Phil Goff announces Auckland mayoralty bid
The former Labour party leader also called out the current council, saying the 'super city' had been meant to eliminate "bureaucratic duplication waste."
Former Labour Party leader Phil Goff has officially thrown his hat in the ring and announced he will be running for Auckland mayor next year.
He will run as an independent.
Mr Goff suggested the Auckland city rail link would be a primary part of his campaign.
"We need to do more than just finish the motorway network," he says. "We need light rail on the isthmus, in the east and out to the airport."
But the veteran Mt Roskill MP says funding for this cannot just come out of Auckland rates.
"Auckland pays its fair share and will continue to do so. But the government must also provide funding to meet the needs of growth."
Mr Goff also called out the current council, saying the 'super city' was meant to eliminate "bureaucratic duplication waste."
It has fallen short of that, he says.
He reaffirmed his position on selling council assets.
"The council spent half a million dollars on two reports released last week, saying we should privatise our strategic assets," Mr Goff says.
"Aucklanders don't want that. Privatising Watercare would double water charges to Aucklanders. I won't let that happen."
Deputy mayor Penny Hulse was present at the announcement. Asked if she would support Mr Goff's bid, she declined to comment.
Mr Goff says his 30 years of central government experience will help him succeed in the job.
"I know how central government works and what it takes to make it responsive to our needs," he says.
As had been expected, house prices were a key part of his speech.
He says the dream of Aucklanders owning their own home is slipping out of reach.
He says more needs to be done to bring supply and demand back into balance.
"[We need] policies that put home buyers ahead of speculators, and more intensive housing in the city and along arterial routers are needed."
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Jason Walls
Sun, 22 Nov 2015
Sun, 22 Nov 2015
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Phil Goff announces Auckland mayoralty bid
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