LETTERS & EMAILS
MIKE LEE’S GERRYMANDERING CLAIM REJECTED The serious allegations of electoral irregularities and Gerrymandering made by Russell Hoban in a highlighted Letter to the Editor of the Herald, and by Mike Lee to explain his defeat, cannot go unanswered. His arguments set out to undermine a number of important democratic principles. Under the Local Electoral Act 2001, councils throughout New Zealand must review their electoral representation arrangements at least every six years. Just like parliamentary electoral boundaries that regularly change over time with population growth, the wards that elect Auckland councillors should be as equal in the ratio of population per councillor as practicable. The Statistics Department found that population growth in the central city made the Waitemataand Gulf Ward ratio 43% higher than the rest of Auckland – so the ward simply had to shrink. It is a fundamental democratic principle that votes should have equal value and that geographical communities of interest should have equal voices at the council table. For Mike Lee to claim that the numbers living in Central Auckland should only be considered on the basis of potential ‘electors’ rather than actual ‘population’ to determine the ward boundary is undemocratic and objectionable. From the time of Premier Robert Stout in 1887 who said “this body is supposed to represent people,” electoral boundary setting has always been based on the total usually resident population there, so that elected members must also represent children, migrants, homeless people and the marginalised in society. The joint governance working group that I chaired made the initial proposals following the representation review but it was the Local Government Commission that was always going to make the final determination. On our Working Party’s recommendation, the Governing Body initially resolved for the Waitemata- and Gulf Ward to lose roughly equal populations to the east in Parnell and Newmarket and to the west in Grey Lynn and Westmere. Public consultation revealed that those in the eastern suburbs were relaxed about the change, some submitters wanted Waiheke and Great Barrier to be moved to the Rodney Ward. There was a strongly supported campaign led by Mike Lee supporters that changed the working group’s proposal and restored all of Grey Lynn and Westmere to the ward. None of us supported the proposal to take out Mike Lee’s heartland on Waiheke, so Grafton was then removed instead to get the ward population down to a number the Local Government Commission could accept. It is outrageous and disappointing of Mike Lee to claim that the Working Party I chaired, but did not always get my way on, then the Governing Body and, above all, the independent body, the Local Government Commission, engaged in ‘Gerrymandering’ to make Waitemata- and Gulf more City Vision friendly. Richard Northey, Former Joint Governance and Representation Working Group chair, City Vision representative and Waitemata- Local Board chair.
ROSE ROAD LAPTOP STOLEN I’m not sure if this is of interest to others. I live on Rose Road and my flatmate’s car was broken into at night and his laptop stolen. His car was parked right outside the house down the busy end of Rose Road near the new Countdown. Might’ve been a one off, might be a continual thing. Anyway, could be of use to other residents. Helena Gilligan, Ponsonby THE PONSONBY CLUB HOTEL I am seeking any persons that had contact with the Ponsonby Club Hotel as I was a barman there in the early 70s and would like to make contact with any staff or patrons that are still going, like me. I frequent Auckland a lot as my business now is connected to the caravan camping shows. My contact is John Feruglio, email: annared@optusnet.com.au LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS I would like to congratulate the Ponsonby News on its coverage of the Local Body Elections and commend all those who stood for election and congratulate all who were successful including Pippa Coom, our new council representative. I would like to acknowledge the service of the retiring outgoing members, Shale Chambers and Denise Roche. I did not agree all the time with what they did but their service to our community is worthy of respect. I especially want to acknowledge our outgoing councillor, Mike Lee, for his outstanding representation in our ward. Mike Lee is the last of a dying breed. He believes in representation, true community consultation and is a straight shooter. He supported from day one a full park at 245 Ponsonby Road which was opposed at the time by the Waitemata Local Board. He supported the retention of street lighting in Western Park and fought for the retention of car parking at Salisbury Park. Both of these issues were opposed by the Waitemata Local Board. There is much more that one could write about Lee and his achievements. I wish him well in his retirement and look forward to his contribution to our city in other ways. Gerry Hill, Ponsonby THE NEW WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD The new Waitemata Local Board has been sworn in. Unfortunately, City Vision has six members (85%) but only received 44% of the votes cast. Also there is no Parnell resident where 15% of the residences are located. It now falls upon the City Vision-dominated board to maintain a high standard of governance which was sadly lacking over the last three years. I have written to the new chairperson (Richard Northey) outlining what I consider to be good governance and confirmed that I will be monitoring and reporting on the board’s performance after each board meeting, the first of which is Tuesday 3 December. I will publish my letter (and any reply) on my website and facebook page in due course. Keith McConnell, Campaigner for Good Governance at the Waitemata Local Board.
Aggravated robbery at Grand Central Bar Police are appealing for information following an aggravated robbery at Grand Central Bar on Ponsonby Road last month. Three armed men with knives and a gun entered the bar around 10.15pm and demanded money. The offenders fled on foot with cash towards Mackelvie Street. All three men were wearing dark hoodies and bandanas to conceal their faces. While no one was injured during the incident, the team are understandably very shaken and are receiving support. Police urge anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or anyone who has information that may assist this investigation to call Police on 105. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
8 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2019
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)