Cameron Brewer to stand in Orakei ward

Chief executive of the Newmarket Business Association Cameron Brewer has announced he will contest the new Orakei ward to be its first councillor on the Auckland Council. The 37-year-old will stand as a centre-right independent candidate.

“The public is calling for some new faces – people who will bring a fresh and energetic approach to local body politics in Auckland. As I have shown with Newmarket, I will throw myself into this community over the coming years,” says Cameron Brewer.

Mr Brewer is a strong advocate for Auckland and business issues and has a proven track record for championing new infrastructure and delivering community projects. He says the first of his seven election commitments is to be accessible to the people of Orakei.

“People are genuinely worried that councillors will become too busy, too inaccessible, and will lose touch with local people and local problems. I love people and getting involved with community issues. I think I’ve made a positive difference to Newmarket. I’d now like to take my skills, experiences and contacts to Orakei.”

“Local government is about representing every resident and that’s what I’m committed to doing. However my own political colours are blue and will remain blue. I hope to be part of a centre-right majority that will provide the new council with much needed stability and commonsense leadership

Mr Brewer is a member of the National Party and has been close to politics for over a decade. The former journalist was a press secretary to former National leader Dame Jenny Shipley, Auckland Mayor John Banks, and the now Local Government Minister Rodney Hide. In the mid-1990s he was touted the country’s youngest publisher when he founded Inside Otago - a community newspaper in Dunedin which he later sold to an Auckland investor.

Approximately 81,000 Aucklanders live in the Orakei ward which includes the areas of Remuera, Ellerslie, Orakei, Mission Bay, Kohimarama, St Heliers, Glendowie, Meadowbank, St Johns, and ‘Stonefields’.

“Stonefields in the old Mt Wellington Quarry will eventually be a community of 6,500 people. It’s a massive residential development and as councillor I will take a big interest in the added pressures such growth brings. I will also take a close interest in the proposed Orakei Point development.

“Because the area has some of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches and residential streets everyone wants to come here. The challenge this century is to protect this area as the jewel in Auckland’s crown.

“I don’t pretend to know the issues or areas better than anyone else, but I am committed to listening and getting up to speed quickly. Over the next couple of months I intend on doing a lot of door-knocking, visiting community groups and school principals, and meeting local businesspeople.

Mr Brewer said the second of his seven commitments is to push to keep rates affordable.

“This council election is seeing huge promises made around massive infrastructural projects with multi-billon-dollar price tags. If Auckland wants these projects, we will have to find alternative funding sources. Our older citizens must not be forced to fund huge long-term projects through instant rates rises. I will stand up for the stretched ratepayer and I will be a strong advocate for Auckland getting cash out of central government when required.”

His five other commitments are listed on his website www.cameronbrewer.co.nz and will be detailed as the campaign progresses.

Mr Brewer says the website will help him build a dialogue with the community, through a blog as well as links to Facebook and Twitter. However he says he’s more committed to wearing out the shoe leather.

“I’m going to give this my very best shot. I’ve conducted some extensive polling in recent weeks, and it shows if I work hard I’ve got a very good chance of being elected.

“People living in Remuera, Ellerslie and the eastern suburbs know me pretty well already. I now need to convince them that I am the best candidate for Orakei’s future and that’s what I’ll be campaigning on,” says Cameron Brewer.

ENDS

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