Latest news with #LocalBodyElections
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
C&R Announces Strong Team For Waitematā Local Board
Communities and Residents (C&R) is pleased to introduce its strong team of seven candidates standing for the Waitematā Local Board in the 2025 Auckland Local Body Elections. Incumbents Sarah Trotman ONZM, Greg Moyle and Allan Matson, have been re-selected, and are joined by new C&R nominees Michele Wade, Leo Grachev, Muy Chhour, and Anne Batley-Burton. The challenges facing the Waitematā Local Board are significant - from transport, intensification and crime; to the Hauraki Gulf, city parks, and the future of Auckland's City Centre. C&R's team is committed to representing you openly and effectively, ensuring your voice is heard. Each of C&R's candidates brings a wealth of experience – ranging from business and heritage preservation; to social services, environmental protection, and animal welfare. This broad-based team has the transferable skills and community insight that have been missing from an ideologically driven board. 'We are committed to work hard for the people of Waitematā, restoring accountability and putting the local community first. With fresh ideas and a strong local focus, we will put our community and residents at the centre of our decision making – you can count on it,' says the C&R Waitematā Local Board team. Candidate Profiles: Michele Wade – A Herne Bay resident for over 25 years, Michele's experience has ranged from being a secondary school teacher to running her own successful fashion business. Having decided to " stop complaining and get in the action", her focuses include financial prudence and environmental protections, and she believes in proactive, practical local governance. Michele supports removing wasteful spending, delivering projects on time and budget, accountability to ratepayers, heritage protection, reducing congestion, and protection of the Hauraki Gulf. Michele's whakapapa connects her to Tainui, Ngāti Mahuta, and Ngāti Pūkeko. Sarah Trotman ONZM – First elected in 2019 and rated, in that term, as the most effective Waitematā Local Board member, Sarah is a strong community advocate, ensuring core services and infrastructure are delivered with intergenerational sustainability and value to ratepayers. She has lived locally for 20+ years; her children attended Marist Herne Bay and Ponsonby Intermediate. Sarah is an effective business leader, director and celebrant. Sarah was recognised with a Queen's honour for services to business and community. She brings the ability for robust discussion, keeping organisations accountable and authentic consultation. Greg Moyle JP ED – A lifelong Waitematā resident, Greg has served on the Auckland City Council and three terms on the Local Board. A former policeman and now a successful financial adviser, he is involved in numerous community organisations and is passionate about strong local body representation for residents and ratepayers; and promoting a community in which we can all enjoy living. If re-elected, Greg will fight to abolish crime and anti-social behaviour in the CBD and to protect our recreational and community facilities, iconic shopping precincts and our built and natural environments. Allan Matson – A City Centre resident, current Waitematā Local Board member and heritage expert, Allan transitioned from merchant banking to architecture. He has served as President of Civic Trust Auckland and has held roles on Council's Heritage Advisory Panel and the boards of NZ Historic Places Trust and CBD's Heart of the City. With over 20 years' experience in heritage consulting, Allan is focused on better governance, more prudent public spending, greater protection of our built heritage and character, and responsible guardianship of our environment for the benefit of all Aucklanders. Leo Grachev – Passionate about making Waitematā the best place to live and work, Leo is a next generation leader. The son of hardworking immigrants and with experience in supporting business development, he champions small business owners. Leo recognises the need to address antisocial behaviour and make our city centre and suburbs safer. Leo believes council can do better to deliver more cost-effective, democratic solutions and that something must be done to get Auckland out of gridlock. ' There is a responsibility to deliver for those who call this place home '. Muy Chhour - Having been involved in business most of her life, from serving customers at the family dairy to managing 11 Asian supermarkets around Auckland, Muy brings deep business experience to the team. For 5 years, Muy served as Chairperson for the Karangahape Road Business Association. She is passionate about making our city more live-able and safer not only for businesses but for all who travel in it whether by car, public transport, bike or foot. Muy's experience brings a balanced, common-sense approach to resolving issues in our city. Anne Batley-Burton – A Parnell local who has been involved in business from an early age, as the first credit card manufacturer in Australasia to importing Champagne and wine barrels, Anne brings decades of entrepreneurial experience. She is known for her integrity, determination, common sense and getting things done. Her major concerns surround crime and congestion, which are destroying the fabric of our city. A leading voice for animal welfare through educating the community about care and responsibility for their pets, Anne is the Founder of The New Zealand Cat Foundation. About C&R: Existing for over 85 years, C&R is a voluntary grass-roots association of members and is the longest-standing political group in Auckland's Local Government. We believe Auckland has the potential to be one of the world's greatest cities and are proud to stand for responsible spending, intergenerational sustainability, accountable local representation, and putting people before politics.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Selwyn Councillor Phil Dean Steps Down
