Ali Williams’ message for Auckland – Ask Me Anything with Paula Bennett

“This is the best city in the world, but we are ruining it and it frustrates the heck out of me,” former All Black Ali Williams says of Auckland.

Talking to Paula Bennett on her Ask Me Anything podcast, Williams, the Auckland FC co-owner says he has fallen deeper into council politics than he ever intended, and does not like what he has found.

“I do understand now why we’re so damn stagnant,” he says, points to a lack of commitment and reluctance to “give it a crack”.

“I could take three hours to really vent my frustrations around this.”

Williams was part of a group who proposed a privately-funded stadium project at the Western Springs stadium site. The bid was withdrawn in July this year, with investors citing “extended timelines and complexities”.

It was a disappointing outcome for Williams, who was born and raised in Auckland.

“We were committing $300 million to build a stadium. It’s just nuts,” he says.

Williams believes slow progress at a council level can largely be attributed to poor voter turnout and a lack of engagement in local politics.

“If we did vote and we did get engaged, then what would happen is the cream would rise. We would get better people ... There’s some great people in council, but they just get smashed by the majority.”

And he has a message for his fellow Aucklanders.

“It’s our time, our moment. Let’s make this a magical city,” he says. “There is just that many people wanting to be in here and we’re the lucky ones.”

Listen to the full episode for more on:

• How Williams and wife Anna Mowbray make their blended family work
• Why Auckland FC recruits on character, not just talent
• The teacher who told him he could be an All Black

Ask Me Anything is an NZ Herald podcast hosted by former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett. New episodes are available every Tuesday.

You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.