General Chat

I went on a protest march up Aucklands main street today. Took my OH with me as he likes walking. A few years ago he wouldnt have gone on a protest march but he did it today (he didnt know where we were going or why).

The people at the front were very slow moving, I think they must have stopped and done a haka every few yards up the road so finally I went on the footpath and walked at my speed, carrying my poster (N.A.F.A. I live in Franklin) and kept calling out: Down with dictatorship, give us democracy. I was interviewed by somebody from Radio New Zealand. Not on tele though, they were more interested in the Maori protesters.

Background: the government threw out the recommendations of a Royal Commission and put up their own version, only slightly different. Auckland is going to become a Super City, gobbling up Rodney District to the north, North Shore City, Waitakere City to the West, Manukau City and Papakura City and Franklin District to the South. Instead of Franklin having about 12 councillors at present (at least one of which does not know her territory) it will have 2 councillors on the Stupid City council. There will be 8 councillors elected 'at large' so they are almost certain to come from the wealthy areas in the present Auckland City area. What show will our 2 councillors have of putting our views across? Our rates will all be used for tarting up the central city and erecting edifices to the glory of themselves. The Maori people are wanting some seats on the council but have been told they cant have them. I am in two minds over that, after all we have a large Samoan population within Manukau and a large Asian population as well, so why shouldnt they also have seats on the new council?

This idea of bigger is better and produces lower rates and greater efficiency is utterly ridiculous.

Huia.

You go girl.

They combined our council to bigger is better, NOT. Rates have gone shy high, Our water is now separate, since the changes we still pay water on our rates then the addition of separate water rates. Last year water was $1.20 this year $1.60 on top of rate price for goodness knows what.

Glad we also have tank water, bet we will be paying for that soon as well.

All of this extra pricing is getting out of hand now.

Keep it as it is Huia. Fight for it.

Gail

Some of us are fighting, but I doubt that the govt will take a lot of notice. They will probably just make small changes in the hopes of keeping us happy. Fat chance. I live on a rural unsealed road. Since the last lot of amalgamation 20 yrs ago the road has deteriorated a bit. If it gets worse under the city I will dig up our potholes and dump them on the doorstep of the council or the MPs who supported this. Or dig potholes in their roads!
Huia in a fighting mood (no Irish in my blood that I know of)

Good on you for trying to stand up for what you believe in Huia, I hate some of the things they are trying to do round our city, and have been involved in the past in protests etc.

Great idea to take o.h. along for the walk, bless him.

Lizxxx

Remember the Poll Tax riots?

Hi Huia, I was lucky enough to be on holiday in the Auckland area over Easter and this decision was just being announced, I think, on the TV and radio so we were interested in it. Lots of people seemed to be against a "super-city" and in particular the Maori representatives were putting up a good argument. You live there so always fight for what is right.

We would love to live in Auckland so like to keep abreast of the news.

Wishing you well xx

Hi Huia,

Well done to you and hubby going on the protest march.

I hope that the march will make the government sit up and take notice of what ordinary,everyday people are telling them.

Good luck to everyone!

Sallie.

Unfortunately, the march was organised by the Maori to get their views across. The rest of us were just taggers-on. Apart from being interviewed by the radio I might just as well not have been there.
The Bill has passed only its first stage in parliament, a select committee will be meeting to refine details so I hope I will be able to put in a submission to that. Not that the Royal Commission into this Stupid City idea took any notice of the majority of submitters in Franklin and Papakura.

DET, the 8 councillors 'at large' will be people who will not officially represent any one area (ward). The candidates will almost certainly be people who have the money to put out lots of pamphlets over the whole area, or expensive ads in all the papers, while the less wealthy candidates will get little if any coverage, therefore wont be elected. The ones elected probably want to sell off Aucklands assets to their cronies (I originally typed cornies!). So Auckland will no longer get any income from those assets. And ratepayers will have to pay to use what we have paid for in the past. The whole system stinks.

It is not the first protest I have been on in Auckland and it wont be the last.

Huia.