COMMUNITY VOICES: Central | Auckland Opinion | Local Voices from Auckland, New Zealand

Meet the eyes and ears of your neighbourhood in the first Auckland-wide election campaign.

Editor of Auckland Grey Power's newsletter, at 74 Margaret Bijl is a Mt Eden resident with a sharp eye on the elections. A retired economics statistician, she has been interested in politics since the days of Rogernomics. Mother-of-six and grandmother of 15, she is a passionate organic gardener and a Sunday librarian at the Eden Community Church. She also helps migrants learn English and understand local culture.

Having lived in Wellington and Christchurch, and at Otematata, Margaret views Auckland as a diverse city with many extremes. "I am always surprised at how different each part of Auckland is. To try to put it all together as a whole - it's going to be interesting. I'm concerned about it being based on the philosophy of a party who got into Parliament with less than 5 per cent of votes yet had the opportunity to push through enormous changes in Auckland."

Mary Dawson, 57, is the Auckland Regional Migrant Service's executive director. Her position offers a unique connection with Auckland's migrant community. "The diversity of Auckland is a major issue we need to grapple with."

Dr Dawson, who began her career as a child psychologist, lives in Pt Chevalier and has called Auckland home for 20 years. She is interested in how Ethnic and Pacific Advisory Boards and the social policy forum will fit in the new structure.

The opportunity for members of the ethnic community to stand on local boards and at council level, creating a vibrant and diverse representation, is also a concern.

Auckland born and raised, John Eady completed a four-year diploma in clarinet at the Royal College of Music in London. He played professionally throughout Europe for four years before returning to Auckland to take over the family music business.

With children aged 16, 12 and 3, Mr Eady is interested in the legacy that elected councillors, community board members and mayor will leave.
"I will be looking for people with an arts focus.  I will also be looking for people with the business skills to run a council of this size, rather than politically orientated people."

The 41-year-old entered the family business in 2001 and bought it from his father in 2006. The Grey Lynn resident has launched the Lewis Eady Charitable Trust. "I'm looking for honesty and integrity at all levels. Transparency and the ability to maintain the best interests of the ratepayers. This is a huge change for Auckland. Change can be good, but will depend on how it is managed. I'm looking for the best skills to manage this change."

In 2007 the Pope made Gregory Shanahan a Papal Knight, the highest honour the Catholic Church may confer upon a layperson. The 61-year-old moved from Wellington in 1987 after chairing the redevelopment committee for the Roman Catholic cathedral there. Since then, he's helped fund and restore St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Parnell and chaired St Patrick's Cathedral Heritage Foundation.

"Auckland needs to support our special places, nurture places where people gather. They are too few and far between," he says.

The Parnell resident is married with four adult children and four grandchildren. He has been a barrister and solicitor since 1970, now specialising in commercial law. He acted for Ports of Auckland, WEL Energy and Trustpower during restructuring; chaired the Parks and Wilderness Trust and was former chairman and, now lifetime, member of Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra. He's also the Czech Republic's honorary consul.

Chairman of Auckland's rugby league referees since 1998, Wayne Urquhart has been controlling matches for 30 years. "I'm looking for duty of care, making sure everyone is playing by the rules. A referee is the only person who stands between order and the law of the jungle. I'm used to perceiving what's happening out there."

The 55-year-old father-of-two is a former police officer and businessman, employed to develop leadership and management skills. The One Tree Hill resident was instrumental in the State Services Commission using this service for all government departments. Handy, considering 75 per cent of assets will be farmed out to council-controlled organisations.

"I will be looking at people's ability to lead and what they will deliver into the future; their potential to understand the reality of what people want. It's not about them it is about the people."

Olinda Woodroffe is a lawyer who acted for Thai tiler Sunan Siriwan in the case against former MP Taito Philip Field and for the husband of Folole Muliaga, who died after power was cut to her home. Mrs Woodroffe appears in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Courts of New Zealand and Samoa.

She migrated from Samoa in the late 60s and earned her degrees at Auckland University. She is married with three children - two also lawyers - and seven grandchildren. Mrs Woodroffe has lived around One Tree Hill and Mt Albert, and now lives in Remuera.

"I believe that the idea of a super-city would not significantly improve the quality of life of people in Auckland nor would it be cost-effective. "Whatever my personal views, I am supportive of a super-city council that reflects the diversity of the Auckland population. I would also like to see a super-city that is built on diverse values and ideas of our multicultural Auckland."

What it's all about

October's local body elections represent a historic moment for our region. For the first time voters from Te Arai Pt to Pukekohe, from Piha to the Pohutukawa Coast will choose one Mayor and council. They will also choose the members of 21 local boards.

The Aucklander's readers will know we have not been impressed with the way Prime Minister John Key and his handpicked Local Government Minister, Rodney Hide, have gone about this process.

However, we have drawn a line under that argument. It's time to make the best of a very badly botched job. We urge every qualified Aucklander to vote in the polls. And here's how we will put the "local" into these local body elections:

Each of our four editions - North, West, Central, South - has mustered a panel of six "Voices of the Community".

They comprise grassroots leaders like school principals or board chairs; perhaps a community board member who is not standing for re-election; officials of major sports clubs, elderly and social support groups, and everyday Aucklanders.

Each edition's panel reflects the residents of the wards in its area.

Each participant has affirmed they are not aligned to, or supporting a predetermined candidate or bloc.

Their role will be to watch the election issues in their local area and in the regional council and mayoral election.

We will go to them several times during the campaign for a snapshot of what's happening in their area, and how they perceive the trends in the regional campaign - as observers, not as political pundits or forecasters.

We will return to them for their reactions after the vote. You'll read their thoughts in coming issues of The Aucklander and on this website.