Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Budget Says Auckland Council Needs To Do More

Budget Says Auckland Council Needs To Do More

The just released Government budget makes it clear that Auckland Council needs to do more to help itself says Mayoral candidate Mark Thomas.

Thomas says a housing crisis does exist in Auckland for some people and Auckland Council had to accept some of the responsibility.

“The current mayor’s approach has made the housing situation in Auckland worse.”

“Rather than focusing council’s spending more narrowly on key house-building infrastructure projects, Len brown has led a scattergun approach funding arts plans, overseas envoys and Whitewater rafting parks.”

“Labour MP Phil Goff looks set to continue this approach with his proposed urban forest policy and an unfunded plan for a new stadium – when our existing stadiums are not well utilized.”

Thomas said Phil Goff regularly criticises Government spending in Auckland insisting the region isn’t getting its fair share.

“But rather than complain about things he can’t control, the next Mayor should do a better job concentrating council’s considerable resources on improving transport and allowing more affordable housing to be built by improving council processing.”

Thomas said he will do this with his rewrite of the Auckland Plan, and by making $35M in savings in his first budget by eliminating lower priority governance, cultural and economic projects.”

“If Auckland does a better job spending on our core priorities, we would make ourselves a more attractive partner for Government and others to invest in.”

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.