City Vision News

C&R Council Confirms Glen Innes Budget Cuts

7th March 2008 at 00:00

Despite a huge effort by Labour Tamaki-Maungakiekie Ward Councillors Leila Boyle and Richard Northey, Glen Innes residents will be disappointed and angry to hear the cuts and postponements to projects in their area will be going ahead as planned by the Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) majority on the Auckland City Council.

Banks Alone in Exiting Mayors\' Taskforce For Jobs

6th March 2008 at 00:00

City Vision-Labour Auckland City Councillors were shocked to be told by council officers at yesterday's combined committees meeting that Auckland Mayor John Banks has unilaterally taken Auckland City out of the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs. Only two other mayors don't belong and John Banks is the first mayor ever to pull out of the Taskforce.

C&R Retain Metrowaters Cash Cow Status

6th March 2008 at 00:00

City Vision-Labour Auckland City Councillors are unsurprised yet disgusted by David Hay's Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Council voting yesterday to keep gouging water users by continuing to use Metrowater as a 'cash cow'.

Banks Council Failing Vulnerable People

5th March 2008 at 00:00

Today's decision by the John Banks-led Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Auckland City Council to put at risk funding to programmes assisting migrants and refugees, older people, homeless people and youth is being described by City Vision-Labour councillors as short-sighted and based on a misguided vision of what local government is all about.

An End To Positive Ageing In Auckland

4th March 2008 at 00:00

Funding for projects to make older people in Auckland feel safer and more valued are set to be axed by the new Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Auckland City Council led by Mayor John Banks.

City Council Funding For Homeless Under Threat

4th March 2008 at 00:00

If there was any project in the last term of Auckland City Council that had buy-in from every councillor regardless of politics, it was the Homeless Action Plan. It is now under threat and the helping agencies involved haven't even been informed, say City Vision-Labour councillors.

Diversity A Dirty Word At Auckland City Council

3rd March 2008 at 00:00

A range of actions to help new migrants integrate into Auckland looks set to be axed by John Bank's new Citizens and Ratepayers Auckland City Council.

"Diversity has become a dirty word at Auckland City Council", says Councillor Dr Cathy Casey. "Council projects with the word 'diversity', 'migrant' or 'refugee' in their title are now on the 'under review' list and are highly likely to be cut."

C&R Council assists developers to cut down Auckland trees

29th February 2008 at 00:00

Developers wanting to chop down trees in leafy suburbs will be ecstatic about decisions made by the David Hay-led Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Auckland City Council last night. On the casting vote of Deputy Mayor David Hay, C&R have cut out Community Boards from any comment on almost all tree removals by taking away the lion's share of their Tree Spokesperson delegations.

Banks to exit Mayors Taskforce for Jobs

27th February 2008 at 00:00

Only three years after Dick Hubbard involved Auckland City for the first time in the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs, John Banks and his Citizens and Ratepayers council colleagues look set to cancel all of the positive employment initiatives which arose from it, say City Vision-Labour councillors.

Ratepayers to Foot Bill for Big Queen St Bash

20th February 2008 at 00:00

A recommendation by Auckland City Council's Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee to spend $150,000 on a party to celebrate the end of Queen Street's upgrade is being criticised by City Vision councillor Dr Cathy Casey.

C&R Opts for No Elected Rep on Wynyard Wharf Plan Change

15th February 2008 at 00:00

At this year's first City Development Committee, Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) councillors chose not to appoint a Councillor to the biggest and most significant Plan Change to affect the city in the next twenty years.

Councillor Glenda Fryer, Chair of the Planning and Regulatory Committee during the last council term, says, "The Wynyard Wharf Plan Change will significantly affect how the inner city will grow, develop and look in the important downtown area. The decisions of the Commissioners hearing the Plan Change will influence the heart of our international city for decades to come. I consider the Plan Change is a policy matter in which elected representatives play a very important role."

C&R Council savagely cuts Avondale-Roskill projects

14th February 2008 at 00:00

Avondale-Roskill communities will be shocked and dismayed that David Hay's Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) grouping have broken Auckland City Council's social contract with the people of Avondale, Blockhouse Bay, Mt Roskill and Wesley by cutting a number of projects yesterday.

