Hard News: The Cullen investment
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I would love to think that there was someone out there who wasn't an existing Mayor who could capture the imagination of the whole Auckland populace.
Any nominations?
Kerry Prendergast - OK she is an existing mayor but we could do with a change down here
Just on the Auckland Supercity question one thing, (well many things) but this will do for starters, if Auckland has all these problems why do people continue to live there / corporates continue to (re-)locate there? - Is it just the International airport?
Napier is good, ditto New Plymouth
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Just on the Auckland Supercity question one thing, (well many things) but this will do for starters, if Auckland has all these problems why do people continue to live there / corporates continue to (re-)locate there? - Is it just the International airport?
In large part, yes. AIA is reputedly worth over 11% of NZ's GDP alone. Before jetliners displaced boats as the main method of international travel, the other metros had a more even share of the nation's international passengers and cargo.
And according to an article in the DomPost:
Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson says the corporate shift out of Wellington is not just about Auckland and is not likely to change in a hurry.
"We're fighting a global trend to centralising Asia-Pacific operations in the likes of Hong Kong, Sydney if you are lucky, Auckland if you are really lucky, and Wellington if you have a real commitment."
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hah!
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"There is a spending limit of $70,000 in local elections of this size"
is misleading on two counts:
1. The High Court on Clarkson's petition made it very clear that much money spent by a candidate need not be counted toward a cap
2. We have no idea what the Government will include in a bill still to be unveiled. The $70K figure comes from s111(1) of the current Local Electoral Act, which at the top end contemplates population tiers of 100,000 - 149,999 people, 150,000 - 249,999, and then 250,000 and over. Far under the size of the Auckland region.
So the to-be-seen Government bill could well introduce a new spending cap for an Auckland sized election. And Fred Dagg sorry John Clarke might be able to spend $1,000,000 campaigning and be lawfully within a newly created spending cap of say $100,000.
Phil Lyth
ruing the addiction of commenting for the first time anywhere -
"There is a spending limit of $70,000 in local elections of this size"
is misleading on two counts:
1. The High Court on Clarkson's petition made it very clear that much money spent by a candidate need not be counted toward a cap
2. We have no idea what the Government will include in a bill still to be unveiled. The $70K figure comes from s111(1) of the current Local Electoral Act, which at the top end contemplates population tiers of 100,000 - 149,999 people, 150,000 - 249,999, and then 250,000 and over. Far under the size of the Auckland region.
So the to-be-seen Government bill could well introduce a new spending cap for an Auckland sized election. And Fred Dagg sorry John Clarke might be able to spend $1,000,000 campaigning and be lawfully within a newly created spending cap of say $100,000.
Phil Lyth
ruing the addiction of commenting for the first time anywhere -
We still have all the Duplo and Lego (including Technic) out in the shed. It's all there for visitors, we had a young one not too long ago, and the grandkids that we hope will be along sometime. The ones our daughters insist are never coming . . .
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<quote>ruing the addiction of commenting for the first time anywhere/<quote>
Crikey, Phil. 4.11am. You've got it bad.
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In Brian Rudman's column in this morning's Herald there's an ad from Auckland City Council. "Everyone has a plan for Auckland. Tell us what you think of ours."
Two words can answer that.
Ironic. And late.
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The $70K figure comes from s111(1) of the current Local Electoral Act, which at the top end contemplates population tiers of 100,000 - 149,999 people, 150,000 - 249,999, and then 250,000 and over. Far under the size of the Auckland region.
Yes, but there are already Auckland-sized elections - the Auckland Regional Council is about the same size as the intended new Auckland City. Admittedly it's not at large, but DHB elections are.
Certainly, spending limits have always been aimed at advertising only. Other spending - polling, get out the vote, door-knocking etc. aren't included.
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The whole STV thing works by building a bandwagon, and of course the media will swing strongly behind Banks. The choice will probably come down to Banks or a slightly less obnoxious National supporter, and Banks will probably win it. I'm glad I don't live in Auckland.
