As we enter the final few months of Papakura’s existence as a district, staff and councillors alike are working hard to complete a list of important projects that will leave the people of Papakura with a proud legacy of high quality facilities.

Papakura’s Massey Park upgrade is a high profile project that will provide the community with a high quality sports facility for many years to come. Staff have worked closely with users to develop an upgrade of the playing surface and facilities that addresses the needs of current and future users. The project will also enhance links between the aquatic centre and Massey Park itself.

In the town centre, our exciting project to bring the library and museum down to street level on Great South Road is going well. Contractors are building a new entrance on Great South Road that will transform the building, making it a welcoming and appealing place for all community users. I encourage other landlords to work to attract quality tenants to the town centre.

We have worked hard to put Papakura on a strong and secure footing, addressing deferred maintenance of our infrastructure and committing to maintenance programmes that ensure our public facilities are in good shape for the future. 

I wish to thank councillors, staff and residents for their support in recent years. Your efforts have made Papakura what it is today.

The challenge for all Papakura residents in future will be to make sure their wishes are heard when the new Auckland Council comes into being on November 1, immediately after the local body election.

Local boards, a brand new local government structure in NZ, will be established and integrated as part of the Auckland Council's planning and decision making systems. The boards will be the only direct way for people to have a say in what matters at a local level. I urge people who want to make a difference in this community and want to preserve our Papakura identity to seriously consider standing for a position on the local board.

Our strong sense of identity and community must be preserved and must inform decision-making at local board level. That is a task this council must leave to the people of Papakura and those they elect in October.

On behalf of myself and the council I would like to wish all residents well for the future as we head toward November 1.