It's Tuesday and at Auckland Council that means Committee of the Whole (COW) day, and today that COW is Transport and Infrastructure Delivery (TID). Kick off is at 10am. I'm not in the room today as I'm sick with a cold, so won't be able to do roll calls as well as usual. Chair has given... 1/n

Today's Auckland Council committee meeting is the Governing Body (mayor plus councillors minus Houkura reps). Start time is 10am in Akl Town Hall. You can see the agenda and watch along here: aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/meeti... Or on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/c/AucklandCo... 1/n

Auckland Council's Committee of the Whole today is Transport & Infrastructure Delivery (aka TID), starting 10am. It's quite a short agenda, relatively speaking, so likely to be done by early afternoon (CEO has booked a confidential briefing for us at 1pm). Items incl: - Public input... 1/n

This has to be our @juliefairey.bsky.social . She is excellent!

Mōrena folks, today's Keeping up with the Councillors is the Governing Body's March meeting - lots of big issues on the agenda, in particular a vote on the future of Western Springs Stadium which has drawn a large crowd in the gallery. I will be skeeting here as we go along. /1

A conversation got me thinking about how much I appreciate the mahi of @juliefairey.bsky.social in posting the minutiae of Auckland council proceedings. Remember, doing such requires quite a bit of energy & effort on top of the things that are actually part of her job, but she does so regardless.

We're in Transport & Infrastructure Delivery Committee today with at the start 11 committee members in the room - Chair Baker, Turner, Fuli, Gillon, Winiata, Tukerangi, Henare, Simpson, Fairey (me), Filipaina, Williamson, Sayers. Online are Newman, Bartley and Short. Henderson just arrived too. 1/

Mōrena folks, we are in Transport & Infrastructure Delivery Committee (aka TID) today, just started - in the room at the start are Cr Baker (chair), Henderson (deputy), Simpson, Burns, Fairey (me), Filipaina, Williamson, Watson, Fuli, Paterson-Hamlin, Gillon, Winiata and Member Henare (Houkura)...

20 years later, Councillor Goldsmith (now Minister) finally got his wish, he gets to see homeless people arrested. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

I knew it would be bad but this is draconian - note it is for anyone 14 years and over and it will be a $2k fine for people with no money so instead they will go to prison. It thus becomes move on to prison. This is not a solution to homelessness. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/governmen...

Mōrena and welcome back to Auckland Council for 2026! First committee meeting of the day today and it's Governing Body. We are waiting to start and at the moment have most councillors in the room, just that start of the school year catch-ups delaying us.

Thanks to Jessica Hopkins for covering the elected member survey highlighting abuse towards politicians in local govt, & asking me about it. It's way worse for others too. I hope by talking about this we can change this culture. (Limiting replies on this for obv reasons!)

Looking after people and places in Waitematā - new Chair of the Local Board @alexbonham.bsky.social shares her inauguration speech cityvision.org.nz/news/chair-a...

Sweet vindication after the nasty culture war #bikelash election 3 yrs ago. Turns out communities do want safe streets & cyclelanes. Not the complete result we wanted but very happy to have been part of a campaign built on positive progressive policies with a great group of candidates #nzpol

Celebrating our wins! Being trusted by the residents of both Waitematā and Albert Eden local boards to hold a majority, topping the councillor poll in Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa and retaining seats in Puketāpapa and on the PLT #nzpol cityvision.org.nz/news/positiv...

Worth pointing out that, in an election dominated by "heritage" and "character" concerns, @juliefairey.bsky.social topped the poll in the local ward, and @cityvision.bsky.social have a majority on the local board. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/interacti...

This is really great news. City Vision (Labour, Greens & independents) has flipped two local boards. This is a win for progressive policies. Communities want climate action, street improvements, safe speeds and bike lanes

The preliminary result is now out. We're really delighted to have secured the majority on the Albert-Eden Local Board with the election of Michelle Thorp voteauckland.co.nz/en/2025-loca...

From the City Vision whānau, we are deeply grateful for all the support. We have amazing volunteers who are part of the movement for a more liveable, safe, and connected Auckland. This election is dedicated to Robert Gallagher, who led the City Vision kaupapa with wisdom & strength for so long.

Local elections live: Decision day 2025

#Auckland there's a heap of places to drop off voting papers right up until midday TODAY Your vote matters to secure progressive local boards & a council that supports #climateaction #safestreets #affordablehousing #TeTiriti No papers? Make a special vote voteauckland.co.nz/en/informati...

The Government of New Zealand has made a new tourism ad and it's surprsingly honest and informative!

Our candidates are upfront about their values and what they stand for. They respond to surveys in their own words referring to agreed policies cityvision.org.nz/policies

It's local election eve! 🎅 You have until noon tomorrow to pop your ballot in the box. Every vote matters, and shapes how our city grows over the next three years. 🙏 While we wait for electoral elves to tot up the results, enjoy our regular Friday roundup of stories that caught our eye this week...

