Auckland’s Light Rail saga
(How a sensible project with no funding was flipped to become the opposite) The Minister of Transport, rather like a desperate gambler having a bad night at the casino is reportedly ‘doubling down’ on...
Auckland’s Light Rail saga
How a sensible project with no funding was flipped to become the opposite The Minister of Transport, rather like a desperate gambler having a bad night at the casino is reportedly ‘doubling down’ on...
Electorate matters in the last days of Jacinda Ardern as our local MP
On St Patricks Day I was invited by local MP Jacinda Ardern to share a briefing from Auckland Council’s ‘Healthy Waters’ officers on how they are planning to respond to the impacts of the...
In the face of adversity – the spirit of old Grey Lynn endures
The massive floods which deluged the city on the evening of 27 January and the tropical cyclone which smashed into the region and much of the North Island two weeks later, were a devastating...
From the land of the endless summer, the long, long day – and rainbow lorikeets
Last year there was enough politics in Auckland to fill the CRL tunnel. So this month I’m giving politics a miss. Back in November, almost on a whim, Jenny and I decided to do something...
Auckland Council’s financial crisis – Let’s open the books
With Grey Lynn small business people and political colleagues Unfortunately, the looming $270 million [amended upward in December to $295 million] budget shortfall has cast a rather dark shadow. It is troubling that the...
It’s been a very busy and eventful first month at Auckland Council.
Unfortunately, the looming $270 million [amended upward in December to $295 million] budget shortfall has cast a rather dark shadow. It is troubling that the information the council was more than a quarter of...
On Peace – a tribute to Ormond Burton
Armistice Day Service, Auckland War Memorial Museum Address by Cr Mike Lee – on behalf of the Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown I have been asked today to speak on the subject of peace...
Open the books. Open the doors. ‘Maiden speech’ to new Governing Body 1 November 2022
I wish to join the previous speakers in congratulating the mayor and my fellow councillors on their successful elections. I must express my thanks to the people of Waitematā & Gulf and from across Auckland...
True life – stranger than fiction
True life can be sometimes stranger than fiction can’t it? Who would have dreamed that I would be back as the councillor for Waitematā & Gulf only a few months ago? Certainly not me....