Public pressure pushes boundaries

SCOTT MORGAN

Community pressure has helped force changes to Auckland ward and local board boundaries for the October supercity election.

Alterations made by the Local Government Commission after public submissions include the shifting of Mt Eden and Kingsland into Albert-Eden-Roskill.

The commission had split the area in two, with half of it sitting in the Maungawhau-Gulf Islands ward, which has now been renamed the Waitemata and Gulf ward.

Western Bays Community Board chairman Bruce Kilmister says the change is a positive one.

"It looks much better and reflects our common interest. Putting part of Maungawhau back into the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward makes sense."

Current Eden-Albert councillor Cathy Casey says she's pleased Mt Eden's "long-standing historical association" with Mt Albert has been recognised.

Waterview moves from Avondale-based Whau to the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward. However, Avondale Community Board chairman Duncan Macdonald says the move is "disgraceful".

"It's absolute madness. The Avondale board has been working on mitigation with State Highway 20 for ages.

"Now we're told those problems are not part of this new ward. All the problems will be handed over to Albert-Eden, who know nothing about it."

Ms Casey believes Waterview residents will be pleased with the decision. "We've been intensely involved with the State Highway 20 decision because it's just next door."

Other changes see the proposed two-councillor Orakei-Maungakiekie mega-ward split in half. The new Maungakiekie ward has areas such as Onehunga, Royal Oak, Penrose, Glen Innes and Mt Wellington.

The Orakei ward and local board includes Mission Bay and St Heliers down through Remuera to Ellerslie.

Maungakiekie Board chairwoman Bridget Graham is happy with the decision to create two single-member wards.

"The way it was before, it was most likely both councillors would come from eastern bays.

"I didn't think the commission were going to budge. If you look at the north and the south there's a huge difference in socio-economic areas."

Hobson councillor Ken Baguley is unhappy with the decision to use voter turnout, which is higher in suburbs such as St Heliers and Remuera than Onehunga and Mt Wellington, as a reason for splitting the ward.

"I don't think it sends the right signal to encourage people to be involved in local body politics."

He says the limit of 20 councillors left the commission with the difficult task of ensuring appropriate representation across the city.

In other changes, the Whau ward had its electoral subdivision, which would have seen half its members come from Avondale and half from New Lynn, scrapped.

Electoral subdivisions remain for the Albert-Eden and Maungakiekie-Tamaki local boards. The commission also decided to form the Waitemata local board and the Mt Roskill-based Puketapapa local board.

 

WARDS WAITEMATA AND GULF

(Previously named Maungawhau-Hauraki Gulf ward.) Population: 79,300 with one councillor. Local boards: Waitemata, Waiheke, Great Barrier. Suburbs: CBD, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Western Springs, Freemans Bay, Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Westmere, Arch Hill,g Newton, Grafton, Eden Terrace, Parnell, Waiheke Island, Great Barrier Island. ALBERT-EDEN-ROSKILL (Previously named the Mt Albert-Mt Roskill Ward): Population: 154,900, two councillors. Local boards: Albert-Eden, Puketapapa Suburbs: Mt Albert, Mt Eden, Mt Roskill, Kingsland, Waterview, Pt Chevalier, Morningside, Balmoral, Epsom, Sandringham, Wesley, Lynfield, Waikowhai, Hillsborough, Owairaka, Epsom, Greenlane. MAUNGAKIEKIE-TAMAKI Population: 73,000, one councillor. Local board: Maungakiekie-Tamaki. Suburbs: Onehunga, Royal Oak, Penrose, Oranga, Glen Innes, Pt England, Panmure, Tamaki, Wai O Taiki Bay, Southdown,Te Papapa. WHAU: Population: 76,400, one councillor. Local board: Whau. Suburbs: Avondale, Rosebank, Blockhouse Bay, New Windsor, Kelston, Green Bay.

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