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Let's temper the pessimism a little bit, shall we? The man lost an election against Dick "Barack Obama I ain't" Hubbard.
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... and then won with approximately the same votes if I recall correctly.
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I dunno. My entirely unscientific observation is that there is more affection for Bob Harvey around greater Auckland than for Banks, if His Bobness decides to run (didn't look that keen on Close Up the other night). Banks has a lock on eastern suburbs/Remmers, but I'd expect Bob to have more appeal across the west, the shore, Ponsonby/Grey Lynn/Pt Chev and probably south too.
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Yes, the pendulum swings. And the block voting system makes it swing further.
There is the amusing prospect of an election in 18 months' time, or even the time after that, in a very different political climate, producing a council with minority support on a minority turnout, spearheaded by the angry and dispossessed of South and West Auckland. Thus was born the People's Republic of Tamaki Makaurau, with a CBD featuring Castro Street and Malcolm X Boulevard. "An affront to democracy" thunders the Herald, before being closed down (new local by-law).
Eliminate checks and balances, and "strong leadership" can blow up in your face.
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The 17,000 figure is likely Harbourside (4k)
It's a great restaurant and an icon for Auckland, but I'm not sure it should have it's own Local Board. Banks would probably make it the Mayoral Canteen though.
All written materials say that local bodies can ask the Auckland Council to raise local rates for local initiatives - it is clear that the rate will be decided at the Council level, not by the local bodies.
Thanks Tass - that's interesting, so we'll get one rates bill but it will still be split between "Auckland Council" rates and "Western Bays Local Board" rates?
Banks will have real trouble with Rodney, Franklin, South Auckland etc I would have thought. It will be tough for a candidate to appeal across the whole region though, so I wouldn't be surprised if we get someone who just focuses on the big constituencies given the FPP stylez. Unfortunately I can see the big CBD/waterfront projects being actively talked down to stop the North Shore and South Auckland crowds accusing the mayoral hopeful of just being a slick city boy. -
Not sure why everyone is assuming that C&R will anoint Banks this time round?
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Incumbency, mostly.
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@annettekingmplistened to Pita Sharples interview re supercity-apparently the more you are slapped in the face the stronger the relationship
The Rodney Hide vs Maori Party is getting interesting...
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The nearest job experience to an Executive Mayor would be an Executive
Chair, so look for heavy hitters from the business world. Think ex-rugby players, etc. -
Tass,
so we'll get one rates bill but it will still be split between "Auckland Council" rates and "Western Bays Local Board" rates?
Probably. Under the Royal Commission proposal there was going to be one rates bill, split between 'Auckland Council', "Local Council' (which was going to be the same across the region), and possibly 'Local targetted rate". Under the government proposal, the local boards don't seem to have a budget as such, so its probably just "Auckland Council" and some form of "additional funding for local projects".
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The only other candidates I can think of who can challenge Banksie - and didn't even get a mention by the Granny - are Alex Swney and Richard Simpson. Swney seems to have the money & profile but maybe less so the charisma, and Simpson seems to have multi-partisan appeal but limited finances.
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Alex Swney and Richard Simpson
Nothing against them, but I don't think you're scaling up your expectations enough beyond the existing faces.
Anyway, I notice Russell has made us a shiny new thread for this very conversation (so it doesn't have a misleading name at the top of it) - let's go.
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Red, I'd love either of those two (or perhaps a double ticket as the Mayor gets to appoint the Deputy - or is this only from elected councillors?) but don't know if they have the name recognition or appeal outside the CBD, fringe?
If Alex reads this and wants to make a tilt - I'd love to help out on the campaign. Drop me an email if you'd like.
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The only other candidates I can think of who can challenge Banksie - and didn't even get a mention by the Granny - are Alex Swney and Richard Simpson.
Swney couldn't even afford to buy a vowel, I doubt he'd raise enough cash for a mayoral campaign.
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Given that my powers of persuasion to switch threads are so low, I will not be standing for the new uber-leader role myself.
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