Political career George Wood (New Zealand politician)

1 political career

1.1 mayor of north shore city

1.1.1 chairman of auckland mayoral forum
1.1.2 controversy


1.2 hiatus political office
1.3 involvement in auckland local government reform
1.4 auckland council

political career
mayor of north shore city

in october 1998 wood elected mayor of north shore city following fiercely contested election. wood able bring new style of council administration 3 standing committees , councillors members of these committees.

during 3 consecutive terms mayor (1998–2007), wood successful in melding council , pushed through major reforms in relation sewerage (waste water) infrastructure improvements, revamping strategic plan , long term funding programme north shore city , developing , building northern busway project.

chairman of auckland mayoral forum

following 2001 local government elections wood elected position of chairman of auckland mayoral forum. in role wood pushed through major joint programme between government , auckland councils transport funding. culminated in government passing local government auckland amendment act 2004 , provision of additional $1.6 billion of transport funding on following ten years. funding has resulted in huge improvements auckland roading , public transport networks.

controversy

in april 2007, wood acceded pressure chinese officials not attend international cultural show divine performing arts, contained scenes depicting oppression of people practice falun gong spiritual system.

wood planning attend show wife, after phone call chinese consular general s office backed out, , quoted saying:

i don t want involved in internal people s republic of china politics want maintain reasonable relationship people s republic of china. said [the show] involved in falun gong, indicated falun gong, , don t know true impact of is, has concerns them.

i had indicated go show, m not going cause international kerfuffle going don t know about. don t know falun gong or whatever means. mayor of city not international diplomat , haven t got time analyse thing out.

hiatus political office

wood stood fourth term independent mayoralty candidate in 2007 north shore city elections defeated andrew williams.

in period since october 2007 election wood has worked behind scenes on number of projects relating transport. particularly vocal on need upgrade or replace auckland harbour bridge. wood has urged improvement of public transport across auckland region whilst @ same time warning huge escalation in operational costs. in 2009, in lead formation of auckland council, questioned whether new auckland mayor able control proposed auckland transport agency under new proposed model.

in 2008 new year honours, wood appointed companion of new zealand order of merit services local-body affairs.

involvement in auckland local government reform

in 2006, wood indicated support amalgamation of auckland s 7 city councils , boards 1 supercity auckland council. wood 1 of 4 mayors asked prime minister helen clark reform auckland region s local government in september 2006. subsequently royal commission on auckland governance formed enquire future of local government across auckland region.

wood submitted commission wyn hoadley. submission received 3 commissioners , received positive report in nz herald.

wood , hoadley called 1 auckland council across region mayor elected @ large, 13 elected , 5 appointed specialist councillors , 13 boroughs replace existing councils , community boards. recommended environmental protection agency appointed.

the high level of debt 7 territorial councils , auckland regional council bring new council, along negativity existing councils, major concern wood. figure of $3 billion debt new auckland council need deal has been quoted in media.

wood concerned how report of royal commissioners on auckland governance implemented. believed should report delivered on broad front , not implemented in piecemeal manner.

auckland council

wood councillor on auckland council inception in 2010 until 2016. joined citizens , ratepayers association (c&r) , elected council on citizens , ratepayers–north shore ticket represent north shore ward. topped poll ward in election.

in inaugural speech council, wood made particular reference need address recommendations of royal commission report. made strong plea new council become actively involved in pursuing improved social conditions , trying ensure fewer young people end in prison.

since election has spoken out ensure rates property owners kept under control. voiced disappointment in not getting lead position, in transport area.

in first term (2010–13), wood appointed chairman of community safety forum, , deputy chairman of accountability , performance committee. major revamp of graffiti control , removal plan across auckland region undertaken under direction of community safety forum chaired wood. auckland council graffiti strategy document brought number of organisations under 1 umbrella.

in mid-2013, wood abandoned citizens , ratepayers ticket , set new ticket named fair deal shore in order contest year s october council elections. re-elected councillor north shore ward.

wood chairman of auckland council s regional strategy , policy committee. committee of whole of council, meaning consists of mayor, 20 councillors , 2 representative of independent maori statutory board.

the preparation of auckland plan, spatial plan future development of auckland region on next 40 years , adopted auckland council in 2012, has been major interest wood.

wood announced in august 2016 not stand auckland council in 2016 local elections, devonport-takapuna local board. did not stand re-election auckland council, elected devonport-takapuna local board on team george wood ticket.

wood has been critic of auckland council s draft unitary plan adopted in august 2016. locations such milford , browns bay have resisted idea of taller residential buildings proposed in plan. despite plaintive pleas mayor len brown.