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Another Auckland super-mayoral candidate has declared himself today - property management specialist and March for Democracy organiser Colin Craig.
He told a news conference: “Having surveyed people from all over the greater Auckland region, I discovered that Aucklanders are worried about losing their local voice, they’re worried about rates increasing and they’re worried core services will be run by people who want to make a profit rather than create a world class city to live in,” he said.
Mr Craig said that unlike some of the other candidates, he is not aligned with any political parties.
His bio says ge started five successful businesses with his current company managing approximately $1.3 billion worth of property assets in Auckland City and in 2009, organised the March for Democracy to highlight the “continual failure of the government to be directed by Citizens Initiated Referenda.”
He said it will be his policies on areas like ratepayer dollars, local council initiatives and the current leaky homes crisis that will set him apart from the rest.
“The current leaky homes deal agreed to by both Banks and Brown does not solve the problem but is a further insult to many victims who will now continue legal action against Auckland City to the detriment of all parties involved.”
“Aucklanders need to be confident that their opinions and views will be taken into consideration when it comes to making major decisions.
“I find the idea of a bureaucrat in Queen Street telling the local boards in Rodney, Franklin or Papakura what to do, extremely distasteful. Local identity and the difference between local areas is one of the best things about Auckland. The diversity within Auckland and the unique character of each area must be preserved.”
Mr Craig’s website makes no mention of transport policies.
10 Comments
Would have thought his financial ‘accumen’ would be a liability; spent what, $500k for around march of 2500, while the anti-mining march would have spent 10% of that and got something like 200% more participants.
Who is this person.?
And what’s his take on transport issues for our city?
Hmmmm….
Waiting….
No transport policy - not good enough.
I asked him today for his transport policy and he has promised something within the next few days.
That’s good but it is pretty clear that transport isn’t his top priority which means he isn’t going to be likely to push any major projects like the CBD tunnel through.
I don’t think anyone like this has a real chance against the heavy-weights, as disputed as they are (the fore-runners Banks & Brown). These also-rans (sorry for being so dismissive in advance!) will not enough time to even get to be known by all the voters, let alone be voted in. Just my call, but I would bet money on it.
It will be more interesting to see who they could draw votes off.
Any news on a transport policy?
@Matt L No they have been “busy.”
Andrew Williams of course is the latest to confirm he is standing and he has issued a transport policy in the past pushing for a Nrth Shore rail link
In the news today there was also a story on businessman Tenby Powell who said he might run. It said he doesn’t have any policies yet apart from a high speed rail link to the airport