Len Brown flip flops on Queens Wharf

Back in January, Len Brown breathlessly mimicked John Banks' position on Queens Wharf.

Banks' position was that government would be wrong to take a loan out in the name of the future Auckland Council for a cruise ship terminal, when ratepayers of Greater Auckland would be picking up the tab without any say. Any building on our waterfront should be great, and we should progress plans in an orderly fashion after RWC2011.

Here's what Labour Len said back on the 14th of January in a press release:

Today I called for all of Auckland’s communities to be allowed a say about what happens on Queens Wharf.

I believe the last thing we need to do is rush a decision on the future of Queens Wharf before the new super-city is established and we can deliver a coherent master plan for the development of the harbour.

The harbour and waterfront is too important to Auckland’s future to be held ransom to political agendas or a timetable around the Rugby World Cup. Nor do we need Wellington to be seen to be telling the region how it should develop.

But today, Len Brown has flip flopped with his comments that he now supports the government's plans to rush a cruise ship terminal ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

“They seem clear that they would be able to build it between now and the Rugby World Cup,” he says. “For me I think the key issue is, the primary reason for us to drive it through now would be economic gain.”

This is weak stuff from someone who says they want to be Mayor of a supercity - a flip flop in less than three weeks!

Back in January, Len Brown was calling for a working group involving communities from all over Auckland so everyone got a say. Now, he's a party to secret meetings where only one build option was allegedly shown.

Labour Len - the lame duck

For the last few days, the jungle drums were beating loud and strong that Len Brown was going to fly the Tino Rangitiratanga flag from the Manukau City Council buildings on Waitangi Day.

It turned out he needed the support of his council to do this.

It also turns out that Len's own council didn't agree with him.

I've just heard that Len Brown lost the vote 7-9, as two of his supporters on council were strangely absent. Len apparently left the meeting in a huff straight afterwards, dodging the media waiting for him.

So what does this say?

Firstly, Labour Len doesn't like it when he can't get his own way.

Secondly, it also points to the fact that Labour Len talks big but can't deliver. His own supporters will have a crisis of confidence in him - as he struggles to deliver on something as trivial as this.

Thirdly, the debate over the TR flag went on for almost ninety minutes (ninety minutes!) at Manukau City's Policy and Activities committee tonight.

I wonder what his boss,Phil Goff, thinks of this...

Len Brown misleads on violence and sex crimes

Labour man Len Brown has been caught misleading the Auckland public on crime issues in a rather once-over-lightly cliched piece he had published in the Herald this morning. (Super Crime Fighter - I mean, really!)

A quick fisking by David Farrar revealed that in fact Manukau City had over 50% the violent crime of Auckland City. Sexual crimes are over 25% higher in Manukau.

Len decided to mislead the public by incorporating all crime statistics as if this was some kind of helpful picture, distorting the fact that the worst crimes are being committed in larger numbers in his patch.

But he got caught out, and the information is clear for all people to see on the police website.

In fact, it would seem Len's quoting of stats on crime is as misleading as his methodologically suspect polling.

The raw data follows here:

Auckland crime statistics.

Counties-Manukau crime statistics.

But the real question is, how can you trust Len Brown to improve the Auckland region's safety when he's prepared to mislead on statistics?

More power problems for Auckland

Coming almost year on from the last power problems that Auckland had in February 2009, Auckland region suffered more power problems relating to a fire under Transpower lines in the Waikato.

I really feel for the business owners and residents who have suffered yet another inconvenience, costing them time and money.

Mayor Banks was unimpressed on TV3, holding Transpower accountable for the failures in the transmission system. It's simply not good enough that Aucklanders are continuing to get these failures - and the reputational risk to our city and nation will be incalculable if it happens during RWC2011 next year.

The odd set of circumstances involving an angry farmer with a dispute with Transpower is going to no doubt be of some media interest over the next few days.

Transpower are getting on with the North Auckland and Northland (NAaN) line which will give Auckland region some redundancy in the event of a substation failure. This will come on stream in a couple of years, and was only possible because the Electricity Commission overturned their original decision to not permit it.

Clearly there's much more work to be done involving our power distribution grid.

Len Brown gets India's National Day wrong.