C&R Council savagely cuts Tamaki projects

13th February 2008 at 00:00

The Tamaki community will be shocked and dismayed that David Hay's Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) grouping have broken Auckland City Council's social contract with the people of Glen Innes, Panmure, Mt Wellington, Sylvia Park and Otahuhu by savagely cutting a number of projects today.

C&R Council Pinches Pennies from Local Communities

8th February 2008 at 00:00

City Vision-Labour Councillors have slammed savage cuts made to community and transport safety projects at Auckland City Council committee meetings yesterday, describing it as penny-pinching at its worst.

Councillor Richard Northey said, "Why would C&R want to make such drastic cuts in those projects most benefiting local communities? What a warped sense of priorities to cut spending to those areas that most need it."

Right-wing Councillors block bipartisan representation on SH20 group

7th February 2008 at 00:00

City Vision-Labour councillors are shocked and disappointed by David Hay's Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) team who today blocked bipartisan representation on the Transit-led State Highway 20 (SH20) Waterview Reference Group.

The first meeting of the Council's Transport Committee held today was to decide on at least two representatives to participate in the Transit-led SH20 Waterview Reference Group. If more than two representatives were identified then the Transport Committee could write to Transit NZ to outline why more than two representatives were requested.

Avondale Community Board Votes for Pool Funding

30th January 2008 at 00:00

Last night the Avondale Community Board called for the Avondale pool to be reinstated to the Auckland City Council long term community funding plan. The pool project has recently been deleted from the listed funded projects.

Councillor David Hay, Chair Duncan MacDonald and Deputy Chair Lily Ho abstained, however the vote to reinstate the pool was won.

City Vision board member Catherine Farmer is disappointed that elected representatives abstained from voting on an issue so vital to the Avondale Community.

Affordable Housing Essential for Auckland City

21st January 2008 at 00:00

City Vision-Labour Councillors are urging Mayor Banks, Deputy Mayor Hay and their Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) council colleagues to do the right thing about acting on Auckland City's affordable housing crisis.

"Today's NZ Herald story about the Demographia survey revealing housing in New Zealand cities being among the world's least affordable makes it even more vital that Auckland City reverses its decision not to be involved with future partnerships to provide affordable housing," says Cr Richard Northey, Auckland City Council's City Vision-Labour team leader.

COMPLAINT TO AUDITOR GENERAL OVER COUNCIL\'S SLASHING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUDGET

16th December 2007 at 00:00

The Office of the Auditor General has been asked to review the legality of the decision by Auckland City Council to slash its affordable housing budget. At its meeting on Thursday, the council resolved by majority vote to reduce the $9 million contract with the New Zealand Housing Foundation to $2.5 million.

Cr Cathy Casey has made the complaint because she believes that the inclusion of the affordable housing project in the Long Term Council Community Plan should afford it protection from such a cut.

Banks must honour affordable housing contract

12th December 2007 at 00:00

Six Auckland City councillors say that the attempt by Banks, Hay and their Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) group to abort the affordable housing contract with the New Zealand Housing Foundation is an act of bad faith and fails to recognise the acute affordable housing crisis in Auckland City.

Banks, Hay and Citizens and Ratepayers lazy elected members

12th December 2007 at 00:00

Opposition councillors are shocked by the lack of work put in by Mayor Banks, Deputy Mayor Hay and their Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) council colleagues before the Annual Plan Direction Setting (Auckland City Council budget) meeting held today.

Council trying to break contract with charitable trust over affordable housing

10th December 2007 at 00:00

A contract worth $9 million signed between Auckland City Council and the New Zealand Housing Foundation to provide 100 affordable houses over the next four years is at risk because John Banks believes that local councils have no role in the provision of affordable housing. The issue is to be discussed at Thursday's full council meeting.

Six Auckland City Councillors say yes to Falun Gong in Santa Parade

19th November 2007 at 00:00

Six of the twenty councilors on Auckland City Council today lent their weight to the call for Auckland Santa Parade organisers to allow the Falun Gong to participate in Sunday's Santa Parade.

John Banks and C&R show no evidence of transmogrification

1st November 2007 at 00:00

The first full Council meeting with Mayor John Banks, Deputy Mayor David Hay and a Citizens and Ratepayers majority held tonight showed no evidence of transmogrification in their attitudes towards women and experienced councillors.

