Manukau Ward councillor Efeso Collins talks about his favourite things in Auckland
Five new faces were elected to the Auckland Council in October. The Herald met up with the 2016 intake, all former Local Board members, to find out what makes them tick, their hopes and aspirations in the job and five things they love about Auckland.
Efeso Collins, Manukau ward councillor for Auckland Council. Photo / Michael Craig.
Efeso Collins
Ward - Manukau
Road to City Hall: Son of Samoan immigrants who moved to Auckland more than 40 years ago. Did political commentary at university where he was critical of the Labour Party. Went on to work at Auckland University and joined the Labour Party in 2011. Stood successfully for the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board in 2013, and loved being community connected. Took a pay cut from university but thought it was something that God wanted for him. Stood in the Manukau ward when Arthur Anae stepped down this year.
Related his life - the son of immigrants working multiple jobs to build a better life for six children in a state house on Preston Rd in Otara - and spoke about Auckland, a place of new beginnings where ideas, voices, cultures and ways of living can be beautifully interwoven. Pledged to stand by the people he sits beside in church each Sunday and those he barters with at the Mangere markets. Also, the children who go to school hungry and the kids sleeping in cold garages and cars - all these people demand and deserve strong leadership for change, equity and compassion.
Quote: "Auckland's accidental property millionaires club is yet to reach the people of Manukau."
Hopes and aspirations
As a Samoan, he wants to break the mould of not speaking up in the political environment, and speak boldly and with intelligence on behalf of his community. Housing is a big focus. Ensuring people who own a house are clued up when a real estate agent comes knocking and tells them they can get $500,000 for a house in Otara when they can hold on to it and support other members of the family get into houses. Keen on getting people out of cars and into public transport.
1) The water and church trips to places like Long Bay.
2) With a young daughter, playgrounds around the city, and the family connections made there.
3) How diversity is becoming deeply entrenched in Auckland society.
4) The richness of festivals, including Pasifika, the Lantern Festival and Diwali.
5) The way Auckland has embraced Pasifika and super-diversity
North Shore councillor Richard Hills.Photo / Michael Craig
Richard Hills
Ward - North Shore
Road to City Hall: The son of parents who married on Takapuna Beach and raised a family in Glenfield. Got involved in youth-related issues after attending Auckland University of Technology. Shoulder-tapped by former Labour MP and Auckland councillor Ann Hartley and got elected to the Kaipatiki Local Board in 2010. When George Wood stood down from council, he put in a last-minute nomination and worked with sitting councillor Chris Darby. The pair got elected to the two North Shore seats, Hills by a slim margin of 128 votes.
Maiden speech
The 30-year-old focused on people and the community, and couched issues in terms of people. Public transport is not about buses or trains, he said, but people and how they get to work and around the city. Growth is people moving here, like his mum, a daughter of immigrants who arrived by ship in the 1950s for a better life. He called on council to embrace and include people from different backgrounds, cultures and sexualities and gender identities.
Quote: "By becoming more people-focused, our community might feel more positive about us. We need to talk about people more."
Hopes and aspirations
Improved engagement and connection with people is central to his thinking. Investing in areas that make people feel good about their town centres, parks, community connections and feel safe. Youth engagement is important. So too, better public transport - SkyPath and other safe cycling and walking connections - addressing climate change, the housing crisis and homelessness. Still finding the line between being a Local Board member and councillor.
Five things he loves about Auckland
1) The people. You can go anywhere in the world and come back to New Zealand and it feels like we are the friendliest, most likely to help each other out.
2) The environment. Especially on the North Shore, the beaches and native bush are so accessible.
3) The weather. It's pretty good in the summer and we are pretty blessed to live here.
4) Events and cultural diversity. You can go to the museum, the art gallery, you can visit marae pretty easily.
5) Parks and reserves. We have a richness of assets that are generally free to everyone.
Daniel Newman, Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor for Auckland Council. Photo / Michael Craig.
