On Newshub Nation: Lisa Owen interviews Northcote candidates Dan Bidois and Shanan Halbert

Lisa Owen: Johnathan Coleman’s resignation from politics has left a vacancy in Northcote, and my next two guests are vying to fill it. Shannon Halbert and Dan Bidois both want to be the electorate’s new MP and they’ve both just started campaigning in earnest ahead of the June 9th vote, and they both join me now. Good morning, Morena.
Shannon Halbert: Morena Lisa.
Dan Bidois: Good morning, Lisa, Shannon.
Dan, can I start with you? You have identified transport and congestion as a big local issue for your electorate, specifically congestion on Onewa Road. So, what’s your plan to fix it?
Bidois: Sure. Well, Lisa, the people of Northcote have told me very clear that they’re unhappy with the congestion on Onewa Road. And I actually live on Onewa Road at the moment and I see it right backed up. It takes you thirty minutes at 6.30 in the morning to get from one end of Onewa to the bottom. So, what I’m proposing is a comprehensive plan for transport in the Northcote electorate; we don’t really have one right now. So that is all to do with ferry services, it’s to do with more regular bus services. But it’s all to do with, also, looking at congestion right around the electorate, not just Onewa Road, but also Northcote Road. The whole electorate is backed up, Lisa, so that’s what I’m going to be focussed on if elected as their local MP.
Shannon?
Halbert: Yeah, I’ve lived in the electorate for a number of years, and I’ve experienced first-hand what it’s like to sit in Onewa Road. The vision for us needs to be greater, and that’s what Northcote is looking for. And our 28 million dollar plan alongside Auckland Council is a package – and it’s the biggest package in history, that Auckland’s seen, to address congestion in Auckland.
Bidois: Can I interrupt, Lisa? There is nothing in that package for the people of Northcote. There’s a SkyPath – which, great, I suppose – but SkyPath alone is not going to solve our transport issue.
Halbert: Well, SkyPath and SeaPath are there, and what it enables is a safe cycling and walking route across the Harbour Bridge. People have been asking for that for a long time, for nine years. And for 12 years, National have held the seat of Northcote and there has been no action on transport. The last transport project was The Northern Expressway, which was under the Clark Government.
Dan?
Bidois: So, look–
What was the big project which helped Northcote under the National government?
Bidois: I’m not here to talk about the National government, I’m here to talk about who’s best placed to be the local MP for Northcote. And what I’m saying is, is that the ATAP plan that’s just come out leaves Northcote out of the loop, apart from a Skypath, which is not going to solve our transport issues.
But what–?
Halbert: But, Lisa, I want to be the local advocate of a strong local voice for Northcote in Jacinda Ardern’s government. That’s what I’m offering.
OK. I just want to clarify what Dan is saying about nothing in that package. Northern Busway extension, the Penlink Road, ferry service upgrade, and, long-term, a second harbour crossing and light rail to the Shore – is that nothing?
Bidois: Oh, that’s something. Ferry’s great. Well, no. At the moment it takes thirty minutes to get down Onewa road. Excuse me.
Halbert (OVER): Good question. Let’s envision that it’s bigger than Onewa Road. We can’t throw roads from the side.
One at a time. Let’s hear Dan.
Bidois: At the end of the day, the people of Northcote have told me loud and clear they’re unhappy with being stuck in Traffic for 30– an hour extra per day. That’s an hour extra that they’re not spending with their families with their loved ones or on their business.
Halbert: So reality is this, then.
Bidois: At the end of the day, that’s not going to come quick enough for the people of Northcote. And that’s why I’m going to be fighting hard for a comprehensive transport plan for the people of Northcote.
Halbert: The reality is that 80 per cent of Northcote commuters now are travelling down the T3 lane. That’s far better than what we were doing three years ago. Now we need more solutions for them. That includes our local ferries, it includes SkyPath. And one of the biggest things for me in Northcote is about ensuring that our ferries are subsidized, that they are frequent, and that there are options for Northcote commuters.
Bidois: I’m really happy that Shannon’s mentioned the T3 lane, because that figure, 80 per cent, includes the cars that go down.
Halbert: That’s right.
Bidois: So, if you exclude those cars, it’s actually more about 40% using public transport.
Halbert: Carpooling’s a great thing.
Bidois: It’s also eight years old.
Halbert: 80%.
Bidois: But more importantly, we want to look at how we’re using Onewa Road.