A friend pointed me in the direction of Len Brown's latest tweet, where he was apparently celebrating India's Independence Day today.











Unfortunately for Len, he got it wrong. India's independence day is August 15.

What he was actually celebrating was India's National Day, which is different. (Independence day was when India declared it was no longer a British Colony, when the old flags came down and the Indian flag went up. National Day is when the new Indian constitution came into effect, being January 26 in 1950. Some call it Republic Day as well.)

Perhaps Len might celebrate Auckland's upcoming Anniversary weekend on Labour Day too.

Setting the record straight

I’ve been pointed in the direction of some wild speculation and incorrect statements about myself on both The Standard and the Labour “Red Alert” blog. I wish to set the record straight.

For the record:

1. I have never been a board member of the ACT Party. I was a deputy board member (a largely honorary role) for around 3 months, until I resigned from ACT in mid 2002.

2. My resigning from ACT was related to dissatisfaction with ACT during 2000-2002, plus my having many friends within National. My leaving ACT for National predated Hide’s leadership by at least two years.

3. My association with Rodney Hide is friendly and professional.

4. Although I might stand for National one day, I have made no decision as to when that might be. For now, I’m focusing on helping John Banks become the first Mayor for a Greater Auckland.

5. I was Epsom campaign manager for National’s party vote mission in 2008. As Epsom watchers are aware, National did not contest the constituency vote last election. We did well though - Epsom was the second highest party vote for National as a percentage, (behind Helensville) and the highest in actual votes cast.

6. People shouldn’t rely on The Standard or the Labour blog as a reliable source of insider news about National Party politics.

Statement on Auckland Council elections

After much thought over summer, I have decided that I will not seek election to the Auckland Council later on this year.

A number of journalists have contacted me recently about my intention to stand for the new council, and after discussing with family and friends, I have decided to finalise my intentions now so C&R has plenty of time to plan for the year ahead.

I have decided that I could not campaign for both myself and Banksie, and so have decided to apply my energies to John Banks' campaign to become Mayor for a Greater Auckland. This follows lengthy consideration of what the new role for Auckland Councillors would be like, versus the importance of a strong and independent Mayoral office to lead Auckland.

Below is the statement I gave to the NZ Herald. Their article is here.

Aaron Bhatnagar, C&R Councillor for Hobson Ward in Auckland City has confirmed he won’t be standing in the new Auckland Council elections.

“I am uncomfortable with the new CCO model proposed for Auckland Council. The new councillor role will be more about CCO oversight rather than a more involved role in setting policy and achieving specific outcomes, which is how I have approached my council duties. Others are better suited for such a role.”

“Though not standing again, I’m bullish about C&R’s prospects for the new Orakei-Maungakiekie ward. A poll I paid for in September 2009 showed C&R was 39 points ahead of our old opponents in Hobson. That’s a great legacy to hand over to a new team.”

“I have some important tasks ahead. I intend to finish the Film-Friendly policy I signalled in late 2009. This will attract significant dollars and many jobs for Auckland, and will set up Auckland as a popular film destination for the next 20 years.”

“I want to reduce compliance costs further for homeowners and businesses. We’ve already had great success in improving consent times and reducing onerous rules for trees, pools and DIY. I’m also keen to help trial grassroots democracy online and how this can help the new Auckland Council maintain community connections through local boards.”

“I’m also looking forward to some key amenity upgrades in my district of Hobson Ward. This includes the Newmarket Park safety and environment work, the much needed Judges Bay resanding and rehabilitation, and new playgrounds for local children in Remuera.”

“I believe in public service and the opportunity to get things done. It is a rewarding experience, though it’s not for everyone. I would not rule out future public service, should the opportunity arise.”

“Many will know I’m heavily involved in John Banks’ campaign. It’s hugely important to me John Banks’ vision, experience and leadership shapes the first Auckland Council. The new Mayoral office and powers are well defined and will be a good thing for Auckland,” said Mr Bhatnagar.

Aaron Bhatnagar was elected to the Auckland City Council in October 2007. He was deputy chairman of Finance until October 2008, and Chairman of City Development from October 2008 until the present. He has also been the Deputy Chairman of Regional Governance since 2007.

ENDS