Issue 90 - Friday 20 November

Festive Season

Christmas is descending on our city at a gallop. The traditional first public celebration of the festive season kicked off last week with the tree lighting ceremony at Stockade Hill in Howick.

It was the best turnout I can recall in recent years and the crowd were brave because it was windy and cold. It was a great night finished off by a walk for the family down the Howick Main Street for Midnight Madness.

The street was crammed with families enjoying the occasion and taking the opportunity to look inside the Santa Cave which had been repositioned from a private home on Chapel Road into the new Fencible Park on main street.

This has been a tough year for most of us and with summer, Christmas and holidays beckoning, people are starting to lighten up.

Sir John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation

I also attended the first anniversary celebration of the Sir John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation. The Trustees were hosted by Sir Noel and Lady Sue Robinson and celebrated a great first year which saw the roll-out of four projects with two more still in the planning. It highlights the continuing support and commitment by trusts and by government through SPARC, to Sir John's vision that every child in our city be active and involved in sport and recreation.

Street Workers

On a more challenging note we recently hosted the Minister of Justice Simon Power in our community to deal with the continuing issue of street prostitutes working in our town centres. This continues to be a concern particularly for the Papatoetoe and Manurewa communities. We had the opportunity to discuss the challenges and the impact of this on our residents and businesses with the Minister.

I am hopeful he has taken what he has witnessed and experienced on board. I suspect he and the Cabinet understands the depth of feeling on this matter in our city and I suspect in many other cities across the country.

I am very hopeful that we may be able to move forward on a legislative programme supported by Parliament. We have to be able to preserve the integrity of our streets and town centres and ensure this reflects the pride we have in our city as well as finding alternative options for those that are legally entitled to practice their trade.

Len Brown

Mayor of Manukau

ENDS

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