The Last Post

Hi everyone

Yesterday the results for Waitakere Ranges Local Board came out - for the record, I was not among the chosen few.

Thanks for checking out this blog and to all those who've taken an interest in any way, shape or form.

Til next time!

Cheers, C.

Waitakere Ranges - enough said!

And now the end is nigh ...

And now the end is nigh ... on a couple of different levels:

- these are the final days for Waitakere City as a geo-political entity (but not for the westie spirit!);

- these are also the final days of the campaign for local government elections 2010.

However things play out in the coming weeks, months and years, if good people get involved at all levels (from elected office to just voting once a term) then we'll do just fine.

Thanks for taking an interest - and thanks for voting! :-D

People and Place defining local identity in the West

Thanks for checking out my campaign blog!

As I write, there is exactly one week til the polls close. 21.5% of our Waitakere sisters and brothers have voted ... so I'd encourage you to join their ranks!

I've been posting some links to my facebook page (it's at /christopherpenk), which highlight some challenges and opportunities - as well as great work already been done - in West Auckland.

One theme that seems to be emerging is that our local identity is defined by our people and places, rather than any political structures, politicians or politics in general.

Now please help define it by voting for those who will represent what matters to you!

Q. who will you vote for? A. phone a friend ...

Today I got a phone call from a lady who (also) lives in Glen Eden. She had some interesting thoughts about life in the area over the past 4 decades and took the trouble to ring me up (having looked up my somewhat distinctive surname in the phone book).

Did you know that Glen Eden used to have three supermarkets? Neither did I.

She said she wouldn't vote for anyone unless she'd spoken to them ... so I hope she enjoyed our 20-min chat!

Waitakere - people and places - "I'll listen"

If you live in the Waitakere Ranges Local Board area (see below), I'd LOVE your vote.

In Waitakere, our people and places need protecting. And your voice deserves to be heard.

I'll listen.

Past, Present, Future - time to vote!

Thanks for checking out my campaign blog! I guess if you're reading this (and clearly you are) then you'll have seen the link on my card.

Voting papers for this local government election have now hit the streets, so it's time to vote!

I'd encourage you to give your vote to candidates that seem most willing to listen to you, whichever you decide those ones to be.

My own vote won't be going to those intent on emphasising how long they've been in the business of local government. Some of those candidates seem content to rest on the laurels of supposed past glories ... and certainly don't acknowledge the value of bringing some fresh thinking and new ideas to the table.

However you cast your vote, thanks for taking part in our great democratic process.

Inform and Entertain? NZHerald: 0 / 2

I cannot tell you how frustrated I am with coverage of the Auckland Council elections.

This morning the NZ Herald had an elections supplement, which was worse than useless as it purported to be everything and was really nothing. Of the 43 candidates for the Waitakere Ward's two local boards, for example, they mentioned a grand total of ... 3.

And Brian Rudman has the hide to announce in typically patronising fashion that "[t]his paper has done its best to educate Aucklanders about the new structures and candidates". It's done nothing of the sort. As usual.

a Swanson swansong? meet the (same old) candidates!

Attended a meet-the-candidates meeting tonight in Swanson, at the kind invitation of Celebrating Swanson.

Each candidate was asked the question, "What would you do to ensure the unique identity of the West is preserved in the new Auckland Council?" (or similar wording).

I used my 2-minute speaking slot to emphasise that, as a local board candidate, my role would be one of advocacy for the west.

To discover Waitakere's "unique identity" its representatives will need to listen to the people to discern the aspects of life here that must be preserved.

The candidates' ranks are dominated by former and present local body politicians seeking re-election, though a few new faces are visible. Will the Swanson meeting (and the others to follow) be a swansong though? Time will tell!

Knock, knock, knocking on westies' doors ...

It's been a great day of door-knocking.

I was pleased to meet so many citizens and canines of West Auckland, none of whom bit me (neither the people nor pooches, that is).

Earthquakes | thoughts, prayers and thoughtful preparations

Like others around the country, our thoughts and prayers are with the good people of Christchurch today following the large earthquake and attendant destruction.

From a Waitakere Ranges perspective, it will be interesting to consider what other preparations we can make for such a tragedy, when and if something similar occurs closer to home.

Runners and riders ... game on!

Today marked the first day of the campaign in earnest.

Yesterday (Friday 20 August) was the final day for nominations to be received ... so the runners and riders are now all known. It'll be interesting to see who's emerged from the woodwork over the next few days.

My nomination has been entered as a candidate for the Local Board of the Waitakere Ranges, which I'm hugely excited about.

Game on!

hoardings ... come hell or high water!

Had a great day putting up hoardings today. We were out in the wind and rain this morning, that being the earliest we could legally put up hoardings in Waitakere City (under the current Council's by-laws).

So far we've got a great presence out there, which is encouraging as it shows we mean business!

brought to you by the letters C & R!

This week I was delighted to be confirmed as a candidate for the Citizens and Ratepayers ticket (C & R) for the Local Board of Waitakere Ranges:

c-r.org.nz/candidates.html

Looking forward to working with my C & R colleagues for the best possible results for the west.

spreading the good words

Today I had an excellent suggestion passed to me by a friend of mine, who happens to be a proud fellow Westie. She reckons that when Auckland becomes a single city we should be able to share library resources with a single card.

Although many live in Waitakere but work or generally hang out elsewhere within Auckland, at the moment Westies can only access freely books and other library resources from the Waitakere Libraries, and not Auckland City Libraries. The reverse is of course true.

My friend's suggestion that we move towards a single libraries card is an excellent one in itself I think. It also raises a more general question about what other services we can make more freely available for the good people of Auckland.

out and about

Well, I've had a great weekend so far out here in the West.

Yesterday morning I was at Parrs Park and met with local parents doing the Saturday morning thing ... taking the kids to swimming lessons, watching their soccer games etc.

I also spent some time talking with residents at a home for elderly folks, which was fun as well. Regardless of their politics, people are generally very friendly and engaged, I'm finding, which is a positive sign for local democracy.

Today I'll do a quick tour of some of the local churches and (if I get time!) any markets going and see how the good folk of West Auckland are spending their Sunday morning.

In summary, then, even at this early stage it's been a real pleasure meeting those other members of the local community I've not had much to do with lately ... an unexpected bonus of hitting the campaign trail!

ratepayer money and restraint: farewell funds

As a ratepayer in Waitakere, I'm pleased that the current Council has shown more restraint than some others in their farewell plans. In particular, I think BYO policy on alcohol is appropriate where public money is involved at such a function.

rates rises and perplexing predictions

Was intrigued by an article in the Western Leader saying the final budget by Waitakere City Council this Friday will contain rates rises that are "a lot less than predicted".

So who's been predicting larger rates rises than those we're going to get?

If it's not someone in Council, then why would we care about their prediction?
And if it's someone in Council, the following questions should be answered:
- what projects / spending has been scrapped? and/or
- was it simply poor planning / budgeting in the first place? and/or
- why do we (always) get rates rises greater than inflation ... particularly in a recession?

The WCC's final budget on Friday may make interesting reading. Watch this space!

penky4localboard@gmail.com

Hey, thanks for checking out my campaign blog!

Come back to check out my progress towards the local government elections 2010 - I'm running for a position on the Local Board: Waitakere Ranges.

Meantime:

- email me: penky4localboard@gmail.com

- facebook me: Christopher Penk

- twitter me: ChristopherPenk

As a fellow westie, I want to take to Council the local issues that affect you.

Get in touch (see above) and let's talk!

Cheers, C.