News Release

21 January 2013

First Mayor in the Chair for 2013 in Clendon

Len Brown is heading to Clendon Shopping Centre for his first Mayor in the Chair of 2013, on Friday 1 February.

Mayor in the Chair sessions are regular, one-hour lunchtime events held in different areas around Auckland, when locals can pull up a chair and have a brief one-to-one chat with the Mayor about any topic they wish.

Len Brown has held the events from Wellsford to Waiuku, Huia to Beachlands and dozens of points in between since becoming Mayor of Auckland.

“Auckland is well on track to becoming the world’s most liveable city and a key international city on the Pacific Rim. We have transformational projects underway to maintain our momentum, like the Central Rail Link which will unlock the potential of our suburban rail network from one end to the other.”

“Also integral to Auckland’s success is our ongoing investment in local communities – strong cities are built on cohesive, resilient neighbourhoods with strong local identities. The council and our local boards are working hard to achieve this, and my Mayor in the Chair events are exceedingly important for me to stay in touch with what Aucklanders across the region think about how we are doing and what they want to see for their local areas as well as the region.”

The Mayor says he receives both positive and negative feedback, fields questions about all areas of council activity, as well as ideas for making Auckland and its communities better.

“I always value the chance to chat to people about their experience of Auckland, be they residents or visitors. Whether someone pulls up a chair at these events, comes along to one of my evening public meetings or just stops me on the street, it’s always a welcome chance to share my passion for Auckland and how we can make it better for everyone who lives, works, studies and plays here.”

Len Brown will be at main entrance to the New World Supermarket at Clendon Shopping Centre, off Roscommon Rd from 12 noon to 1pm on Friday 1 February.

Ends

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>