Selwyn District Councillor Phil Dean has resigned to focus on other commitments. The first-term councillor will be step down on May 16 after handing in his resignation to chief executive Sharon Mason. Dean said it was a difficult call, but he needed to strike the right balance with other commitments. 'It was a really tough decision to make and one that I have thought long and hard about. 'I feel honored to have worked with some amazing people on the council and council staff, and I feel that Selwyn is in a strong position for the future.' 'I'm proud of watching our community grow and how our council has adapted to such rapid growth and managed to tackle the big decisions put in front of us.' As well as being an councillor, Dean is also working full-time and said balancing the two roles has become too difficult. His resignation will likely leave a vacant chair at the council table until the elections in October. Under the Local Electoral Act, the council can decide whether to fill the seat before the next Local Body Elections in October. The council will consider the option of a by-election at its meeting in May following Dean's departure. Mason said Dean's thoughtful consideration of the wide breadth of issues and decisions that crossed the council table will be missed. 'Phil brought a range of experience and skills to the council table, with his background in Police community development, road safety, as well as being well-known in the Selwyn theatre and business communities.' Dean said he plans to continue as an active member of the Rolleston Residents' Association as well as continued involvement in the creative arts and theatre community.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Luxon's War On Nature Opens Gate For More Dairy Conversion
Greenpeace Aotearoa is calling out the Luxon Government for "leaving the gate wide open" to more dairy conversion with no plan to protect fresh water from pollution. Temporary rules that restricted the conversion of farmland to intensive dairy were in place until 1 January this year, to allow time for Regional Councils to implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. This was effectively a stop-gap to prevent further degradation of lakes, rivers and drinking water. However, the Luxon Government repealed many of those intended protections last year, blocked Regional Councils from implementing their own freshwater plans, and allowed the dairy conversion restrictions to be lifted without replacing them. BussinessDesk has reported that Environment Canterbury has approved several dairy farm conversions this year. Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, "Everyone, no matter where they live, should be able to drink the water from their kitchen tap without getting sick. But this basic right is under threat by an already oversized intensive dairy industry that's set to expand further." "Assurances made by Government Ministers that there would be no further dairy expansion were clearly a load of cow manure." "They were happy to delay freshwater plans for Regional Councils, and repeal the few freshwater protections we had, but did not extend the stop-gap on dairy conversions. Now that dairy conversions have started up again, we have to ask how many more communities have to have unsafe drinking water before intensive dairy is reigned in?" Nearly half of New Zealand's rivers are now unsafe for swimming, and 20% of the population could be drinking water contaminated with unsafe levels of nitrate. Emerging evidence shows that drinking water nitrate levels from 1mg/L are associated with a higher risk of some health conditions, including colo-rectal cancer. The largest contributor to nitrate contamination is cow urine and the overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in the intensive dairy industry. At water testing events run by Greenpeace in the Ashburton District last month, almost half of all bore water samples tested were above 5 mg/L of nitrate, a level linked to an increased risk of preterm birth. Several Canterbury town supplies are close to or exceed this level, including Darfield, Hinds, and the Oxford Rural 1 supply. The New Zealand College of Midwives recommends that pregnant people consider avoiding water above 5 mg/L for nitrate. "We've already seen what dairy expansion does - unswimmable rivers and water that's unsafe to drink. It's now up to Regional Councils to step up and protect drinking water, lakes and rivers. And if they're unwilling, for candidates to step up at the Local Body Elections this year to get the job done." "Environment Canterbury must halt any dairy conversion or intensification applications, at a bare minimum, and swiftly take action to protect the health of people and fresh water from dairy pollution."
