Malietoa Tanumafili II It is with great sadness that we have heard that the Head of State of Samoa, Malietoa Tanumafili II has passed away after many years in office. I am aware that many of our people in Manukau City will have travelled to Samoa to pay their respects at this time. I too pay my tribute to Malietoa Tanumafili II for his many years of service to the Samoan people and mourn with them for his passing at this time.

Going well, keeping well
I work out in one of our local gyms, Body Business, most lunch times to keep myself in trim for all the walking and door knocking. One of my mates was asking me how the campaign was going. I told him it was going great and that things were really starting to “ramp up”. He said “what does that mean?”

I practise politics in the way I was taught to play rugby. I play the ball and not the man or woman and what happens on the field during the game stays there. To play dirty in politics requires a lot of thought, planning and negative energy. I have never had the time nor the inclination for it. Some people find it entertaining but most want to know what I stand for and what am I going to do to achieve positive outcomes for our city and its people.

Alliances, alliances

In local politics more than in Parliament, the alliances you build with your colleagues in the Council chamber directly affects your effectiveness in the job of working for the people. You need to build trust, respect and personal rapport.

Building respect and support amongst Council colleagues has been a feature of my approach in the past and will continue into the future. Councillors know I don’t personalise politics, and that I am strongly focussed on the future of our city. I am starting to get attacked in the media from some who see me as an opponent, but personal attention like this merely confirms for me that we are well on track for a great victory in October.

Confusing? complicated? Welcome Manukau Water

If there was ever an argument to support ditching rates as a way of funding local government, the present debate on the new waste water charge would have to take the cake. Most people from across the city still haven’t figured out what has happened to their rates bill. They don’t know there was a fixed charge of $317 under their old rates account. They mostly have no idea how their new waste water account of $320 is made up or why Manukau Water was set up.

Senior citizens like the idea of paying only on the water they use - volumetrics. However most can’t see that if this system of user charges applies, and their bills plummet, then the thousands of families with children in our community will be in an uproar as their bills increase by up to 200 per cent. I intend doing a 360 degree review of Manukau water in October, with one option being that the water business comes back under direct Council control. There is more to come on this issue of pricing in the near future - that is a promise.

Teach them the value of Democracy young

There is a young boy in Maraetai called Nathan Wiseman. He is 12. He and his mates had been using a skateboard ramp at Te Puru Park in Beachlands/Maraetai. The ramp got broken and when it was not fixed immediately, Nathan jumped into print as you do! He sent a letter to the local paper seeking help from the Council.

The Community Board member Logan Kemp and the Council got onto to it smartly, no doubt after a little more prompting from his grandfather Bruce. Nathan’s actions have meant that the Council and community are not just focussed on fixing the ramp but on what else can be done to upgrade the skate park and assist with access to the park.

As the old song goes “Teach, your children well…”

Go well, stay well

Len Brown,

Mayoral Candidate, Manukau City,2007.

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