
Alezix Heneti – Independent
I am single and a distance learning student studying a Bachelor of Business Property fulltime at Massey University. I’ve stood as a Mayoral candidate in 2019 Auckland, 2018 Hastings bi- election, 2016 Auckland, 2007 Far North, 1998 and 2001 Hamilton. Yes, I have really tried. I’m a gutsy Kiwi.
I support: Three Waters Reform, planting trees, protecting our environment, managing our city responsibly, with strong accountability and more oversight of council-controlled organisation; strongly restricted rates rises, keeping within budgets, big improvements in Auckland’s transport and reduce traffic congestion; improving affordable rents and housing for Aucklanders, diversity and cultural acceptance, and financially assisting all Aucklanders in full Covid recovery.
If elected I will give:
• Penlink support for locals for proposed intersection to be re-designed, to make life easier, safer and efficient for locals.
• Penlink support for locals, for improved traffic modelling with major local public consultation.
• Tolls for bridges for locals unacceptable, to be financed by council and government.
• Puhinui Warkworth Centre Plan workable.
• Support locals for safer speed zones.
• Support Kainga Ora – Homes and Communities seeking public feedback on its plan to build 37 homes in Bonair Crescent, Millwater.
• Support Yachting NZ to build a high-performance sailing facility.
• Support getting good quality tools and equipment, and handmade wooden furniture and toys for sales for the Hibiscus Men’s Shed at its new base in Silverdale. Support their not-for-profit workshops to benefit men’s mental health.
• Support all local Hospices, and Red Cross Charity shops in the region.
• Support local businesses with financial business recovery from Covid in all aspects.
• Support all our local libraries with more funding and community projects.
• Give locals what locals need.
• Consult with locals weekly, daily, and monthly via a free communication system
• Support businesses locally through council funded projects.
• Monitor communities online, quickly, appropriately, and regularly with netnographic research, for our communities’ continual benefit.
• Listen to local boards and locals to best support them.
• Support baby boomers and millennials.
• Use well structured, well-designed, and well-thought-out local requirements in council for local’s benefit.
• Use Big Data for Local Strategic benefits.
Dani Riekwel (pronounced Shenanigan)
I am Commodore Shenanigan, Pirate King of Tamaki Makaurau. I have been through many chaotic storms and come out the other side smiling. I’ve lived the last several years as a single parent living in a van, in poverty. This has made me incredibly thrifty. I lived on a farm in Pakiri during the 2020 lockdowns, growing food and making art. In 2021, I lived on Waiheke, protecting little blue penguins and Putiki Bay from a destructive marina project. I have been on the side of the community negotiating with politicians, fighting for our last natural spaces to be preserved. I have been disappointed with the lack of foresight from our politicians. The sea is coming for us.
As Mayor, I will be focusing on the two main issues highlighted in the pre-election report: Climate change and inequity.
Insurance companies have announced their retreat from coastal areas. This means if you live in low lying coastal townships, or near rivers, then in the next five years you may lose your insurance and, with it, the value of your property.
As Mayor, I will be creating a plan for the next 30 years of how we manage the retreat from the oncoming sea, while also building a sea wall from Mangawhai to the Coromandel. This 100km wall will provide a chance for hundreds of kilometres of shoreline to be preserved, and for our marine ecology to bounce back from near extinction. We will make the harbour created a marine reserve.
As I am the Pirate King, I will be instating a new role for local boards – Mayor. Returning the power to local boards to create and enact solutions for communities. Water collection and management, community gardens, local electricity collection and other sustainable solutions that can be localised will be implemented to make our communities more robust in case of disasters such as slips and floods.
Half of Auckland pay 75% of the median income to rent unstable and unhealthy housing, while the intensification of the city is left in the hands of landlords and private investors, with banks profiting at the end. We will make rental housing a city asset and housing a right. If we invest in public transport and housing as a city, then we can regulate to a high standard, make rental housing from the city a long-term option for tenants, and relieve landlords of their debts and duties.
The Pirate King supports the council’s decision to move towards co-governance. Auckland is a home, and the many voices of Auckland need to be heard. We will introduce a kids caucus and ensure the future council is representative.
John Lehmann – Independent
I am Auckland born and of English, German and Māori descent. I am also a solo father of six children. I left school at 15 and was an apprentice butcher which I hated. At 21 I started my own property maintenance company. Two years later I was employing 47 staff and had successfully negotiated and won contracts with many large organisations such as Air NZ, Mobil and Auckland City Council. When I was 26, I produced and manufactured the Muldoon piggy bank. I also produced a radio program called Robman and Brian with Radio Hauraki. I was good friends with the late and former Mayor of Auckland Sir Dove Meyer Robertson. In 1996, I was elected president of the NZ Government Accountability League where in my maiden speech I forecast the problems Auckland would be having because of short sightedness by Government and council.
