12 March 2007

Manurewa Action Team to challenge the status quo

A new political force promises to challenge the status quo and promote a positive contest of ideas in Manurewa at this year’s local government election.

The Manurewa Action Team is a group of long-time residents who will contest the four Manukau City Council seats in Manurewa, as well as the six Manurewa Community Board seats, and three of the six seats on the Wiri Licensing Trust. The Manurewa Action Team is standing on a platform of renewal, a return to prudent financial stewardship, and a greater investment in Manurewa.

Daniel Newman, a current member of the Manurewa Community Board and a founding member of the Manurewa Action Team said the Council was failing to address the needs of existing communities.

“Manurewa ratepayers are paying higher total rates now than at any other time in history. Couple the city and regional rates with water and wastewater charges, and thousands of local residents and businesses are hurting. In our view the Council is harvesting cash locally to pour into its big projects in Flat Bush.

“It has become easier to set up a pub, bar or bottle shop in Manurewa than it is to get the Council to fund pedestrian crossings outside our local schools. The Manurewa Action Team thinks we need to reprioritise what is important in our community,” Daniel Newman said.

Daniel Newman (30) will stand for Council, as well as seek re-election to the Manurewa Community Board. A policy director and former policy analyst, he gives voters the opportunity to embrace generational change, while bringing to the Council table experience in public policy and commercial property.

Joining Daniel Newman is Mote Pahulu, a long-time Hillpark resident who works as a payroll supervisor for a large aged care provider. A lay preacher who is active in the Manurewa Methodist Church, he was one of the first leaders within the Pacific community to publicly criticise convicted fraudster and former Manukau City Councillor James Papali’i. Mote Pahulu will stand for Council and the Wiri Licensing Trust.

Angela Cunningham-Marino will stand for the Manurewa Community Board. A long-time Hillpark resident, Angela Cunningham-Marino is a sworn police officer based at the Manurewa Police Station. Married to well-known fellow police officer Bill Marino, she was involved in the successful Environment Court challenge of the Auckland Regional Council’s ‘wall’ erected between Hillpark residents and the Botanic Gardens.

Wattle Cove resident Angela Dalton will stand for the Manurewa Community Board. She served as a foundation member of the Manukau Enhancement Initiative (MEI) Steering Committee, and is now a member of the Board Forum for MEI. She is also the Deputy Chair of the James Cook High School Board of Trustees. Angela has a passion for the well-being of young people. She previously served on the Weymouth Primary School Board of Trustees and co-founded the Weymouth Netball Club.

Bill Marshall, the well known electorate secretary to Manurewa MP George Hawkins, will stand for the Manurewa Community Board as well as the Wiri Licensing Trust. The former chairperson of Manurewa Neighbourhood Support, Bill Marshall has participated in anti-graffiti clean-up campaigns and previously helped broker the sponsorship of a car for the Clendon Community Constable.
Iraqi New Zealander Faris Nazo will stand for the Manurewa Community Board. Faris Nazo previously worked as an advocate at the Manurewa People’s Centre. He is the current chairperson of Star of the Orient and owns a small business in Manukau City.

Phil Palfrey, the principal of Manurewa East School will stand for the Manurewa Community Board. A recipient of a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in the New Year Honour’s list, Phil Palfrey is the popular MC of the Manurewa Schools’ Music Festival. Among other things he is campaigning to install pedestrian crossings outside schools to assist children and young people in particular.

Clendon resident and community advocate Waina Emery will stand for the Wiri Licensing Trust. She is a member of the Clendon Community Support Group; Manukau COGs committee; and she serves as a current Director for the Wiri Sisters of Mercy Trust.

Two further Manurewa Action Team Council candidates will be announced shortly.

The Manurewa Action Team looks forward to offering voters the opportunity to vote for action to be taken for and on behalf of local residents and ratepayers. In addition to its comprehensive suite of policies, the Manurewa Action Team seeks to bring to the debate a call for generational change and a sense of urgency in resolving some of the major problems confronting Manurewa.

“We each respect the valuable work and achievements of the Council and the Manurewa Community Board. But we feel it is time for change and time for action. That is why we have agreed to respond to the hopes and expectations of so many residents and businesspeople who want change for the betterment of the Manurewa community,” Daniel Newman said.

ENDS

Audio & Images:
Neil Gaiman And Amanda Palmer

Neil Gaiman is in Wellington as part of the NZ International Arts Festival's Writers and Readers Week. This afternoon he and his fiancée, musician Amanda Palmer, held a small press conference consisting mostly of media not potent enough to get an interview otherwise.

Gaiman talked about seeing Amanda again after missing her Sydney Opera House gig to go to the Oscars, as well as that time he wore a vagrant's suit for their shared interview in a bath... More>>