Latest news with #Soole
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Young Auckland Politician's Parting Challenge
Article – Torika Tokalau – Local Democracy Reporter One of New Zealand's youngest politicians has bowed out of politics, but not without a challenge to his local board, 'do not forget our commitment to Māori'. Logan Soole, 25, (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa), was first elected to the Franklin Local Board at just 19 years old and served two terms with the south Auckland board. He resigns to join his partner in London, after years of a long-distance relationship. Addressing the other eight members of the local board in his valedictory speech, Soole asked them not to forget their partners, whānau, history, and future. 'Do not forget our commitment to young people and the generations that will follow, long after we are gone. 'Make mokopuna decisions—choices that always prioritise the needs of our grandchildren, ensuring they inherit a place where they can survive and thrive. 'Think climate change, future focused-infrastructure and mentoring the next generation.' The small local board meeting room filled with people on Tuesday, who came to see the Pukekohe-resident off. Also present was former Auckland mayor, Phil Goff. Soole's position would not be filled, with the local elections looming in September. 'I cannot help but feel some guilt for leaving at a time that is so crucial for our future. 'A time where things not just in our own backyard but internationally seem to be in decline.' He said the Franklin ward was not a perfect community, but one that cared and worked together to get things done. 'To my local board colleagues and staff, thank you for your tireless work for Franklin. Thank you for the disagreements, the compromise and a willingness to challenge the status quo.' Soole will spend his last day in office in early June. 'As I step away from this role, I carry with me a massive sense of pride in serving this place, lessons learned, and a few more grey hairs than I started with.'
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Young Auckland Politician's Parting Challenge
One of New Zealand's youngest politicians has bowed out of politics, but not without a challenge to his local board, "do not forget our commitment to Māori". Logan Soole, 25, (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa), was first elected to the Franklin Local Board at just 19 years old and served two terms with the south Auckland board. He resigns to join his partner in London, after years of a long-distance relationship. Addressing the other eight members of the local board in his valedictory speech, Soole asked them not to forget their partners, whānau, history, and future. "Do not forget our commitment to young people and the generations that will follow, long after we are gone. "Make mokopuna decisions—choices that always prioritise the needs of our grandchildren, ensuring they inherit a place where they can survive and thrive. "Think climate change, future focused-infrastructure and mentoring the next generation." The small local board meeting room filled with people on Tuesday, who came to see the Pukekohe-resident off. Also present was former Auckland mayor, Phil Goff. Soole's position would not be filled, with the local elections looming in September. "I cannot help but feel some guilt for leaving at a time that is so crucial for our future. "A time where things not just in our own backyard but internationally seem to be in decline." He said the Franklin ward was not a perfect community, but one that cared and worked together to get things done. "To my local board colleagues and staff, thank you for your tireless work for Franklin. Thank you for the disagreements, the compromise and a willingness to challenge the status quo." Soole will spend his last day in office in early June. "As I step away from this role, I carry with me a massive sense of pride in serving this place, lessons learned, and a few more grey hairs than I started with."
Scoop
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Young South Auckland Politician Quits Local Politics
Article – Torika Tokalau – Local Democracy Reporter One of Auckland's youngest politicians has decided to resign from local politics, ahead of the local elections in October. Logan Soole, 25, (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa), is a member of the Franklin Local Board. Soole, who was first elected at just 19 years old, will spend his last day in office in early June. The Pukekohe local has decided to move to London to join his partner, but promises this isn't the last New Zealand will see of him. 'I will be be back,' Soole said. 'I love this place, Aotearoa is my home, Tāmaki Makaurau is my home and I will be back. When? I'm not sure but I will be back.' Soole said he and his partner had been in a long distant relationship for almost two years, and it was time to be together. 'It was just a right thing to do. But it's not the sole reason why I'm moving. 'I was elected into this role to represent my community, I've done two terms and got some really impressive change and it was just another factor.' At just 19, Soole was the youngest person elected to the Franklin Local Board, the youngest of the 170 elected members who made up the Auckland Council in 2019, and among the youngest voted into local government in New Zealand. 'It has been the privilege of my life to serve the people of Franklin and Pukekohe for almost six years – a place whose people have shaped me since I was first elected at age 19.' During the Covid-19 pandemic, Soole was named Young Elected Member of the Year, for helping his community get vaccinated during lockdowns. He leapt into action to serve his community when the nation first went into lockdown in March 2020. 'I'm so proud of what we have achieved together and I remain in awe of the selfless, humble members of our community that work away in the background, not for thanks but because they care.' His resignation from local politics means Soole will also be leaving his volunteer roles on the Pukekohe High School Board of Trustees and the Pukekohe Community Patrol. 'I will be forever grateful that Pukekohe gave that enthusiastic 19-year-old a chance to represent this very special place and its people.' Franklin Ward coucillor Andy Baker said Soole's departure will leave a gap, but his new chapter of seeing and experiencing the world was also important. Baker said when he approached Logan to run six years ago, the teenager asked how he could add value. 'I explained that it is important to have different perspectives around the table when making decisions about the future of Franklin, especially someone able to help us 'oldies' understand what our younger generations might think.' Baker said Soole took up the challenge and it's been a privilege to have worked alongside him. 'Just like his decision to leap into something he had no knowledge about or experience with, he has never been afraid to get involved, work hard to understand issues and put his hand up within the community.' LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Young South Auckland Politician Quits Local Politics
