LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS - IMPORTANT INFORMATION
WE NEED NEW COUNCILLORS WHO WILL ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR COMMUNITY
Chris Darby and Richard Hills, Councillors for the North Shore ward, have repeatedly failed to act in the best interests of their community over the last 3 years.
In July, Devonport-Takapuna Local Board passed a vote of No Confidence in Chris Darby and Richard Hills on the Takapuna Central Car Park issue. This is serious and rarely happens.
● Darby, supported by Hills, has ardently supported the sale and redevelopment of the Takapuna Central Carpark since 2016 when he moved a Council resolution to sell the car park (supported by George Wood) BEFORE any consultation had occurred on what should happen to the site.
○ Takapuna will be left with a small town square
○ No convenient parking close to Hurstmere Rd.
○ A 400m walk from the new carpark to Hurstmere Green.
○ The local board was effectively sidelined during the process.
● Darby has consistently supported Panuku and its token consultation against the views of the local Board, as has Hills.
● In 2016, Darby also voted for adopting a long term budget which left out:
$54 million allocated towards the Lake Rd upgrade ($47m put back in after local board lobbying)
Nearly $16 million in funding for upgrades to the Bayswater and Northcote Ferry Terminals
A $3.5 million upgrade to the Takapuna Bus Station
● Darby also supported the reduction in budget to the libraries and a reduction in Council involvement in social housing.
● By contrast, Darby has supported the extravagant fit out of new headquarters for ATEED and upgrade of the old headquarters ($4 million). Hills has supported Business Class travel for Council staff.
And
● Darby’s tenure as Chair of the Planning Committee has been accompanied by increasing numbers of planning consents for developments that grossly exceed the Unitary Plan rules for height and coverage, which are increasingly meaningless.
Neither Darby nor Hills have been the advocates for the North Shore that we need. We do not believe they should continue to represent us.
We need new councillors and consider that Grant Gillon and Danielle Grant are worthy of support as they have a well-established and a proven track record of being highly responsive to local concerns.
Make sure you vote carefully in the election.
[Posted by Takapuna 2040 Inc (formerly Auckland 2040 who fought the Council on the Unitary Plan), a community organisation, not affiliated with any political organisation.]
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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53.7% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.6% Critical thinking
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29.1% Resilience and adaptability
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2.6% Other - I will share below!
Poll: Should complete designs be shared with the public, or should the community help shape the designs from the start?
The Post recently shared an opinion piece on the Harbour Crossing and why a more democratic approach might be needed 🚗🚲👟
While most decisions sit within the political arena, many organisations—like NZTA—manage long-term projects that go beyond party lines. Politics can sometimes disrupt progress, and the next Harbour Crossing is a big decision that will affect all Aucklanders.
We’d love your thoughts: Should near-complete, shovel-ready designs be shared with the public, or should the community have a hand in shaping the designs from the start?
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81.3% Community feedback and transparency is needed.
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18.7% No. This would be impossible in practice.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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