The changes currently taking place in Auckland are among the most significant changes ever undertaken in New Zealand. That’s why we have to make them work. Auckland is home to more than a third of the total New Zealand population, and that percentage is growing. For New Zealand to prosper and succeed, we have to make the changes in Auckland work.

To make Auckland work a number of things are needed. The first of these is to put in place the critical pieces of infrastructure that a successful international city like Auckland requires. Completing the motorway network, electrifying rail, a CBD rail-loop and an International Exhibition and Convention Centre are among the important building blocks of Auckland’s success. But we must never overlook the fact that Auckland’s rural communities, like those in Franklin, contribute so much to our regional economy.

Before we outline grand plans and visions there are some basics that need to be taken care of, starting with rates. Creating a single rating system will be a major challenge. I am absolutely committed to maintaining my record of affordable rates, especially as we emerge from a global recession.

We also need to do a better job of keeping people safe on the streets and in their homes. We have unacceptably high levels of anti-social behaviour in some parts of Auckland, often fuelled by ready access to cheap alcohol. I want to see all the relevant agencies working together like they never have before to address the very real social issues that Auckland faces.

One of the main ways to ensure the lives of all people improve is by growing the number of jobs and training opportunities. We can do far more to grow the tourism industry in Auckland. We have a growing reputation as a centre for innovation in science, film and environmental technologies. We need to build on this, and the role of our excellent tertiary education sector. And we need to have a council that has a “can do” culture so that business, including farming, can prosper.

All of this has to be underpinned by a strong commitment to keeping the “local” in local government. The uniqueness of communities like those in Franklin has to be celebrated. We must do a better job of protecting our heritage, including our coastlines, harbours and volcanoes. I am committed to ensuring that Local Boards will have more power to protect and enhance their local communities.

Finally, it is easy to talk of grand plans, but the critical question is who is best equipped to deliver on their vision for a united Auckland. My aspiration is to draw upon my thirty years of public service and forty years in business in Auckland to make the first Auckland Council work, for you.

Hon John Banks QSO