Still Groundhog Day in the Waitemata Local Board

Rock The Vote NZ watches the Waitemata Local Board in action at their monthly public meeting.

Sitting in the gallery observing the Waitemata Local Board in action at their monthly public meeting on the 19^th of August was just like “Groundhog Day”, a situation in which a series of tedious events appear to be recurring in exactly the same way as they have done over time – in this case over the last 3 years!

Unfortunately, the Board has not been united in its representation for many election cycles. The Labour/Greens backed party, City Vision, whose “vision” is ideological rather than practical, holds the advantage of 4 members against the 3 of opposing party, Community and Residents. Genevieve Sage, who ran as a candidate for Community & Residents made a back-room deal with the party she was publicly running against in order to secure the position of Chair of the Board (and control of the Chairs casting vote), which should have been forbidden. As a result, for 3 years now, City Vision have had control of the vote.

The 4 City Vision pals all vote in unison for every ideological high-dollar project. Communities and Residents (C&R) members Alan, Greg and Sarah do their best to point out the views of the rate paying public who support them, but the vote is usually a foregone 4-3 almost every time! Hardly a balanced representation of voters' interests.

Seasoned observers could also speculate that not all 4 voting members of City Vision (including the Chair) are fully aware of the aims of the ideology they serve. Good intentions are therefore lost in ignorance. The buzz-words in their ideology are “Potemkin facades". “Safety” is an alluring word, but words have been manipulated by marketeers for centuries and that process has become a veritable Trojan Horse for covert change recently, more than any period before. “Safety” in political-speak translates to “restriction”. Actions based on “Sustainability” have so far led to the inverse result. "Sustainable" power generation has led to ever higher electricity bills, in total contradiction to the rapid advancement of technology. “Sustainable” farming and food production has resulted in rocketing food prices, the disappearance of some products and food shortages. In political-speak, "sustainable" translates as "inefficient".

• How can your family "sustain" the increasing costs of your everyday life resulting from these ideologies?

• How have the decisions of City Vision on the Waitemata Local Board impacted your household budget, your commute to work, and the area you live in?

• Shouldn’t you be voting for practicality, rather than ideology?

Re-balance the decision making this election and give Communities and Residents a better chance to represent your practical needs.

Grant Mountjoy

Rock The Vote NZ

(First Published in the Ponsonby News)