Communities and Residents (C&R) is pleased to introduce its strong team of seven candidates standing for the Waitematā Local Board in the 2025 Auckland Local Body Elections.

Incumbents Sarah Trotman ONZM, Greg Moyle and Allan Matson, have been re-selected, and are joined by new C&R nominees Michele Wade, Leo Grachev, Muy Chhour, and Anne Batley-Burton.

The challenges facing the Waitematā Local Board are significant - from transport, intensification and crime; to the Hauraki Gulf, city parks, and the future of Auckland’s City Centre. C&R’s team is committed to representing you openly and effectively, ensuring your voice is heard.

Each of C&R’s candidates brings a wealth of experience – ranging from business and heritage preservation; to social services, environmental protection, and animal welfare. This broad-based team has the transferable skills and community insight that have been missing from an ideologically driven board.

“We are committed to work hard for the people of Waitematā, restoring accountability and putting the local community first. With fresh ideas and a strong local focus, we will put our community and residents at the centre of our decision making – you can count on it,” says the C&R Waitematā Local Board team.

Candidate Profiles:

Michele Wade – A Herne Bay resident for over 25 years, Michele’s experience has ranged from being a secondary school teacher to running her own successful fashion business. Having decided to "stop complaining and get in the action", her focuses include financial prudence and environmental protections, and she believes in proactive, practical local governance. Michele supports removing wasteful spending, delivering projects on time and budget, accountability to ratepayers, heritage protection, reducing congestion, and protection of the Hauraki Gulf. Michele’s whakapapa connects her to Tainui, Ngāti Mahuta, and Ngāti Pūkeko.

Sarah Trotman ONZM – First elected in 2019 and rated, in that term, as the most effective Waitematā Local Board member, Sarah is a strong community advocate, ensuring core services and infrastructure are delivered with intergenerational sustainability and value to ratepayers. She has lived locally for 20+ years; her children attended Marist Herne Bay and Ponsonby Intermediate. Sarah is an effective business leader, director and celebrant. Sarah was recognised with a Queen’s honour for services to business and community. She brings the ability for robust discussion, keeping organisations accountable and authentic consultation.

Greg Moyle JP ED – A lifelong Waitematā resident, Greg has served on the Auckland City Council and three terms on the Local Board. A former policeman and now a successful financial adviser, he is involved in numerous community organisations and is passionate about strong local body representation for residents and ratepayers; and promoting a community in which we can all enjoy living. If re-elected, Greg will fight to abolish crime and anti-social behaviour in the CBD and to protect our recreational and community facilities, iconic shopping precincts and our built and natural environments.

Allan Matson – A City Centre resident, current Waitematā Local Board member and heritage expert, Allan transitioned from merchant banking to architecture. He has served as President of Civic Trust Auckland and has held roles on Council’s Heritage Advisory Panel and the boards of NZ Historic Places Trust and CBD’s Heart of the City. With over 20 years’ experience in heritage consulting, Allan is focused on better governance, more prudent public spending, greater protection of our built heritage and character, and responsible guardianship of our environment for the benefit of all Aucklanders.

Leo Grachev – Passionate about making Waitematā the best place to live and work, Leo is a next generation leader. The son of hardworking immigrants and with experience in supporting business development, he champions small business owners. Leo recognises the need to address antisocial behaviour and make our city centre and suburbs safer. Leo believes council can do better to deliver more cost-effective, democratic solutions and that something must be done to get Auckland out of gridlock. “There is a responsibility to deliver for those who call this place home”.

Muy Chhour - Having been involved in business most of her life, from serving customers at the family dairy to managing 11 Asian supermarkets around Auckland, Muy brings deep business experience to the team. For 5 years, Muy served as Chairperson for the Karangahape Road Business Association. She is passionate about making our city more live-able and safer not only for businesses but for all who travel in it whether by car, public transport, bike or foot. Muy’s experience brings a balanced, common-sense approach to resolving issues in our city.

Anne Batley-Burton – A Parnell local who has been involved in business from an early age, as the first credit card manufacturer in Australasia to importing Champagne and wine barrels, Anne brings decades of entrepreneurial experience. She is known for her integrity, determination, common sense and getting things done. Her major concerns surround crime and congestion, which are destroying the fabric of our city. A leading voice for animal welfare through educating the community about care and responsibility for their pets, Anne is the Founder of The New Zealand Cat Foundation.

About C&R:

Existing for over 85 years, C&R is a voluntary grass-roots association of members and is the longest-standing political group in Auckland’s Local Government. We believe Auckland has the potential to be one of the world’s greatest cities and are proud to stand for responsible spending, intergenerational sustainability, accountable local representation, and putting people before politics.

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