Banks' role riles women

Margaret Wilson of the National Council of Women got Len Brown's signature on a petition to keep the memorial at Khartoum Place. Photo / Richard Robinson

Women are being urged to think twice about voting for Super City mayoral contender John Banks claiming lack of leadership in protecting a memorial commemorating 100 years of the suffrage movement in central Auckland.

Mr Banks won't say if he supports the art fraternity's plans to move the tiled memorial.

Yesterday, senior members of the National Council of Women and other women advocates accused Mr Banks and his Citizens & Ratepayers allies of lack of leadership, breaking promises, passing the buck and causing unnecessary stress to women.

"This is about human rights, fairness and heritage. It cannot be moved," said Jane Prichard, the council's Asia-Pacific president, who was at the memorial's unveiling in 1993.

"It could well become an election issue and I think the women of Auckland need to be told that and encouraged to vote where they will get the most sense," she said.

Margaret Wilson, a member of the National Council of Women's Auckland executive, noted Mr Banks' main Super City leadership rival, Manukau Mayor Len Brown, had signed a petition to keep the memorial at Khartoum Place.

Yesterday, C&R councillors threw out a notice of motion from a City Vision councillor to support the petition from the National Council of Women with 4393 signatures to leave the memorial where it is.

After months of debate and lobbying on the issue, the C&R majority on the arts, culture and recreation committee put off a decision until the Super City debuts on November 1.

They said there was no plan or budget to do anything further in Khartoum Place, described as a "kicking for touch resolution" by City Vision leader Richard Northey.

Mr Banks did not attend the meeting. Later a spokesman said he would not tell voters where he stood on the memorial because there was no proposal or budget for it at present.

Mr Banks promised to bring the warring parties together in June, but his spokesman said this would not occur before the elections.

It is understood the arts fraternity has lobbied Mr Banks to move the memorial to build a set of "Spanish steps" from Lorne St to the $113 million Auckland Art Gallery upgrade.

National Council of Women president Michelle Wright said: "We are offended by the constant obsession by a small group of people who seem to be intent on getting rid of the tiles for whatever excuse and ... cost."

MEMORIAL VOTE

117 years after women got the vote, this is how Auckland City councillors voted to keep a memorial marking the event.

In favour of keeping the memorial:

* Cathy Casey (City Vision)
* Glenda Fryer (City Vision)

Sitting on the fence:

* Greg Moyle (C&R)
* Toni Millar (C&R)
* Ken Baguley (C&R)
* Bill Christian (independent)
* John Lister (C&R)