Ed Said - Grass not always greener

 

Leading up to the elections I can’t help but find some amusement in the comments of the headline-makers, most of which come from Auckland.

Mayoral candidate Phil Goff though way behind Donald Trump in the brash stakes is nonetheless leaving himself open to some severe criticism. Since first announcing his candidacy for the Mayoral post he has acted like it’s a fait accompli but he is still, at this juncture, little more than a candidate. One of his earlier pledges (Feb this year) was to make light rail a priority in the inner city. I recall Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson pushing for this very thing in the late 60s/early 70’s. What a great asset it would have been for the growing city. Unfortunately the idea was finally scuttled by Muldoon. That Goff would have the nous or the cash to revive it is a moot point indeed.

One of his other recent initiatives is to plant 1 million trees throughout the city in his three year term. The green faction could be seen , and with some justification, to have a satisfied smile on their faces but few seem to have done some simple arithmetic and worked out that this will cost the city (ratepayers) over $50 million (working on $50 per tree to secure, plant, nurture and replace dead and stolen ones). Again Goff appears to see himself as Mayor well before the people have their say.

Today’s proclamation, however, seems to be the most interesting of all with Goff saying "I support a living wage for Auckland Council staff. Too many people in Auckland are working hard but living in poverty.” He’s kidding, right? What exactly is a living wage? Let’s look at some of the figures surrounding those poor Auckland Councillors.

Bearing in mind these are 2015 figures, Auckland Council staff were paid thus:

36 were paid over $300K, 146 were paid over $200K and 1,912 were paid over $100K. Total staff costs were budgeted at $729m but came in at $792m – $63m over budget and $62m more expensive than the previous year.

For Auckland Council outlying areas, the Chairmen all earn between $75K & $85 K, with Council members (mostly part-timers) all getting a pay packet of $40K or more. Once again I ask, how do you quantify a living wage?

While the polls say this is the man who Aucklanders want at the helm, only the public can decide but with our own Kaipara candidates meetings about to happen there is a lesson here. Take note of what candidates ‘promise’. What they stand for and what they want to see in the future are different from making promises because, generally, few if any of these ‘promises’ will ever come to fruition.

Auckland is a behemoth which, to many, is considered out of control.

Some would say the same of Kaipara but whereas, with the ongoing housing situation Auckland has huge problems to work through, Kaipara, learning from the past, and with the will of the people, can only go forward. Compared to Auckland, Kaipara can only progress providing we install the right people to manage it.

Just MHO.

Rob