'Veteran protestor' becomes mayoral hopeful

The only woman running for the Manukau mayoralty is a battling grandmother who describes herself as a 'thorn in the side'.

Annie King, who has been scrapping with the Manukau City Council for years as spokeswoman for the Manukau Water Pressure group, doesn't mind the tag 'veteran protester'.

"I've been called all sorts of names and I don't care what people call me. I know what I am and where I stand ... fighting for the right reasons and it's not the golden dollar. It's people."

Mrs King, who is also standing for a Manurewa ward councillor position, admits she doesn't have a big budget for her campaign. So she is using her ingenuity.

She has asked around real estate agents for spare used signs and is hand-painting her message on the backs of any she is given.

Being the only woman mayoral candidate doesn't faze her.

"I don't think it matters whether you are a male or a female. If you think you can do the right thing by the public, you give it your best shot.

"It doesn't matter whether you win or lose.

"But mark my words, whether I get in for mayor or Manurewa, I'm still going to be that thorn in the side."

This is the first time she has run for office.

"I didn't want to do this because I'm not a politician. I'm sick and tired of the public being ripped off."

She is calling for better transparency and integrity from the council.

In 2004, Mrs King took the council and Watercare Services to court under the Fair Trading Act over alleged water quality issues. The case won't proceed until she can find $70,000 surety to pay her opponents' costs if she loses.

She was once reported in the Manukau Courier as objecting to having to drink treated Waikato River water.

Being part Maori, Samoan, Rarotongan and Tahitian, Mrs King said then the fact dead bodies were in the river from time to time made drinking the water culturally offensive.

A public inquiry by a select committee into the operations of Manukau Water and the council over the last 12 months is needed, she says.

If elected mayor, she will try to get support for dis-establishing Manukau Water and returning the water business to an operation within council.

She says wastewater costs should be funded from rates.

"The charges for wastewater are unfair and unjustifiable."

She questions how the elderly and people with families can afford them.

- © Fairfax NZ News