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Letter to Manukau – Issue 83

Senior members of our community

A lot of the correspondence I get has been related to the young people of our city.

At the other end of the age spectrum though, I also spend a lot of time with the senior members of our community in groups such as Grey Power New Zealand and retirement villages where I enjoy what is often robust debate.

I recently visited Age Concern at their headquarters in Papatoetoe.
 
Age Concern is doing a great job in caring for the elderly in our community and ensuring their interests are heard and advocated.

Statistics show we are all living longer lives and I am impressed with the level of physical and social activity of senior members of our community.  I have to take my hat off to Winston Peters for leading through the Gold Card which helps provide free off-peak public transport travel for older people. It has been great for those 65 years and over who have used this as an opportunity to get out of their homes and travel around the city. This patronage has helped drive the recent increase in the public transport usage.

Select Committee

The Select Committee has made their recommendations to Parliament for the proposed structure of the new Auckland Council and legislation has now been passed to confirm the formation of it.

One of the areas for continuing discussion is the number of boards and, more importantly the delegations to the local community boards.

If, as the minister has indicated, the number of boards regionally is set at between 25 to 30 rather than closer to 20, then Manukau is likely to be serviced by six or seven boards.  Each of the boards would have an average of 50,000 to 70,000 people under their authority.

The question that still remains in our minds is whether the boards will have sufficient delegated powers to be effective in governing their local communities.

We have had a number of rigorous debates in council chambers with regards to the local boards' ability to make decisions on issues within their backyard without the oversight of our council. 

I suspect this will be a continuing debate under the new structure particularly if the government does not deliver clear enough parameters for local decision making without council oversight on issues relating to parks, reserves, social amenities policy and service delivery levels. 

Collaboration

I am impressed with the collaborative work by various organisations across the region and in particularly the ability of the Auckland Regional Council to work with our council on matters of mutual interest. 

Our communities love our reserves and it was great to be part of the open day for the forest trail that links the Auckland Botanic Gardens and Totara Park.  

Everyone knows the Botanic Gardens and how well they have developed, particularly under the outstanding leadership and guiding passion of Jack Hobbs. 

But not a lot of people in our city know the beauty of Totara Park. It is a fabulous park known for its quiet beauty of the many walks. It is one of the largest residential parks in the country, and its right here in Manukau for our locals and visitors alike, to enjoy. 

I encourage everyone to visit Totara Park and to enjoy the joint forest trail through to the Botanic Garden. It is beautiful. The forest trail open day was great and it was an encouraging collaboration by the two councils.

Hope you all have a good week.

 
ends
 

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