Action Hobson Candidate Profiles

Auckland City Council:

Christine Caughey

Christine Caughey is an Action Hobson candidate for the Auckland City Council, opposed to the planned Eastern Motorway and in favour of Rapid Transit Solutions for the city.

Christine believes that Hobson’s quality of life is under threat, not least from a motorway that will only add to the city’s congestion. She believes Auckland needs a new vision forward, including the rapid transit solutions other cities take for granted, integrating modern rail, better buses and faster ferries. She wants Auckland to be a 21st Century city where families, visitors and businesses want to be.

The founder of the Hobson Bay Residents’ Network and a trustee of Epsom Girls’ Grammar, Christine has a strong record in local and regional government, having successfully promoted community and environmental interests in Hobson and beyond. She knows how local government works and wants to build a vital Auckland, based on family and putting people first.

Christine can be contacted on 09 5245508

Greg Liggins

Greg Liggins is an Action Hobson candidate for the Auckland City Council, opposed to the planned Eastern Motorway and in favour of Rapid Transit Solutions for the city.

After 20 successful years as a businessman in the housing sector, Greg has devoted the last five years of his professional career to a wide range of community initiatives including youth work, health promotion, housing provision and assisting at-risk people to fulfil their potential.

Greg believes Auckland needs a long-term vision which manages the balance between the needs of business, communities and the environment. His work over the last five years has demonstrated the need to rebuild communities so that people and families feel safe again, have a sense of belonging and can thrive. He is deeply concerned about the direction and style of the current regime on council and believes it is time for a more balanced approach to local politics.

Greg can be contacted on 09 3585790 or 025 6047155

Richard Simpson

Richard Simpson is an Action Hobson candidate for the Auckland City Council, opposed to the planned Eastern Motorway and in favour of Rapid Transit Solutions for the city.

Richard is a successful international businessman, a recipient of the NZ Export Award and has served as director of several companies. Trained in both architecture and computer science, he was part of the original design team behind the Sky Tower project, and also took a lead role in producing sophisticated computer simulations to establish environmental controls now governing the Auckland CBD.

Richard believes Auckland is at the crossroads. It can either become a gridlocked third-world city, or a vibrant civilised city offering dignity to its people, respect for its heritage and strong association with the natural environment, including the Waitemata Harbour. His vision is the latter, and it requires a logically-planned Rapid Transit System, pedestrian accessibility, and parks and open spaces that reach into communities.

Richard can be contacted on 09 3091104

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Hobson Community Board:

Kathryn Carter

Kathryn Carter is an Action Hobson candidate for the Hobson Community Board, opposed to the planned Eastern Motorway and in favour of Rapid Transit Solutions for the city.

Kathryn is committed to the history and future of the Hobson Ward and believes in a democratic, visionary, practical and focussed management approach for the city to enhance its appeal to residents and visitors alike.

With extensive architectural, art and property development experience, Kathryn will focus on the need for a comprehensive urban design programme for Hobson that sustains existing infrastructure and enhances new city developments. In particular, she sees the need for clearer heritage protection controls so that our history and cultural identity are retained in perpetuity.

In addition, Kathryn will work to promote clear environmental policy and roading solutions for the region, including stopping the Eastern Motorway and pushing for rapid rail and a reduction of congestion on our roads.

Kathryn can be contacted on 09 3661870 or 027 2724149

David Grove

David Grove is an Action Hobson candidate for the Hobson Community Board, opposed to the planned Eastern Motorway and in favour of Rapid Transit Solutions for the city.

A JP and Bench-Sitting Justice of the District Court, David has a long record of community service, including as Secretary of the Parnell Community Committee and as an Auckland Cathedral Council member. His work means he is in tune with established suburbs and with central city dwellers.

David believes Auckland needs to be a fun, modern city; proud of its past and prepared to move sensibly forward.

As a Board member, he will ensure local interests are advanced and local concerns are heard by local government.

His priorities are developing transport solutions to help people move easily around the city, protecting our heritage, raising awareness of planning and zoning issues and bringing art and sculpture back into the suburbs.

David can be contacted on 09 303150 or 0274946352

Jennie Hayman

Jennie Hayman is an Action Hobson candidate for the Hobson Community Board, opposed to the planned Eastern Motorway and in favour of Rapid Transit Solutions for the city.

A health professional for thirty years, with a degree in Ancient History and Greek Language, Jennie has more than five years’ community experience, including on the Remuera Community Committee and the Koraha Street Traffic Committee. She has represented local residents on a wide range of planning issues, including dealing with the challenges of higher-density housing and protecting our heritage.

Jennie believes Auckland City thrives best when there is strong community-based representation. As a member of the Hobson Community Board, Jennie is determined to be the local voice to ensure the concerns of residents are heard and that local issues are sorted out, whether traffic and parking; dog exercise areas, stormwater and wastewater; parks and trees, and stopping the planned Eastern Transport Corridor.

Jennie can be contacted on 09 5242618

Paul Ockelford

Paul Ockelford is an Action Hobson candidate for the Hobson Community Board, opposed to the planned Eastern Motorway and in favour of Rapid Transit Solutions for the city.

A medical specialist in public hospital and private practice, and a long-term Parnell resident, Paul seeks a city which protects its unique environment, natural assets and heritage; which is fun to live in and to visit; and of which Aucklanders can be proud.

Paul argues that such a vision cannot include destroying the city’s waterfront, through Parnell and Hobson Bay, with a motorway that would keep people in cars and promote further congestion throughout the city. He strongly opposes such short-sighted development, which threatens the essence and quality of life that makes Auckland such a special place to live and work, and will instead push for Rapid Transit Solutions that will better serve the people and families of Hobson and throughout Auckland.

Paul can be contacted on 09 3797003

Mervyn Schamroth

Mervyn Schamroth is an Action Hobson candidate for the Hobson Community Board, opposed to the planned Eastern Motorway and in favour of Rapid Transit Solutions for the city.

An Auckland Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and mental health, and formerly a freezing worker, Mervyn has knowledge of and empathy with a wide range of Aucklanders.

Mervyn wants a city with a human face, restoring colour, sculpture, building fountains and establishing safe, green space. A resident of the Viaduct Basin, he knows how Auckland can be rejuvenated.

Mervyn is a leader in endeavours from the arts to racing, as a collector and curator, and as a judicial panellist for racing. He is actively working to safeguard Auckland’s heritage buildings as Chairman of the Art Deco Brooklyn Apartments Body Corporate, and will apply that experience on the Hobson Community Board to make the Ward a better place in which to live.

Mervyn can be contacted on 09 3581870

David Simpson

David Simpson is an Action Hobson candidate for the Hobson Community Board, opposed to the planned Eastern Motorway and in favour of Rapid Transit Solutions for the city.

David is a leading medical specialist who has chosen to return to Auckland after practising in a number of cities including London, Vancouver, Toronto and Chicago. He has seen what makes a city a great place to live – and what mistakes can be made – and believes Auckland must make the decision to invest in the Rapid Transit Systems that all other leading cities enjoy.

This requires balanced investment in modern rail, water transport, new cycleways, walkways that lead to other transport options, and roads. On the Hobson Community Board, his priorities will be to promote safe, walking “school buses” to ease the morning rush hour, build communities through better parks and amenities, and ensure people-focussed development of business areas.

David can be contacted on 09 5234648 or 021 784310

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