Daniel Newman
Ward: Manurewa-Papakura, also know as Man-Pap
Road to City Hall: The Papakura-raised Newman says public service is fundamental to his DNA, having served on the Manukau City Council, the Manurewa Local Board and co−sponsored a successful legal challenge to prohibit a Clendon retailer from selling BZP and other party drugs. The card-carrying member of the National Party, nicknamed Daniel 'Vlad' Newman by Whaleoil's Cam Slater, ousted sitting councillor Calum Penrose for one of two Man-Pap ward seats. He was born five weeks after fellow Man-Pap councillor Sir John Walker won gold in the 1500m at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Focused on co-governance - powering up Local Boards - education, particularly literacy and numeracy among young teenagers, and maintaining existing assets and levels of service.
Quote: "We should not be scared of the co-governance model - it is the means to drive public confidence and restore trust."
Hopes and aspirations
Wants to see a more cosmopolitan and diverse community, and more younger faces in positions of leadership at council. Newman promises to be a voice not just for the future, but looking after what Auckland has today.
Five things he loves about Auckland
1) The natural environment of Tamaki Makaurau, with special mention for the Manukau, Waitemata and Kaipara harbours, and regional parks.
2) The fact Auckland is 100 villages and communities and the city is the sum of all parts.
3) The multicultural, cosmopolitan mix of people who have come from all over the globe and live peacefully together.
4) The resilience of Aucklanders who can be outspoken and strident advocates, particularly in the south.
5) The talent of young people who excel in education, sport and culture - "I love that".
Rodney councillor Greg Sayers. Photo / Michael Craig
Greg Sayers
Ward - Rodney
Road to City Hall: Rumours of corruption at the former Rodney District Council sparked a political interest for the businessman. Elected to the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board in 2010 and that board and Rodney Local Board in 2013. Owned a financial software company for 15 years that he sold 18 months ago to dedicate himself fulltime to politics. Been a director of two other companies. Unseated former Rodney Mayor and Len Brown loyalist Penny Webster.
Believed 2016 was an opportunity for a fresh start with a clear mandate from the community for council to live within its means. Called for a stop to waste and overspending and cost savings if rates are to be kept low. Wants structure plans for northern growth centres at Kumeu and Warkworth. Talked about the health hazards from dust particles on unsealed roads, and a sealing programme of $10 million a year in Rodney.
Quote: "I believe our mandate to be clear. Council must live within its financial means."
Hopes and aspirations
Top priority is getting wasteful spending under control, largely through cost savings. Cites duplication on economic development is one area ripe for savings. Wants council to play a more active role in affordable housing by freeing up land supply more quickly and cutting red tape. Going to push for structure plans in towns earmarked for growth. Says the cart is before the horse with consents being issued for housing before transport and other infrastructure is in place. Increase Rodney's sealing programme from $3m to $10m a year over the next 10 years. That would seal one-third of the ward's roads, which is sufficient.
Road to City Hall: Began more than 140 years ago when her great-great uncle Sir Henry Brett served as an Auckland City councillor and became the sixth mayor of the city. Down the generations, her family have served in public office. Husband Peter Goodfellow is president of the National Party. Affectionately known as Lady Penelope for wearing bright outfits, Simpson has been a committed and popular chair of the Orakei Local Board for six years and relishes politics. Mentors include former Auckland City Mayor John Banks, who taught her to put people first, taught her about fiscal constraint and fostered a desire in her to make a difference. She replaced Cameron Brewer, who stood down in Orakei.
Maiden speech
Spoke about her deep family connections to public service in Auckland, the third-term Auckland Council being one of real progress and making the Super City model really work. She reiterated the message on the hustings for council to do more with less.
Quote: "Aucklanders want to see value for the rates they pay, and more often than not, they don't."
Hopes and aspirations
Wants to make change really happen this term, starting with governance and ensuring Local Boards are an important ingredient in the one Auckland Council. Believes ratepayers cannot be the only ones to fund billions of dollars worth of infrastructure and wants to tap into people prepared to push things along. Wants to know what investment has been made where over the last six years. Not impressed with trust in council, wants more honesty and less hiding behind weasel words.
1) The people and their diversity, all 191 ethnicities of them. They are what drives me to do what I do and deliver sound governance.
2) Our beaches, particularly those in Orakei.
3) Our sparkling harbours which hosts visitors via cruise ships, recreational boaties and those who fish, paddleboard, kite surf and sail.
4) Our parks and reserves, such as Selwyn Reserve in Mission Bay, which are so important in a growing city.
5) The fact Auckland is able to compete on a global scale where talent and enterprise can flourish and where it's easy to do business locally, nationally and internationally.
