Press Release - For immediate release Monday 29 August 2016
Regional Parks Focus for Candidates
Auckland’s Friends of Regional Parks group has approached candidates standing for the Auckland Mayoralty and Council to
find out their views on Regional Parks in order to inform voters in the upcoming election.
Auckland's parks are an essential infrastructure component to achieve the Council's aim of ensuring that the best
conditions possible are created for the health, well-being, personal development and happiness of the residents. This
has been confirmed by numerous comprehensive international studies that have clearly identified the physical, mental and
emotional health benefits that people derive from parks. With Auckland’s rapid growth and intensification Auckland’s
Regional Parks are particularly valuable as health promoting sanctuaries from the pressures and intensity of modern
life.
Therefore in conjunction with the Auckland Regional Parks 50 –Year Vision and Values Plan (attached) the Friends of
Regional Parks are requesting candidates to show what commitment they would specifically give as Mayor or Councillor to
the survey questions. All Mayoral and Council candidates are invited to respond. Results will generate a "score card"
for each candidate which will be publicised. No response to any question will result in a zero score for that question.
Candidates who do not complete the survey will be scored with the lowest result in the scorecard.
The survey questions (attached) can be found on the Friends of Regional Parks website at http://www.forparks.org.nz/
All Mayoral and Councillor candidates who provided an email contact address with their nomination form will receive an
email invitation to complete the survey which will close on Monday 12 September. Any candidates who have not yet
received an invitation can request one by emailing treasurer@forparks.org.nz
ENDS