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Roads, growth, roads, the Rodney Targeted Rate, roads, Three Waters, roads, climate change and roads dominated the discussion at a Rodney candidates meeting held in Warkworth on August 24.
Convened by One Mahurangi, the evening attracted a full house in the Bridgehouse back bar.
Presenting their manifestos for election, or re-election, were Rodney Ward candidates Beth Houlbrooke (Rodney First), Hannah North, Anne Perratt (independent) and the incumbent, Greg Sayers (independent). Rob Ryan will be the fifth name on the ballot, but he did not respond to a request to attend and neither did Local Board contender Greg Wyatt.
The Local Board candidates, for the three Warkworth subdivision seats, who did front the meeting were independents Malcolm Black, Michelle Carmichael, Steve Garner (sitting), Kathie Hills, Tim Holdgate (sitting) and Anne Perratt, and Ivan Wagstaff who is standing on the Rodney First ticket.
The candidates found common ground on the issue of north Rodney roads. They all agreed they were in a shocking state mainly due to decades of under-investment. Many in the audience were angry that the Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate had been siphoned off for footpaths, buses and park and rides instead of roads and seemed unconvinced by an explanation about the board’s limits when working with Auckland Transport, given by current Board member Houlbrooke.
The lack of infrastructure to cope with Warkworth’s growth over the next decade was also identified as a major challenge.
All candidates promised to work collaboratively with their colleagues with good communication back to the communities they represented.
Houlbrooke said she was standing on her record and work ethic, North said she represented youth and wanted better resourcing for emergency services, Perratt promised to be Rodney’s watchdog, and Sayers said he wanted to continue to stand up for Rodney and wanted Local Boards to have more power.
At the half time break, audience members were mixed about whether or not the discussion had helped them reach a decision. Some said the talks had at least helped them eliminate some candidates and one person described a couple of the candidates as “wishy washy”. While some had come to the meeting with an open mind, the majority said they knew before they arrived who they would vote for. “I haven’t changed my mind, but it is still good to hear what they all have to say. There’s a lot to consider, particularly in the current social climate.”
All Ward and Local Board candidates will be featured in our next issue on September 12.
