Manukau – a Tiger by the Tail? Manukau’s economy continues to boom and although our statisticians tell us the city’s growth has slowed from 9 per cent to 3 per cent per annum, there is little sign of a reduction in business and development activity. I was honoured to be the invited guest in the turning of the first sod at the new Ormiston Hospital. This is an outstanding new development for East Tamaki, and is a credit to James An and his Griffin Property group.

As East Tamaki is being developed, and more multi-story commercial and residential structures are being built, Manukau must rightly ask for quality design and specifications to ensure that we get great quality in these new suburbs. We put a lot of pressure on our planners to ensure we get this design and structural quality. We are very well served in the council by the professional leadership of the planning team who have been key in piloting through many of the new environmental and planning ideas as East Tamaki develops into new communities.

A prodigal returns

The new CEO of the Ormiston Hospital is David Clarke, who was a former CEO of Counties Manukau District Health Board. It is great to have him and his energy and passion back in town. He was a driving force in leading South Auckland Health into a much better relationship with the community it serves and driving through the much needed upgrade of Middlemore. This new Hospital will focus on private patients whose needs are under-provisioned in our city. I have no doubt that under David’s leadership Ormiston Hospital will extend itself in some capacity to serving the health needs of the wider community when it opens in 18 months time.

And Dawn Raid is back!

Our Town Hall, Telstra Pacific rocked on 31st, as we celebrated the third Pacific Music Awards. A brilliant night, with outstanding entertainment. It is essential that Manukau cements itself as the capital of New Zealand urban Pasifika sound. I will be endeavouring to secure these awards annually and see them as an excellent opportunity for business support and investment.

Music is a great career option for young trailblazers in our community and throughout New Zealand. Outstanding in this area is Dawn Raid. Having recently had a serious financial set back, all the Dawn Raid crew wore t-shirts at the awards with the words, “Dawn Raid is Back”! This is great news for our city and for the young people of South Auckland. They have received significant financial backing from John Barnett, the producer of the film, Sione’s Wedding.

Music, not drugs

Rap and hip hop is hugely popular with our kids all across our city. Dawn Raid, and artists managed by them such as Savage are a beacon of hope for our youth and their success is something many of them aspire to. Whether it is commitment to music, dance, art, acting, rugby, sailing or netball I don’t care, but these choices to create and re-create will help to make our kids good citizens and keep them active and healthy. It is essential for us to develop every opportunity we can to keep our kids focused on positive activities. This is where as the Mayor I am going to concentrate a lot of my energy.

Len Brown,

Mayoral Candidate, Manukau City,2007.

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