COMMUNITY VOICES: The key was in the litter... er, mailbox | Auckland Opinion | Local Voices from Auckland, New Zealand

What a difference a couple of weeks make. Our Community Voices report they are finally getting answers about how the new council will operate and how candidates will work within it.

Bayswater grandmother Paddy Stafford-Bush is pleased to have received the Your Council, Your Vote information pamphlet in the letterbox. "It initially got tossed into the recycle bin but I rescued it from there and found it quite informative.

"The disappointing thing about it was that we were unaware it was coming out and we very nearly missed it. I suspect a lot of other people did miss it for that reason."

She says the pamphlet failed to outline the extensive budgets in the new structure and how people can participate in how they are spent. She's heartened to see quality candidates for local boards, indicating to her people believe much can be achieved through the lower tier of council.

Orewa tax consultant Merv Huxford also approves of the dramatic increase in media coverage but is troubled by some of the focus on celebrities.

"From the people I have spoken with, endorsement of candidates by a 'celebrity' or well known people creates something for the media, but does not create strong influence on how they would vote. In fact, some take the view that a well-regarded person would speak out on the issues and not get too enmeshed in politics."

To Mr Huxford, it seems some candidates are struggling with campaigning for the greater good of the region, and are insecure on how to deal with parochial interests.

"It has been reported that even the administration of Orewa's iSITE will pass over to regional administration. This type of information is helping the community come to grips with the reality that what each area previously regarded as 'theirs' is now becoming part of a larger 'ours'. Coverage is still quite patchy."

It's a two-horse race for the mayoralty as far as Christo Peters is concerned. Whether it's John Banks' city or Len Brown's town will be determined by the minor candidates' abilities to take votes away from them, rather than voters selecting them, says the Birkenhead resident.

It's interesting to see former Mayor George Wood, former MP Grant Gillon and former Work and Income boss Christine Rankin all vying for the two places in the North Shore ward, he says.

"Christine Rankin for North Shore ward" was the most surprising billboard for Mr Peters. "I really do not know what to think about her and I think that many will vote against her based on the negative press she had as the deposed Work and Income boss."

While Grant Gillon standing was somewhat unexpected, Peters wonders what his purpose is. "As with his time in Parliament as a member of the Alliance Party, I question what he stands for and what he has actually achieved."

Sunnynook jewellery worker Katie George watched a TV debate hosted by Paul Holmes which featured Len Brown, John Banks and Andrew Williams, and wasn't impressed.

"There were a lot of promises being made but no mention of how they were going to do it. Besides these three candidates, I don't know much about the other candidates running for super-city mayor. I had to go out of my way to research the other candidates which I don't think many people would do these days. We expect information to be delivered to us."

She thinks people would rather vote for those they know and recognise than risk a newbie who they know little about. "I think the majority of voters won't know a lot about 'the others', which is a shame that any new blood and fresh concepts might not get a chance. Unfortunately, we don't have a great pool of people to choose from as it is."

From Mairangi Bay, Grant Harris agrees the election race is now starting to heat up. He has been hearing promises of trains to Orewa, a loop to the airport, free entry to public swimming pools, a 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions, a solution to the leaky homes issue and extra harbour crossings.

"All of these promises are couched around economic growth and stronger communities that breed 'success'. I, for one, get a little tired of 'success' being intricately related to economic growth."

Mr Harris wants to hear candidates talk about social issues. "But largely, the issues they seem to believe important are based around transport and rates (money). I believe Colin Craig has done the best job of profiling himself and what he stands for through web presence and mailbox drops but, at the end of the day, has he got the fortitude to be able to control a $3.2 billion budget across 1.4 million people? Maybe, and he might be worth a serious thought.

"Various polls I read seem to indicate divided opinion between John Banks and Len Brown as the most likely candidates, with the only clear winner seeming to be those who don't think there are any good candidates worthy of support!"

Devonport's Barbara Cuthbert attended a mayoral debate at Auckland University's Business School. She came away concerned by Andrew Williams' inability to reach beyond the harbour bridge.

"Andrew Williams has virtually no profile outside of the Shore, and even amongst the locals is not a popular choice so far," she says.

John Banks also failed to impress her. "He continued to focus on simple slogans, and earned derision for suggesting a master plan and sanding Judges Bay as his best offers for the waterfront. He claims to support integrated transport, but said we must continue motorway building, and trains to the airport are in the distant future."

Cuthbert notes Banks' transport strategy is very different to Len Brown's. "[Brown] has attracted flak from Wellington politicians for stating that Auckland needs an inner-city rail tunnel and airport line before we extend motorways out to the far ends of the region."

Cuthbert says Brown is the only candidate "putting his head above the parapet to promote a new agenda for Auckland".

What is this project about? October's local body elections represent a historic moment for our region: for the first time, voters from Te Arai Pt to Pukekohe, Piha to Pohutukawa Coast will elect one mayor and council. They will also choose members of 21 local boards. Each of our four editions - North, West, Central and South - has mustered a panel of local identities to comment on the campaign. This is the third in the series.