The main reason for running for Mayor of Auckland is to bring it back on track. I remember what Auckland was, I see it for what it’s become. For too long we have seen a decline in the way Auckland is run. Out of control spending, over-zealous bureaucrats telling us what we can and can’t do with our property and the over inflated charges – rates, permits, development consents, fog permits. In other words, you pay rates and get charged for services. A system where the tail is wagging the dog and we are being taken to the cleaners.
I have watched like many a city go down and down from what could and should be a wonderful place to live, to a place where crime, rough sleepers and traffic chaos has become the norm. A city not living within its budgets. They waste all the money they get in, and when it runs out borrow using you to underwrite the loan. I’m the only candidate not aligned to a political party, big business interests or hidden agendas. I’m the only candidate who has a blueprint and plan of what I wish to achieve in detail.
The first thing I will do following the election is to send a memo to all staff explaining that the Auckland City Council works for the people, and that the Auckland City Council is solely there to serve the public.
All services are to be provided expediently where possible and always with courtesy. A reminder is needed that the council produces nothing. It is funded by the public, and it is a great privilege to serve the public.
These are my initial promises and programmes to start with:
• New associate mayors
• Change council’s format, reduce staff and departments
• Abolish the fuel tax
• Major shake-up of Auckland Transport
• Take homeless off the streets
• Major crack down on crime.
• Unitary plan overhaul
• Review water and wastewater
• Give priority to coasts and beaches
• Reduction in by-laws and more self-empowerment
• Animal welfare
• Closer working with central government
• One-off registration for dogs
• Putting fruit trees in parks and reserves
Tricia Cheel – Stop Trashing Our Planet
Born in non-fluoridated Onehunga, I grew up on a dairy farm on the West Coast of Dargaville. Auckland was fluoridated in 1967 and on and off I wondered what was wrong with me until finally I stopped drinking the artificially fluoridated tap water in 2012 and experienced tremendous improvements in health and well-being in just a day or so. My training in classical homoeopathy impressed upon me the importance to ‘first remove the cause’ and this has driven my subsequent efforts to lift the toxic burden off all living beings and undo the harms done to people and the environment from toxic substances and behaviour.
My experiences as coordinator for Friends of Sherwood since June 1990 has convinced me that non-toxic methods are far superior to poisons, bullying and coercion.
Ratepayers north of Silverdale may expect the same considerations as the rest of Auckland.
My promise is that I will never vote to poison people or the planet and will take immediate steps to remediate the harms done to those residents who were discriminated against, or coerced and bullied into taking the experimental, synthetic, genetically engineered messenger RNA jabs in order to keep their jobs or access facilities.
Council must be inclusive and never again bow to any global medical tyranny that divides and separates us.
Other assaults on body sovereignty will be phased out ASAP such as fluoridation and the use of all other unnecessary, toxic and polluting substances, practices like glyphosate and eco-toxic 1080 poison, which damage our health and wellbeing, and drive species to extinction. We cannot continue to gamble with our children’s health and the future of all life on earth where 50% of wildlife has been lost already.
I will endeavour to protect the health and wellbeing of people and nature, and put power back in the hands of the people at a local level.
We need to grow from the bottom up and break up the extravagant, egotistical, profiteering corporate model that since 1984 has seen increased poverty and homelessness, as well as soaring rates of chronic diseases, 80% of which is said to have an environmental cause.
A healthy economy relies on a fit and healthy population. Integrated organic management systems and local community-based solutions will restore the birthright all people should enjoy.
Peoples assemblies demand pure water, fresh air, the ability to produce uncontaminated natural food in abundance – allotments where private space is not sufficient and the ability to travel on foot or pedal power unobstructed – assisted by free public transport if otherwise not possible. My leadership would foster a blueprint for an organic Auckland, with ecologically sound governance, where everybody can enjoy a good life full of opportunity.
Coverage of candidates for Council wards, local boards and the Maori ward in Kaipara will be featured in Mahurangi Matters September 12 issue and for Council ward and local board in Hibiscus Matters September 19 issue.
Mahurangi Matters related stories
Mayoral candidates
Rodney ward candidates
Warkworth/Wellsford Local Board candidates
Kaipara-Mangawhai ward candidates/Otamatea ward candidates/Maori ward candidates
