Gwen Bull voted out of ARC in rates reckoning

2.45pm

ARC chairwoman Gwen Bull has been turfed from the regional council after leading it through a controversial term of rate rises.

Mrs Bull, a retired teacher, came in fifth in the Manukau ward. Craig Little, Bill Burrill and Robyn Hughes took the ward's three seats.

Chamber of Commerce chief Michael Barnett, Auckland City deputy mayor David Hay, Judith Bassett and Mike Lee took Auckland's four seats.

Christine Rose took the seat for Rodney. The rest of the wards' results will not be available until 5pm.

The progress results represent about 95% of votes cast, but Gwen Bull is too far removed from the top three leaders to take back her seat. Full preliminary votes should be known this evening.

Mrs Bull told Newstalk ZB that she feared for the future of the ARC.

She said she was not surprised that she had not been re-elected.

"I took a lot of flack for the rates debate last year."

A Herald-DigiPoll survey last month found nearly 60 per cent objected to the way the Auckland Regional Council charged for rates, after rises of up to 600 per cent for the council's first direct rating demand.

A new business differential softened the blow for home-owners but led to steep rises for many businesses.

The poll covered 1023 people, half within Auckland City's boundaries and half across the wider Auckland region.

After last year's "rates revolt", 60.3 per cent of those polled outside Auckland City said they objected to the council's rating system while 49.1 per cent within Auckland City objected.

Asked last month whether changes to the rates system this year would soften voter opposition to the rates system, Mrs Bull said the main reason for the rates drop for householders had been increased central Government funding.

Once regarded by other Auckland councils as a retirement home for grey-haired politicians, the ARC's profile was given a hefty boost by the Government this year.

It was given greater transport powers to plan, fund and implement public transport projects in Auckland. And $1.3 billion worth of assets from the disbanded Infrastructure Auckland were put under ARC control.

- HERALD STAFF




The following results are progress results only and exclude votes still in transit from ballot boxes in libraries and special votes. The progress results represent about 95% of votes cast. Preliminary results are expected about 5pm today.

Candidate, Affiliation, Votes received

ARC - AUCKLAND

BARNETT, Michael - Citizens & Ratepayers Now 41169

HAY, David - Citizens & Ratepayers Now 35328

BASSETT, Judith - Citizens & Ratepayers Now 34413

LEE, Mike - City Vision 31860


ARC - MANUKAU

LITTLE, Craig - Advancing Auckland 17643

BURRILL, Bill - Independent 13370

HUGHES, Robyn - RAM - Residents Action Movement 13342


* * *

*BAYLISS, Steve - Manukau Vision 12916

*BULL, Gwen - Independent 11049


(* = no seat in council)

RODNEY DISTRICT COUNCIL

ROSE, Christine 6392