City Vision-Labour leader Councillor Richard Northey says "John Banks and the new C&R council were given the opportunity to make full and best use of the talents of all councillors including their own women and councillors from the minority grouping and they have blown it."

A Moving Advert for City Vision

4th October 2007 at 00:00

The Avondale-Roskill team of candidates picked a beautifully sunny Saturday for their cavalcade across the Ward, with the aim of raising profile and reminding people to cast their votes.

The cavalcade set out from Roskill in the morning and drove around large parts of the area. At shopping areas and strategic residential areas, candidates would stop for a 20 minute burst of doorknocking, leafleting, and a good old fashioned street corner meeting. After lunch at the Cock n' Bull Lynfield we continued on to Avondale.

John Banks Sanctions Rates Hike?

3rd October 2007 at 00:00

City Vision Media Release, 3 October 3007

John Banks played to the gallery at last night's St Mary's Bay Mayoral Forum when he promised a five-storey limit on buildings at the 35ha waterfront Tank Farm development. He promoted himself as the urban design champion but only revealed himself as the high rates candidate.

City Vision/Labour Spokesperson Cr Richard Northey explained "The provisional design will go for public consultation but voters need to know that the final mix of apartments, parks and public facilities may involve major costs as well as social and environmental issues.

"Limiting the proposed height of all apartment buildings in the Tank Farm Development to 5 storeys would mean losing another $300 million in development contributions and rates from building owners. The result would be that ratepayers would need to stump up with a total of about $4500 each.

"Ratepayers of Avondale and Otahuhu should ask Banks and his C&R cronies why they are proposing to can the building of their much-needed community swimming pools, total cost about $20million. The pools are a relatively low cost resource and will be of enormous benefit to communities that have been under resourced for many years. A City Vision/Labour Council will put suburban community facilities first in the queue."

For further information, contact Cr Richard Northey 027 247 9662

Pollution of Western Bays Beaches - Going, Going, Gone

27th September 2007 at 00:00

Under the Banks/C&R watch from 2001 to 2004, there was a lot of money spent on sewerage works in the eastern suburbs, and the eastern beaches were re-sanded. Each year, some 20,000 cubic litres of wastewater-contaminated stormwater flowed onto eastern beaches so something certainly needed to be done about it.

But what about the Western Beaches? The contaminated flow pouring out onto our western beaches was 90 times the volume contaminating the east. But there was no money available from the Banks' council. The three creeks in Western Bays Ward - Meola, Motions and Cox's - are all polluted because decades of C&R councils have under-funded the city's stormwater and sewage infrastructure. Cox's Bay remains a disgrace to Auckland.

Working for a Pollution Free Harbour

26th September 2007 at 00:00

The City Vision/Labour led council is working to overcome years of neglect of the environmental health of our streams, waterways and harbours. In the last year, $40 million has been spent on extending and maintaining the stormwater systems in Auckland City.

Voting For Your Communities\' Future

24th September 2007 at 00:00

City Vision Media Release, 24 September 2007
The Herald section on the Auckland City local body elections is a welcome coverage of issues and policies. The emphasis on Council tickets rather than just the mayoral contest is key because the mayor has only one vote in Council.
Votes in all wards decide who controls City Hall - not just Hobson and Eden-Albert. People must vote across Auckland to say no to community and infrastructure neglect through years of the ‘do nothing' policies of Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R).
Only by cutting community services, neglecting parks and open spaces, and ignoring transport demands can C&R promise to hold rates to the level of inflation

Own Goal Over Dining Curfew For Western Bays C&R Candidates

23rd September 2007 at 00:00

You would think that the C&R Council candidates for the Western Bays Ward would be better informed if they are serious about asking people to vote for them. Their advertising keeps repeating that there is a proposed 11pm curfew for streetside dining on Ponsonby Rd. Opposing this curfew was given as a reason to vote for C&R.

Citizens&Ratepayer Councillors vote down Fair Water Rates

21st September 2007 at 00:00

"If you want to make sure that Auckland City Council has a proper review of Metrowater's charging rate in November then you must vote for City Vision, Labour and Action Hobson council candidates in this election " said City Vision/Labour caucus leader Cr Richard Northey today.

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