Why would you exclude the cars? Because there are three people in those cars in order to go in the lane, so it’s…
Bidois: No, absolutely. Why not trial a T2 lane and have more cars go down there?
Halbert: Because that’ll slow down the 80%.
OK. Well, I actually asked…
Bidois (OVER): Which includes cars. And right now, people are backed up, and I’ve been backed up on Friday morning at 6.30. It took me half an hour to get down Onewa Road.
Halbert: (LAUGHS) You’ve only just moved in. That’s my daily life.
Good point. Good point, Dan, regarding the T2 lane. I’ll tell you why they don’t do that. Auckland Transport has told me that lowering to a T2 lane will mean that there is more traffic in that lane than there is in the general lane.
Bidois: How do they know that? Because the rest of Auckland is on a T2 lane, and only the people of Northcote are on the T3 lane. So why don’t we trial it?
OK. So, traffic is clearly a priority for both of you. You’ve both mentioned SkyPath, so let’s go there. SkyPath – Labour has pledged $30 million to this project.
Halbert: That’s right.
The final price tag is going to be way more than that. How prepared is Labour to stump up the money that’s needed to get it done?
Halbert: Well, $67 million. And Labour’s put up $30 million to kick-start that off. People want to walk over the bridge, and that’s our commitment. I’m standing for action for Northcote.
$30 million’s not going to get you a SkyPath, though.
Halbert: $67 million dollars is the total price tag. We’ve worked with Auckland Council, we’re in partnership with them. And that’s the great thing about working with this Government.
So are you able to indicate for your Government, if you are the MP for Northcote, are you gonna make a commitment now to try to get them to put more money into the pot to get it done? Because people, when we said we were gonna be talking to you both, people said, ‘This thing is taking too long. Where is the rest of the money?’
Halbert: Yeah, absolutely, I’ll make a commitment to advocating for Northcote and the SkyPath to Minister Twyford. And that’s the great thing about being in Government, is I can work with my minister, Twyford, we have a partnership with Auckland Council and Auckland Transport. And that’s the leadership that Jacinda Ardern as shown.
So you’re going to get some extra money for the project as the Northcote MP?
Halbert: I will absolutely advocate for Northcote. Because we’ve had 12 years of inaction.
OK. Dan.
Bidois: Because the cycleway that was going to link the SeaPath was supposed to cost $4 million, and now it’s on budget for 18 million. So you should double whatever the central government’s going to spend on SkyPath – double that times four. And that’s what it’s really going to cost.
Dan, just for the record, are you for it or against it -- SkyPath?
Bidois: Oh, I’m all for SkyPath, as long as it links in with SeaPath and it doesn’t infringe on private property rights and the private rights of those in Northcote Point.
So, Jonathan Coleman was wrong when he said it might detract from the…
Halbert: Yes, he was wrong.
Bidois: Jonathan was him; I’m me. And all I can see–
Okay, so you support it?
Absolutely, so long as it doesn’t infringe on the privacy rights of and the rights of parking for those at Northcote Point.
So, how would it infringe on the privacy rights?
Halbert: Because, right now, parking’s an issue in Northcote Point, which is why it needs to link with SeaPath so that people can park away from Northcote Point and use or access SeaPath.
Bidois: The reality for Northcote is it’s only a Labour MP that has a proven track record on transport on the Shore.
All right, I want to move on to—
Bidois: If I can interrupt, this is not actually about Labour or National, it’s about who the people in Northcote want—
Halbert: …a Labour MP.
Bidois: …as their local MP. And I’m saying here that I’m fighter, and I’m prepared and want to be fighting for the people of Northcote.
And it’s about what you can get for them, isn’t it? So, you, Shanan, have had a focus on education and helping Maori achieve, so how can you be okay with Labour ditching charter schools when data shows that they’re making a difference for Maori?
Halbert: I’m backing a strong public education system and that means that our schools need to be resourced adequately. We don’t have charter schools in Northcote. What we do have is some very good schools. There’s 21 in total. And they aren’t receiving the resource that they need for good facilities to learn in.
Can’t you back a good public school system and also back charter schools which seem to be achieving for Maori?
Halbert: Yeah, we need to address Maori achievement, absolutely, and the same for our Pacific community in Northcote. But the reality is, it’s…
But you’re fine with ditching charter schools?
Halbert: Yes, I am.
Even though they’re doing well for Maori?
Halbert: Well, what we need to ensure is that our public school system is doing well for Maori, Pacific, our ethnic groups, so on and so forth.
