31 July 2013

Local leaders unite for Manurewa and Papakura

Two local leaders are teaming up to secure a local voice on Auckland Council for Manurewa and Papakura at this year’s local government election.

Manurewa local and New Zealand icon Sir John Walker is teaming up with former Papakura Mayor Calum Penrose to seek a new three-year mandate to represent the Manurewa-Papakura ward on Auckland Council.

Olympic champion Sir John Walker said Calum Penrose is a hard working man who deserves to be re-elected.

“I will do everything I can to persuade people to back Calum. He has helped local families and has led important debates around the council table, such as securing rates remission for retirement village residents.

“My heart is in the south, and I want to work with others who share common values. I would appreciate a fresh mandate to serve, and I would like to serve with Calum,” Sir John Walker said.

Calum Penrose nominated the Unitary Plan and a further crackdown on alcohol and substance abuse as key issues that will require action over the next three years.

“We’ve got to persuade against the catastrophe of losing family homes, and stop the roll-out on cheek-by-jowl shoebox apartments in both Manurewa and Papakura. Local residents want to preserve our way of life, not live piled high in austere apartment buildings that shadow one another.

“We also need to work with the Counties Manukau Police and the council’s enforcement staff to use new statutory powers to close down scummy bottle shops in local neighbourhoods. And we need to sign off on a policy to ban the sale and supply of psychoactive chemical substances.

“Sir John and I have got a full agenda, and it is motivated by a need to do good things for our constituents. Sir John and I have worked tirelessly over the past three years for Manurewa and Papakura, and will be continuing this pace for the next three years," Calum Penrose said.

Manurewa Local Board chairperson Angela Dalton said Sir John Walker and Calum Penrose have been fantastic colleagues to work with over the past three years.

“The vast majority of our board want to see Sir John and Calum returned at this year’s election. They offer constructive and progressive leadership, and have been highly effective on our behalf,” Angela Dalton said.

ENDS

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