City Vision is delighted with the election of Julie Fairey as the new Councillor for Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa and pleased the official results have confirmed other progressive gains across the region. However, it is a disappointing outcome for City Vision endorsed Mayoral Candidate Efeso Collins and for Waitematā and Gulf’s Pippa Coom.
On local boards City Vision has held four seats on the Albert- Eden Local Board but unfortunately lost majorities on the Waitematā and Puketāpapa Local Boards. We are disappointed not to have picked up any seats on the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board where we stood three excellent candidates for the Maungakiekie subdivision. This result was probably a consequence of the region-wide trend of voting against incumbents and for reactionary change. City Vision made a clean sweep of the three local positions on the Portage Licensing Trust.
Julie brings considerable skills and experience to the governing body from her 12 years on the Puketāpapa Local Board. She joins Labour’s Kerrin Leoni (Whau ward) and Lotu Fuli (Manukau) as new councillors with a strong progressive voice. The official election result confirms new Mayor Wayne Brown does not have a majority and will need to work with all councillors around the council table issue by issue. We welcome the opportunity to work with Mayor Brown on issues he has publicly supported during the campaign, such as the Living Wage, improving our public transport system, and supporting more people living in the city centre.
City Vision’s hard working, climate action champion Pippa Coom was unsuccessful in her bid to retain the Waitematā and Gulf ward. We are enormously grateful to Pippa for her efforts since the start of the Super City in 2010; as a leader on active transport and climate action she was integral in the adoption of Te Tāruke ā Tāwhiri; Auckland’s Climate Plan, and in work in the city centre that is creating a vibrant people-focused heart for Tāmaki Makaurau.
Pippa is yet to make any decisions about next steps but is committed to her work progressing the restoration of the Hauraki Gulf, climate action, and expansion of Auckland’s cycle network. She will continue to support the City Vision whānau (read Pippa’s wrap on 12 years on Auckland Council).
City Vision campaigned across the central isthmus with the most diverse group of candidates ever put forward for local government. We really wish to thank all if them for campaigning so hard with positivity and integrity. It has not been easy in an election marred by personal attacks and misinformation.
Among first-time candidates, Redelond “Red” Tsounga has been very energetic, seeking to bring a very different perspective to the Governing Body table for Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa. Although he was not successful this time he has a bright future ahead as an advocate for marginalised communities in Auckland, and will no doubt continue helping to change council processes and decisions to better reflect our diverse population.
Many thanks also to all our supporters and volunteers. The campaign is only possible with the time and financial contributions of many. We come together as a coalition of Labour, Greens and community independents to campaign in the local elections but also to support our candidates and progress our policies throughout the council term.
We may not have seen all the results we were hoping for, but we are proud to have fought for our communities, for action on climate change, for housing, for social justice and for transport choice.
We’re not stopping now. Auckland’s challenges are big, but the opportunities are bigger.
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Final results for City Vision
Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward – Julie Fairey
Waitematā Local Board – Alex Bonham, Richard Northey and Anahera Rawiri
Pukeptāpapa Local Board – Jon Turner and Bobby Shen
Albert-Eden Local Board – Margi Watson, Julia Maskill, Christina Robertson and Liv Roe
Portage Licensing Trust – Margi Watson, Mark Beavis and Marcus Amosa
Contact: Robert Gallagher, Chair City Vision 021365551