18 hours ago
John Gillon Standing For Auckland Council 2025
John Gillon is excited to announce that he is standing as an independent for one of the North Shore Ward Councillor positions of Auckland Council.
'As an Auckland Councillor, I will put community first and fight for the North Shore.'
'I'm positive and passionate about our North Shore community. I was born on the North Shore and have lived here most of my life. I'm pleased to have received the support and encouragement of many people from across the North Shore to stand for Auckland Council this election.'
'I have a proven track record of supporting local communities and want to represent the whole of the North Shore at the Governing Body table.'
John has been Chair of the Kaipātiki Local Board for the last eight years, with a total of 18 years governance experience on various boards. At the last election, John led the Shore Action team to victory, winning all eight seats of the Kaipātiki Local Board – the first time since the 1980s that one team has won all seats on a North Shore local body.
'During my time on the local board, I've helped thousands of people with local issues and kept the community informed about council projects and plans. I'm proud to have secured funding for upgrading our bush walks and made many of them step-free; upgraded playgrounds and installed shade sails to protect our tamariki; supported significant investment into environmental protection, pest-free initiatives, community development, sports, events, and more.'
John has also represented the community at hearings on inappropriate developments that breach Unitary Plan zoning rules and where infrastructure is lacking.
'I am concerned that every week Auckland Council receives over 100 applications to breach Unitary Plan rules with many of these being approved, and without consulting neighbours. The Unitary Plan is due to be reviewed from 2026, and it's imperative for the North Shore to have a strong voice at the council table to rein in its excesses and close loopholes. I believe that Council must enforce the zoning rules and ensure that development only occurs where there is adequate supporting infrastructure, and absolutely not in flood zones. Council must also increase consultation.'
Like many residents, John was shocked at the extent of the flooding in the 2023 storms, which severely impacted many parts of the North Shore, most notably the Wairau catchment.
'In Milford, Wairau Valley and elsewhere, overburdened stormwater infrastructure has failed to protect homes and businesses, and two people died. Council must act quickly to address the deficiencies in stormwater infrastructure across the North Shore. There needs to be more funding invested in preventative maintenance, including keeping channels clear and cleaning out roadside catchpits of debris, many of which are only checked twice a year.'
Like many people, John is sick of the traffic on our roads, however proposed congestion charges are not the answer.
'The North Shore will be adversely affected by any charge on congestion, as there are limited alternatives to get across Auckland from the North Shore. The last thing that local residents need is to be taxed for using Lake Road, Onewa Road or the motorway to get to and from work or school on time. There is no guarantee that this tax will be used to improve public transport, and simply imposing another tax will not alleviate congestion. I don't support congestion charges being foisted on North Shore drivers and families.'
John is also very concerned about the reduction in funding for North Shore local boards over the next ten years under the Mayor's purported 'Fairer Funding' regime.
'Devonport-Takapuna Local Board's budget is set to be gutted, and the Kaipātiki Local Board's budget is to be capped. This will not only mean less investment into North Shore communities, but over the coming years, our public assets like playgrounds, libraries, leisure centres and parks - that generations of North Shore residents have invested in - may be run-down, closed or sold, despite North Shore ratepayers paying over $200 million per year in rates. This is unacceptable.'
John Gillon will be providing more views and solutions to these issues.
The Auckland Council election is being held by postal vote. Papers will be delivered between 9 and 22 September. The election date is 11 October 2025.