Bidois: Look, Lisa, I’m a classic example of someone that succeeded while dropping out of high school at age 15. I’m a high school dropout. The best thing that this education system did for me is prepare me with a butcher’s apprenticeship, and I got to Harvard University. I studied for a Master of Public Policy. I’ve seen charter schools in the U.S, and I’m amazed at the success that they’ve had for African American’s and Hispanics, and I’m fully supportive of the charter school model in New Zealand.
Halbert: At Glenfield College, we have a great Services Academy there that enables Maori and Pacific to learn within a military environment. That’s the same experience that our charter schools are offering. But it teaches the New Zealand curriculum. We have good teachers in place–
So do charter schools teach the curriculum? Dan, I want to move on. I see that you visited a local school on the campaign trail; it was on your Twitter account. Teachers are in pay talks. So what does a first year primary teacher make, and what do you reckon they’re worth?
Bidois: I think they’re worth a lot more than they are today, and I believe that we should value our teachers. They are the most important people in terms of the difference that they can make in a child’s wellbeing. And so I would–
So what do you think they should be paid, then?
Bidois: Well, I can’t tell you a figure, but I think it’s around valuing teachers and making sure that the best teachers are rewarded for making–
Are they worth an 8 per cent payrise a year over two years?
Bidois: I can’t tell you that. I haven’t looked at what they’re earning at the moment. But all I can say is that I’m a strong advocate for seeing teachers valued in society.
So they make 48 to 50 grand.
Bidois: Okay.
Halbert: Pay parity is important for our local teachers, but the reality is the living costs in Auckland are their biggest challenges, and that’s where their salary packages aren’t matching up on the Shore. We are losing teachers, and that’s why we need to ensure that we address their salary package but also ensure that we have more affordable housing.
So you would support them getting 8 per cent a year for two years?
Halbert: I definitely think they need an increase, and we’ll go through that process. I suspect that we’ll see some of those outcomes presented in the budget.
Bidois: Lisa, what the schools have been telling me is that teacher quality and the number of teachers coming through is an issue that needs to be addressed. So that will be my focus as a local MP. And there’s 23 schools in this electorate, and I want to make sure that we’ve got a good number of teachers coming out of our schools and that they’re all good quality and they’re ready to take on the challenges that they face and the reality–
Halbert: The reality is that our teachers haven’t been able to stay. We’ve got a good teacher shortage on the North Shore, and that’s because the cost of housing is too expensive.
What we’re going to do now is some quick-fire questions. We’re going to see how well you know your electorate and also get to know you on some issues. So if I can get some quick answers, please. Shanan, Northcote, you say, is a great place for first-home buyers…
Halbert: Best place.
…young-professional first-home buyers. So what is the average house price in your electorate?
Halbert: Average house price is $850,000.
No. It is over $1 million, according to QV. What is the median family income in your electorate?
Bidois: About $32,000.
Family income in your electorate?
Bidois: Family income?
Halbert: 75.
Bidois: That would be about 65,000.
No. 82,900. So, what percentage of people living in Northcote were born overseas, Shanan?
Halbert: 30 per cent.
Dan?
Bidois: I’ll go 45.
38. Where would you go in your electorate to spot glow-worms?
Halbert: Down to the Kaipatiki.
Bidois: I’ll say Kaipatiki as well.
Le Roys Bush. Who is the principal of Northcote College?
Halbert: Vicki Barrie.
Bidois: Vicki Barrie.
Did you know that?
Bidois: Yes, I did. I’m meeting her in a couple of days.
Are you for decriminalisation of cannabis or against it?
Bidois: At this stage, no, but I’ll be reading the bill as—Certainly, if there’s something put on the table, I’ll read it as it comes across.
Halbert: I certainly think we need to address medicinal cannabis, yes.
Personal use -- decriminalisation, yes or no?
Halbert: No.
No. Okay. So, how many houses are going into the new Northcote development?
Halbert: 2000.
Bidois: 1200.
1200. How many of those are state houses?
Bidois: About 800.
Halbert: 350.
350. Are you for or against euthanasia, please, both of you?
Halbert: For.
Bidois: In principle, for, but I’ll be reading the submissions very carefully.
Decriminalisation of abortion?
Bidois: I’m happy with the law. I think the law is working well as it is.
Halbert: I support it.
All right. Hey, thank you both for joining us this morning. It was good to get to know you a little bit better.
Transcript provided by Able. www.able.co.nz

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