John Palino Mayoral Campaign
Press Release
04 October 2016
Palino: I will pay down Auckland’s debt!
Auckland has huge, growing debt burden.
Most Mayoral candidates are offering solutions no more ambitious than ‘freeze rates, while city’s debt continues to race
out of control.
But is that the best Auckland can do? Not by a long shot.
Mayoral candidate John Palino is unique in proposing inspired and innovative solutions for Auckland’s housing, transport
and most importantly, its huge debt burden.
How?
“Manage Auckland like a business,” he says.
“People are wanting to move to Auckland, our land prices are skyrocketing and we are in the perfect position to reap the
benefit of this.
“All we need to do is acquire the land needed for our new development before it is rezoned.
“We then create the plan for the overall development which include parks, school, playgrounds, sports fields, build the
infrastructure and then sell off parcels to the developers - with land ready to build on immediately.
“It means that the cost of the infrastructure is covered almost immediately. For developers it enables them to hit the
ground running and build on a grand scale. For Auckland Council, we’ll have paid off our investment and put more aside
to pay off debt.
“This is a win, win project for all of us.
Why is this not being done?
“Because we have politicians running this city not a businessman. Manukau was rich with land because Mayor Sir Barry
Curtis bought up land years ago. He thought like a businessman and the city continues to benefit from that. Manukau
still owns a lot of land today.”
How do we make debt reduction a key focus for Council?
“We need to work closer with our CEO and express to him our goals and responsibilities.
“Our council culture needs to change and I would look at developing an incentive program to help change the culture -
teaching them that the value they add will determine the extra income to their personal pockets.
“In June you will find that most council departments start spending the un-spent portion of their budget, often only so
it doesn’t reduce their future budget. Is that a good thing?
“No it is not and it needs to change. Let’s all start taking personal responsibility over what we are in charge of and
having it hit their own pocket is a start. “
Says John Palino