Five new councillors, Bo Burns, John Gillon, Sarah Paterson-Hamlin, Victoria Short, and Matt Winiata, have joined mayor Wayne Brown and 20 re-elected councillors. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
An Auckland councillor wants his colleagues to ditch their ratepayer-funded meals.
At their first governing body meeting after the local body elections on Tuesday, first-time Auckland councillors gave maiden speeches, sharing their priorities for the next three years.
Five new councillors, Bo Burns, John Gillon, Sarah Paterson-Hamlin, Victoria Short, and Matt Winiata, have joined mayor Wayne Brown and 20 re-elected councillors.
In his speech, North Shore councillor John Gillion cited data showing that in the past five years, the council had spent an average of $30,000 a year on catering for council meetings.
"It's just so unnecessary for the ratepayer to be paying for elected members to eat."
He said that as chairperson of the Kaipātiki Local Board, he got rid of catering for board meetings, and would encourage councillors to do the same.
Shortly after Gillon's speech, councillors took an early lunch break because tech issues halted proceedings.
Gillon told RNZ he went out to get lunch and that there was enough time for other councillors to do the same if they needed to.
In her speech, Whau councillor Sarah Paterson-Hamlin shared that she is neurodiverse and improving accessibility in the city was important to her.
"I have been elected to represent Whau, but I also consider it my honour and duty to represent the best I can the needs and aspirations of Auckland's tāngata whaikaha, disabled people.
"As an autistic ADHD person, I am accustomed to navigating a world that is not built for people like me, that often does not understand either the challenges or strengths that come with being born this way."
She said working for UpsideDowns, the NZ Down Syndrome Association, and Raukatari Music Therapy, she had applied for hundreds of council grants, and aimed to make the process easier to navigate.
Bo Burns said it was unacceptable that Flat Bush and Ormiston in her Howick electorate were without a community facility.
"It's the fastest growing community in East Auckland and has been waiting over 20 years for a proper facility."
She said it was putting pressure on other facilities in her ward.
Victoria Short said she was looking forward to "rolling up her sleeves and cracking on with it" when it came to tackling issues in the city.
"As someone who comes from financial struggles, I value every single dollar, a mindset I will apply to all council expenditure.
"If you were to tell me when I was 18, pregnant, no job, and no money that I would become a fricken councillor for the Albany ward, an accountant, and the first person of Kiribati descent to be elected into a government position in New Zealand history, I never would have believed you."
Matt Winiata wanted more to be done to make his community safer.
"Dog attacks are destroying communities and keeping kids in fear just from walking to school.
"There's illegal dumping from those without a care or consideration for the environment and community they are polluting.
"Kids are huffing on laughing gas in quantities that bring tears to the hearts of families it's destroying."
He also thanked almost 100 of his family, friends, and colleagues during his speech.
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