Still time to get your ballots in for the Auckland Local Elections! Although you need to drop them off at drop boxes now! And if you want positive policies and action, vote City Vision!

I voted, my local supermarket had a collection point

Auckland voters face a stark choice between positive, policy-forward vision for a thriving, inclusive & liveable city, and a fear-mongering campaign from the Nat Party-aligned C&R dictated by the govt’s "back to basics" agenda #NZpol Media release: share.google/xiels7OBJEzy...

🚲🗳️ Just 3 days left to return your ballot! Take it on your next bike ride and remind a friend to do the same. Your ride, your city, your say — so make sure your vote gets counted. ✅ Let’s roll to the polls before midday this Saturday, Oct 11! #BikeYourBallot #VoteLocal #BikeAKL #BetterByBike

Get your local election votes in by noon on Saturday! Why? To ensure a great future for your city, of course. And also, to help make politics civil again. We owe it to each other to lift the standard of discourse, keep it evidence-based, and avoid falling for conspiracy and abuse. Here’s the thing🧵

Candidates in local govt elections face very little scrutiny. I'm grateful to @misswhanau.bsky.social for calling out the abuse and raising awareness. This 🧵 on why it matters (incl extra red flags for Nat party aligned candidates courting cookers)

Why are National party aligned C&R cozying up to conspiracy theorists and enabling harassment? This is an epic thread by @connorsharp.bsky.social on the red flags and toxic behaviour we have encountered this local government election #nzpol

Here with great Auckland Mayor Sir Dove-Meyer ‘Robbie’ Robinson, in office 1968-80, famous for trying to build a Rapid Transit systems ‘Robbie’s Rail’. So overdue, but also now within reach. My top priority, and what really started my involvement in AKl policy:

VOTE!

One council candidate’s plan for this empty centre in downtown Auckland www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

'So many of your daily problems are caused by council. They get away with it because everyone thinks they’re boring and irrelevant.' Vote! @haydendonnell.bsky.social

Big @cityvision.bsky.social doorknocking day of action this weekend! Come join us to get out the vote to get great progressives elected to our local boards and council seats! cityvision.org.nz/events/dkwoa

If an incumbent councillor running in 2025 claims they support Māori wards please check receipts - there was a councillor vote on Māori wards in 2023. 11 voted against, & most are seeking your vote again - Fletcher, Lee, K Turner, Williamson, Baker, Newman, Walker, Watson: all said no.

Great to see AKL Council on the rational side of this. Private helipads in residential areas is absurd. But of course it never should have got to this. Long-standing councillors have been careless on this issue for decades. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

No voting papers? No problem! In Auckland there are events over the next week for in person voting on the spot. Check out the map of locations and times here voteauckland.co.nz/en/informati...

The local C&R team in Roskill have blocked the council funded Xmas event from having Santa because it will "disrupt Carol" (sic). Bit grinchy if you ask me; lots of folks in our community can't afford the fancy mall Santa pics and this was a free chance for their kids. Sad.

Ten days to drop your votes back to a library or a Woolworths! (7 days for a post box). Nice chatting to Birkenhead residents getting on the ferry on this beautiful morning. Look I know voting isn’t always the sexiest thing to, but it’s super important.

Last local govt elections the 6th seat on the Puketāpapa local board was almost a 3 way tie. In the end there were 8 votes in it iirc. In 2024 Auckland Council voted 11 to 10 NOT to have booth voting this time (which increases turnout). Cr Fletcher’s vote was the difference. Every vote counts.

Vote @patrickreynolds.bsky.social for a people-centred and vibrant Auckland City Centre. Mike Lee wants more cars, more pollution, and more noise - against the wishes of the 40k residents who live there

City Centres everywhere, shape your city streets wisely, for people, and vibrancy: www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Its Saturday! Only 2 weeks left before the last day of Auckland Local Election voting. Make sure to vote early so you don't forget! And vote City Vision if you're in the central isthmus for a progressive, fun, future!

The lowlights: peak absurdity of the housing debate led by Fletcher, Lee and Williamson. The highlights: @juliefairey.bsky.social @hendowest.bsky.social and @richardhills.bsky.social

A viable cycling network is a vital safety-net for people and the economy. Is the cheapest transport network to install and maintain. A measure of a city’s competence and civility. www.rnz.co.nz/news/pinchpo...

Make it easier to vote, not harder! Give us our democracy sausage! #nzpol #PaulGoldsmithHatesDemocracy

Very pleased constructive councillors voted to proceed with PC120 today. As the originator of the two titles below, I am not callous about the value of our built heritage, but also know that cities are engines of change, need to be adding new layers every age. This will enable that in balanced way