Communities and Residents (C&R) is proud to announce its accomplished team of six candidates who will contest the Waitematā Local Board in the 2022 local elections.
Incumbent Gen Sage has been re-selected to stand and is joined by former Board Members Sarah Trotman, ONZM and Greg Moyle, together with new C&R candidates Allan Matson, Len Ward, and Chris Severne.
Sarah Trotman says, “The matters facing the Waitematā Local Board area are complex. Key decisions from transport, inner city parks, protecting the Gulf, to how we shape the heart of New Zealand’s largest and most diverse city often fall to the Waitematā Local Board. For far too long, local voices have been locked out of that conversation and the focus has been driven from Wellington and facilitated by Auckland Council. C&R’s team will proudly and transparently represent you at the table, so your voice is properly heard."
Each of C&R’s candidates bring a wealth of experience; from managing business and enterprise, heritage preservation, social services and environmental protection. They are a broad based team with diverse transferable skill sets – precisely what has been lacking on the current ideological driven local board to date.
“We are ready to work hard for the people of the Waitematā Local Board area, bringing back accountability and putting local back into local body politics. With fresh ideas and a strong community-centric approach, we will put our community and residents first, you can count on it,” says the C&R Waitematā Local Board team.
The Waitematā Local Board area covers two Wards, and the C&R team are delighted to fully endorse and support Mike Lee (Auckland Independents) for Waitematā and Gulf Ward Councillor, and Desley Simpson (C&R) for Ōrākei Ward Councillor, who share C&R's desire for a more accountable and community-centric Auckland Council.
Allan Matson - After a merchant banking career, Allan retrained as an architect, before specialising in heritage. Currently President of Civic Trust Auckland, he is a previous member of Council’s Heritage Advisory Panel; the boards of NZ Historic Places Trust and CBD’s Heart of the City. For the last 20 years, Allan has worked locally as a heritage consultant, developing knowledge, experience and relationships useful to the local board. Heritage is his passion and he will continue fighting for independent decision-making, greater protection of our built heritage and character; and responsible guardianship of our environment for the benefit of all Aucklanders.
Greg Moyle - Has lived and worked in the Waitematā Local Board area for most of his life. He has served on the Western Bays Community Board, Auckland Council, and the Waitematā Local Board; and is currently on the Heart of the City Board, fighting for a thriving city centre. Greg believes local decisions should be made by those with vested interests: local businesses, communities and residents and not central government. He will fight to stop the removal of parking on major arterial routes e.g., Jervois Rd, Ponsonby Rd and Parnell Rd, and the intensification of character neighbourhoods. We need to protect them for generations to come.
Chris Severne - Has lived and worked in the Waitematā Ward for over 30 years. His passion is for the environment and the restoration of the Hauraki Gulf. As Chair of the Opito Bay Ratepayers Association and with the support of the local iwi Ngāti Hei, he successfully pushed the Government to place a 2-year rahui on the taking of scallops in over 500,000Ha (45%) of the Gulf. Also, as Chair of the G.I.F.T. committee at Foundation North, Chris was instrumental in the release of $11M for volunteer activity and research to improve the state of the Gulf. He will continue working to protect the environment of the Gulf and the Waitematā Ward, balance growth with greenspace provision; and protect our special heritage and character zones.
Sarah Trotman, ONZM - Elected to the board in 2019 and rated the most effective Waitematā Local Board member, Sarah is a strong community advocate, ensuring core services and infrastructure are delivered with intergenerational sustainability and value to ratepayers. She has lived locally for 20+ years (Auckland Central, Western Springs, Ponsonby, Herne Bay); her children attended Marist Herne Bay and Ponsonby Intermediate. Sarah is an effective business leader, Director and celebrant, grounded in community; and has previously worked to develop solutions to end homelessness in the CBD. Sarah was recognised with a Queen’s honour for services to business and community. She brings the ability for robust discussion, keeping organisations accountable, and ensuring projects are delivered on-time, within budget; and will continue calling out misinformation and disregard of resident opinions. Sarah believes in authentic consultation, limited bureaucracy, and keeping local government local.
Len Ward - Has lived in Parnell with his wife for over 20 years. He has 30+ years of governance and management experience in business and charity. Len owned his own commercial law practice, based in the CBD, and was previously a Trustee of The Parnell Trust. He is deeply committed to the betterment of children’s education, and as chairman of several non-profits, he worked to improve the educational needs of neurodiverse kids. Len’s priorities are simple: listen to our businesses and residents to find out what is important to them and deliver workable, cost-effective solutions for our environment; financial accountability; common-sense transport solutions; special character and heritage buildings; and public safety. He will push for a clean and safe CBD, and to help revitalise not only the CBD but also its neighbouring suburbs.
