Dear Friends,

Te Irirangi gone - Welcome to Howick
We are pleased Parliament has listened to the community's concerns and passed a law to name our community Howick. The previously proposed name, Te Irirangi, is no longer in contention.

An overwhelming number of people expressed their opposition during this naming debate. The opposition was not out of disrespect for the Maori chief Tara Te Irirangi, nor was it a disliking of Maori place names. The community's view was simply driven out of a desire for decision makers to respect our history and heritage.

Howick is the name the majority of citizens and ratepayers wanted. Howick is now the name we will have.

Tackling crime in our city
Street prostitution remains a particularly serious problem in Manukau. In two small but distinct areas it is rife and an ongoing nuisance for people who live and work in Hunter’s Corner, Papatoetoe and Northcrest Park, Manurewa.

Imagine arriving at work and having to clean human faeces from the doorway of your business. Imagine dropping your child at kindy and being faced with used condoms and drug needles in the car park. Prostitutes have used a garden shed to “service” clients in a residential street adjacent to Hunter’s corner.  Recent CCTV footage showed two women with a baby in a pram soliciting for business in Northcrest Park. A client picked up the younger woman and while she was away with the client, the older woman looked after the baby.

In an attempt to combat the nuisance created by street prostitution, Council put in place measures such as the installation of CCTV cameras, extra lighting, closed car-parks, enhanced community patrols and enhanced cleaning services to deal with human waste, used condoms, drug needles and alcohol containers.

Now, the Hon. George Hawkins MP has been requested to submit to Parliament the Manukau City Council (Regulation of Prostitution in Specific Places) Bill. If passed, it would give the police the power to arrest any street prostitutes and their clients who contravene the bylaws.

The Manukau City Council (Regulation of Prostitution in Specified Places) Bill 2010 is a Local Bill aimed at addressing a local Manukau problem - the increase in anti-social behaviour since the legalisation of street prostitution. We support the proposed law as a way of tackling this problem in our city.

Being careful with ratepayers' money
There has been some discussion in the media recently about a select few individuals misusing public funds, both nationally and here in Manukau City. We have been asked to give our opinions.

Our view on these issues is very simple. At no time should MPs, mayors or councillors use public funds for their own personal needs. Nor should those elected officials be allowed to avoid providing proper documentation to prove their expenses are genuine and reasonable.

As elected representatives we are the guardians of ratepayers' money. We must be careful when spending other people's money, and we must not abuse the trust placed in us.

Some of our colleagues have criticised us for holding Manukau City Council and the Mayor to account for certain credit card spending. We will not be turning a blind eye to politicians that think they are above the rules. We make no apologies for asking for accountability on behalf of hard working ratepayers in Manukau City, and will continue to do so.

Ends

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