Month: June 2016
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This is why we need a living wage
There was another in what has been a long stream of heartbreaking stories this morning concerning a Porirua family struggling to make ends meet. But this is not a family relying on benefits to survive. Both parents work full time. From Radio New Zealand: New statistics this week show the gap between the rich and…
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Vic Crone’s policies do not add up
Victoria Crone Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski Vic Crone is the preferred Mayoral candidate for Auckland city this election year of Auckland Future, which essentially is the National Party. Auckland Future requires all candidates to pledge to cap rates increases at 2% per annum on average for all residential ratepayers over the next three years…
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Auckland’s ethnic diversity
One of the more pleasurable jobs I have as a Local Board member is to attend citizenship ceremonies. The Waitakere ceremonies are very well put together. They are held in the old Waitakere City Council chamber. Candidates and their families are invited to attend. The ceremony starts off with a traditional Karakia and Waiata. Kaumatua…
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Why is Wilsher Village green not being used for housing?
I have been doing some door knocking lately. It is clear that housing is the issue that is most important to local people. And you would think that in these days of Auckland’s chronic housing crisis Auckland Council would be making sure that it can do everything possible to alleviate the hardship. One area I…
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A 20% salary increase for Auckland’s Councillors?
Auckland Councillors have recently been awarded a 1.5% increase in their base salary by the Remuneration Authority. This is appropriate as I believe that salaries should generally keep up with inflation. But what was disturbing was the suggestion that a 20% increase for Councillors could be in the wind. From Radio New Zealand: Auckland councillors…