City Vision launched our 2013 campaign yesterday to an enthusiastic room of candidates and supporters at the Wesley Community Centre.
Chair Robert Gallagher welcomed Mayor Len Brown and a strong presence of MPs – local Mt Roskill MP Phil Goff, Mt Albert’s David Shearer, Jacinda Ardern and Denise Roche from Auckland Central and Carol Beaumont from Maungakiekie.
In opening the launch Robert spoke about City Vision’s collaborative approach – working with Labour and the Greens and progressive independents to advance polices such as better choice of public transport and retaining community-owned assets.
Mayor Len Brown spoke about the achievements of the first Auckland Council in the areas of affordable housing, securing the CBD Rail Link and rates restraint. He acknowledged the Councillors at the launch who have supported his first term – Cathy Casey (City Vision), Richard Northey (Labour, Maungakiekie-Tamaki) and Mike Lee (City Vision-endorsed). The Mayor committed to an inclusive approach to get things done and to ensure the old C&R ways of oppositional politics did not return.
Labour MP, Phil Goff, followed by thanking the City Vision team for making democracy work for the community. Green MP, Denise Roche, reminded us all of the anti-Auckland and local government legislation that National have been implementing in Wellington. She recalled her first hand experience of working under C&R on Auckland City Council and the support provided by the City Vision team
Gwen Shaw, campaign coordinator introduced all the candidates who are standing across Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward, Albert Eden Local Board, Puketapapa Local Board (as Roskill Community Voice), Waitemata & Gulf Ward (City Vision-endorsed), Waitemata Local Board, Auckland District Health Board (City Vision Health) and the Portage Licensing Trust.
The candidates represent the diverse “family” that makes up City Vision. The launch puts the team in good heart as City Vision gets campaigning fully underway until to the election on 12 October.
More on City Vision Candidates and What we stand for
City Vision begins pitch for Council, NZ Herald, 5 August 2013
Photo credit: Cathy Casey
Cathy Casey’s photo album of the launch on FB here
Thank you everyone for turning out in support in such a large number. We have a fabulous team of City Vision candidates this election and the best designed and organised campaign ever. Thanks also to that talented artist Isla Osborne for our great billboards and Gerald Shacklock for taking amazing pics. What a buzz! Bring them on!
Thank you Mayor Len Brown for giving me an extra mention at CV’s launch. As a community independant, like His Worship I try and represent different party supporters who support me representing patients of different ethnicities,socio-economic classes and being a born Aucklander. Patient focus rather than soley system driven is what I will endeavour to achieve if elected onto the ADHB.