Motukorea – Auckland’s forgotten gift – rediscovered
Motukorea or Browns Island (60 ha), the iconic inner-Gulf island, formed by a 10,000 year old extinct volcano, a sight familiar to all ferry users and yachties, was back in the news recently –...
Author: Mike Lee
Public oversight of Auckland Transport – is less really more?
Mayor Goff’s announcement that Cr Chris Fletcher and myself were to be removed from the board of Auckland Transport and not replaced by any other councillors came as a surprise to a lot of...
Letter to Mayor Goff – in defence of democratic representation on the board of Auckland Transport
31 October 2016 Hon Phil Goff, Mayor elect of Auckland Dear Mr Mayor, Thank you for your letter dated 26 October 2016 (note this was emailed to me on 28 October) regarding...
Waitemata & Gulf vote not to be taken for granted
My heartfelt thanks to the voters of Waitemata & Gulf for giving me a decisive 1000 plus majority for another term on Auckland Council. It was a hard campaign against a well-funded, high-profile opponent...
Auckland at the cross-roads
As I write this voting is underway for the local body elections. I am seeking re-election for a third term as Auckland Councillor for the Waitemata & Gulf ward, the heart of historic Auckland....
The Unitary Plan. Sustainable management? – or 1980s-style ‘big-bang’ deregulation.
The deregulatory hurricane called the Unitary Plan swept over Auckland last month and it is fair to say the place will never be the same again. Goaded on by threats from government ministers, in...
Dumb and dumber – NZTA and AT decide to exclude trains to the airport
When the mayor and the prime minister, launched the construction of the City Rail Link (CRL) before a euphoric crowd and performing dancers on that gorgeous morning in June, one would have assumed that...
North Rodney escape bid could help rest Auckland
When members of the Herne Bay Ratepayers Association Inc (HBRAI) asked to meet with me in May and included on the agenda the application by a rural northern Rodney group to break away from...
Opening speech at the Federation of Rail Operators of NZ (FRONZ) conference, June 2016
Good morning and greetings to my friends and colleagues from here in Auckland and to all of those from up and down the line – and a special welcome to those from overseas –...
Auckland’s disproportionate growth – not sustainable nor affordable
A letter I wrote to the Minister of Building and Housing Nick Smith requesting a revocation of a special housing area (SHA) at Kelmarna Avenue, Herne Bay, provoked a furious response. It has also...