President David opened the meeting at 7.31.
There were 16 members present plus seven guests who were not introduced to the club so I can't name them. We welcomed Don C back from his European trip.
Apologies: Avis (who is recovering from the lergy) Malcolm and Don S.
Sargeant's session: "He who rejects change is the architect of decay" McMillan.
The NZDF have sent a contingent to Britain to assist in training soldiers in the Ukrainian army. There has been no announcement on which haka they will be taught.
Club announcements
We were told that there will be a number of separate emails on Wednesday afternoon detailing changes in the ERKs programme.
The Speaker: Mayoral candidate Viv Beck.
Ms Beck started with, "We have a magnificent city" a city of which she wanted to be "The ultimate Champion". She has been speaking to constituents throughout the region and claimed that they identified very similar problems:
The dysfunctional council,
Auckland Transport,
The increasing crime rate,
Traffic congestion and
The government's changes into the intensification rules.
As a passing comment YHC believes that politicians, and especially candidates, should spend as much time listening as they do speaking!
Viv then explained what she would do in these five areas.
Transport /Congestion: The culture is wrong at Auckland Transport with a lack of transparency and, according to ratepayers, lack of efficiency. Either the chairman and the board will act to change the organisational culture or they will be changed. There needs to be a better balance in transport projects, with no light rail but more rapid transit bus routes to "unlock the region".
Crime: 'I have lobbied for more police and a collaborative approach and more accountability at both central and local level'.
Dysfunctional council: "The council is highly inefficient." Locals do not believe that they are being consulted before the council acts. The culture has to be flipped around with council delivering on what the ratepayers want rather than council staff imposing their solutions on the community.
Intensification: Auckland needs a range of urban types with places for children to play.
Viv Beck commented on her management style, believing that "Thumping your fist is not going to work". An antagonistic style would only generate passive resistance amongst council staff. After all politicians are only there for a three year term, civil serpents (sorry, YHC always get that wrong) civil servants are there for ever so in real "Yes Minister" style they can just slow everything down 'till this lot are thrown out for not doing anything.
The club had the opportunity of hearing Brown and Beck, the sabre and the rapier. You pays your money, you takes your choice.
Now we need to hear Collins then we will have heard all the major contenders for our vote in October.