Pick of the bunch

Debrin Foxcroft looks at what the 11 candidates in Otara's election will bring to the table on voting day
Otara. Population: 36,700. Candidates: 11. Council vacancies: 1. Next month the people of Otara will vote to replace Labour MP William Sio as Manukau City councillor for the area. Answering a questionnaire from The Aucklander, candidates spoke about the need to battle youth crime, the prevalence of liquor outlets, pokies and community safety. William Peace is running an independent campaign based on the area's unique identity. "Otara: it's about us, it's about our future - our community, our families, our youth and our children," he says. In a similar vein, Joy Ramsay one of four women vying for the position - says it's important to develop a greater voice for Otara at the council table. "There are a lot of issues." The state of youth has the candidates worried. Mike Padfield works with "at-risk" youth and says there needs to be more hope. "I want to continue Len Brown's advocacy for this area and ensure that the maximum resources are made available for families and their youth," he says. Josephine Baker, another independent, agrees with Mr Padfield that youth need help, but she believes that change can only come from the adults who lead by example. "We don't have an Otara youth problem. We have an Otara adult problem, whose problems impact on our youth," she says. "When we support those people responsible for our youth . . . we will begin to see results in many of the areas that have held Otara to ransom for far too long: drugs, alcohol, gambling, low education achievement, unemployment and violence," she says. The candidates bring a range of experience. George Ngatai (Family Party) works on community development programmes in Manukau and the North Shore. "I believe community is the key to solving a lot of the issues occurring in their own communities," he says. Efu Koka (Labour), the chairman of the Otara Community Board, has William Sio's support. Like Toa Greening, another South Aucklander who's standing, Mr Koka is looking for regional control of the number of liquor outlets in the area. "As councillor, I would be advocating and lobbying the council to make submissions to Government about having more say in where and if liquor outlets go in our community," he says. Voting papers will be posted to the Otara ward from Tuesday, July 8. Voting closes at noon on Wednesday, July 30. John Skelton,Manukau City Council's electoral officer, encourages all residents and ratepayers in the Otara ward to make sure they are enrolled to vote.
Applications for enrolment can be obtained from any Post Shop, by contacting the Electoral Enrolment Centre on 0800 ENROLNOW, or from www.elections.org.nz