One of Auckland's youngest politicians has decided to resign from local politics, ahead of the local elections in October. Logan Soole, 25, (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa), is a member of the Franklin Local Board. Soole, who was first elected at just 19 years old, will spend his last day in office in early June. The Pukekohe local has decided to move to London to join his partner, but promises this isn't the last New Zealand will see of him. "I will be be back," Soole said. "I love this place, Aotearoa is my home, Tāmaki Makaurau is my home and I will be back. When? I'm not sure but I will be back." Soole said he and his partner had been in a long distant relationship for almost two years, and it was time to be together. "It was just a right thing to do. But it's not the sole reason why I'm moving. "I was elected into this role to represent my community, I've done two terms and got some really impressive change and it was just another factor." At just 19, Soole was the youngest person elected to the Franklin Local Board, the youngest of the 170 elected members who made up the Auckland Council in 2019, and among the youngest voted into local government in New Zealand. "It has been the privilege of my life to serve the people of Franklin and Pukekohe for almost six years - a place whose people have shaped me since I was first elected at age 19." During the Covid-19 pandemic, Soole was named Young Elected Member of the Year, for helping his community get vaccinated during lockdowns. He leapt into action to serve his community when the nation first went into lockdown in March 2020. "I'm so proud of what we have achieved together and I remain in awe of the selfless, humble members of our community that work away in the background, not for thanks but because they care." His resignation from local politics means Soole will also be leaving his volunteer roles on the Pukekohe High School Board of Trustees and the Pukekohe Community Patrol. "I will be forever grateful that Pukekohe gave that enthusiastic 19-year-old a chance to represent this very special place and its people." Franklin Ward coucillor Andy Baker said Soole's departure will leave a gap, but his new chapter of seeing and experiencing the world was also important. Baker said when he approached Logan to run six years ago, the teenager asked how he could add value. "I explained that it is important to have different perspectives around the table when making decisions about the future of Franklin, especially someone able to help us 'oldies' understand what our younger generations might think." Baker said Soole took up the challenge and it's been a privilege to have worked alongside him. "Just like his decision to leap into something he had no knowledge about or experience with, he has never been afraid to get involved, work hard to understand issues and put his hand up within the community." LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cambridge bans pro-Palestine students from disrupting graduations
Cambridge University has been granted a High Court injunction that will ban protests from taking place at graduations this summer. On Friday, the university won a four-month court order blocking pro-Palestine demonstrations from certain areas of its campus until the end of July. It is seeking to prevent a repeat of the pro-Gaza protests that disrupted the graduations of more than 1,600 students last year. Last month, the institution was handed a temporary injunction to protect one weekend's graduation ceremonies but saw an application for a five-year order rejected. The new order will run until the last scheduled graduation ceremony for this academic year, which is due to take place on July 26. Twelve ceremonies will be held during that time. The injunction period will also cover the university's end-of-year exams, which take place in May and June. The Telegraph understands that Cambridge may return to the High Court at a later date to apply for a further injunction. In his ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Soole said that there was a 'compelling need' for the legal action because of the 'strong probability' that activists are planning further disruption across Cambridge. 'I am satisfied that there is a compelling need for the granting of an injunction,' the judge said. In documents submitted to court last week, Cambridge claimed that protesters were blocking the university from using its own land 'without any lawful right to do so'. 'They are doing so not just at great cost and disruption to the university, its staff, graduating students and their guests, but also at risk to themselves,' the documents read. Last month, The Telegraph revealed that the institution submitted court evidence claiming pro-Palestine protesters stole commercial secrets during a 15-day occupation of a key admin building belonging to the university. During the occupation of Greenwich House in November and December last year, members of the Cambridge for Palestine protest group raided locked filing cabinets holding highly confidential documents belonging to the university. Myriam Stacey KC, representing the university, insisted the latest injunction application was not intended to stifle pro-Gaza protests but to prevent disruption on campus. 'It is the activity we are seeking to stop, not the viewpoint. It is legally irrelevant who is doing this. It is what they are doing that we object to,' she said. The court case, which began on Wednesday, saw Liberty and the European Legal Support Center, two rights groups, intervene to represent pro-Gaza protesters at Cambridge. Liberty has described the university's application as an attempt to 'silence students and academics'. Ruth Ehrlich, the group's head of policy and campaigns, said Friday's ruling 'sets a dangerous precedent which will severely restrict protest rights on campus'. An open letter accusing the university's court action of 'an assault on freedom of expression' was signed by over 200 staff and 580 students. Cambridge for Palestine, which describes itself as a student-led activist group, also accused the university of 'attempting to destroy one of the strongest student movements for Palestine' ahead of the High Court hearing. A Cambridge University spokesman said: 'We took this action to protect the right of students to graduate and to prevent access to buildings that contain sensitive, confidential information. This was never about preventing lawful protest. 'The injunction safeguards a very small part of the university estate from an occupation that would prevent graduations from going ahead. It also protects the right for our staff to work. 'Protests occur regularly at the university, including a rally held immediately outside Great St Mary's church during the last graduation ceremony while an injunction covering the Senate House, a few yards away, was in place.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
