THE MAPP REPORT with local MP Dr Wayne Mapp

Countdown to a new city

Dr Wayne Mapp is the local Member of Parliament for North Shore. First elected in 1996, he is currently the Minister of Defence and Research Science and Technology, and Associate Minister for Tertiary Education and Economic Development. Electorate Office contact details: 15 Anzac Avenue, Takapuna Phone 486 0005.

The election of a new local Government on 9 October will provide the leadership our city needs to take its place as a leading city in Australasia.
Auckland is the world’s gateway to New Zealand. Auckland Airport processes 70% of the flights into the country, and the city’s economy represents almost 40% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
At the Local Government Conference on 26 July, Lord Mayor of Brisbane Campbell Newman spoke of Brisbane’s determination to become a “New World City”, looking to break the “evil axis” of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Mr Newman has a constituency of 1.1 million residents.
Auckland has even more potential to develop as a leading Pacific Rim city. The new Auckland Council will serve 1.4 million people. Over the past 20 years, our seven territorial authorities have worked hard to develop their local identities. This has prevented the emergence of a coherent identity for the region as a whole.
The new Auckland Council will hold considerable authority as the governing body of a leading Pacific Rim city. It will set the direction of the city for the coming years. Economically, that direction must reflect national economic objectives.
Science and innovation comprise one of the six main policy planks that will be at the heart of lifting New Zealand’s economic performance. The streamlining of local governance combined with the Government’s support for science infrastructure will make the city a more attractive place for business and science. This will help us boost Auckland’s growth and in tune help to build a more innovative and successful nation.
There are currently a number of barriers to our city’s international aspirations. The initial focus of the new Council will be on ensuring prompt completion of the Western Ring Route and co-ordinating development of the Auckland waterfront.
Serious planning will need to get under way for the third harbour crossing and the Council will play a central role in that and the design of the option that is eventually chosen.
With the principal focus of the Council on the development of our city as a whole, the Local Boards will be the primary organisation that the new Council will use to help develop local policy for the new, single Auckland City Plan.
This is an important opportunity for the North Shore. The new Devonport-Takapuna Local Board will play a vital role in the development of the Milford and Takapuna town centres as well as in the creation of local policy under the new structure.
The contest for Auckland local government has captured the imagination. In many ways, this campaign has resembled a general election. The debates between the Mayoral candidates have been televised live and afterwards analysed and debated in the news media, while local issues have been hotly contested in the local papers.
I urge all eligible voters to carefully consider their choices for this election. The new Auckland Mayor, Auckland Council and Devonport-Takapuna Local Board will play a decisive role in shaping local communities, towns and the role of our city on the world stage.