Time to Vote!

It has been a great honour to represent our community over the last three years on the Waitemata Local Board and this election I take that next step to represent the greater ward as your Councillor. Our community needs fresh new thinking and it’s time to vote Rob Thomas.

Watch the latest campaign video to hit YouTube “let’s see how far we’ve come”, click on the video below:

Thank you to all my supporters, friends and family for your dedication throughout the election campaign. It has been a great journey covering over 6,000 homes door knocked, radio interviews, visits to Great Barrier and Waiheke Island, launching the world’s first virtual billboard and the facebook fan page reaching over 32,000 people per week.

JOIN THE CELEBRATION

Enjoy the end of the campaign party with a bang. It is not just a celebration for the end of something, but the start of something new. Please join me at:

Libertine, 37 Drake Street
5pm Saturday 12th October

Please share the event on facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/484658324962951/

Rob

6,000 homes door knocked

Over the last five months I have door knocked over 6,000 homes across our community. It might sound like a daunting task but it’s a hell of a lot of fun and you meet some real characters and a few semi-half-naked people.

When they first open the door, they are thinking, “are you selling something?”, “are you religious?” or “where is my pizza?”.

There are three common responses, I want to listen, I want to talk to you or they will grab your hand and show you something down the street.

It is truly the only way to understand what the common issues are and represent these issues once elected.

Thanks for all the warm welcomes and cups of tea.

Connecting with our Chinese and Korean residents

Auckland’s inner-city community has very unique needs. With the help of my campaign interns, David and Young-Eun, we have undertaken a four month campaign to connect with the both the Chinese and Korean populations of the inner-city.

18% of the total population of our ward is Asian and it’s critical that their voice is herd and represented. We are the only campaign to publish a bi-lingual flier, website and connect through the mandarin pages newspaper.

Last weekend I attended the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival held by the Chinese Student Associations in Freeman’s Bay. It was a spectacular event with over 800 local Chinese residents watching spectacular performances from Kung-Fu to Chinese comedy and a Chinese HAKA!

Gulf News Article – candidate profile

Thanks to the team at the Gulf News for publishing my latest article:

Vote for a strong independent voice for the future of our community.

I grew up on Waiheke and have a strong family connection here. I have door knocked and listened to what matters to you most. When elected I promise to continue to foster the unique identity of Waiheke. I will keep decisions on Waiheke as local as possible, and work with you to create a zero emissions target policy and a buy local economy. I will provide a forum for the island’s nearly 1,200 businesses to direct the Island’s tourism strategy and create skilled employment for young people. I promise to support the Waiheke local board in improving amenities for both residents and tourists, and I will improve ferry services so that you have greater access to the mainland.

Lastly, I promise to put a stop to the marina development in Matiatia Bay, and find a suitable location to support the Hauraki Gulf Marine Reserve corridor.

Rob Thomas, VoteRobThomas.co.nz

THANK YOU GREAT BARRIER ISLAND

I’ve just arrived back from a world wind tour of Great Barrier Island. What a beautiful place in the middle of the Hauraki Gulf Islands. Thank you to my new found friend Sharon for introducing me to so many passionate people and interviewing me on Aotea FM.

During the visit I meet the team at Barrier Automotive & Tyres, The Service Station, The Rocks Store, staff at Coles Equipment, the lovely craft ladies, the local art gallery, many local families, representatives from Ngati Rehua and Council staff.

The big issues facing the island are:

• Council & Government contracts being awarded to people off the island and this is reducing local employment.
• With the average age of the island at 65 years old there is a struggling elderly group that need support.
• There is a lack of transport to and across the island with the cost of petrol described to me as the “most expensive in the world”.
• The cost of building compliance on the island is astronomical in comparison to the average wage.

The Ministry of Social Development and Family and Community Services produced this report in 2011 on the challenges facing Great Barrier Island: Great Barrier Island Community Plan (PDF 612k)

Thank you for the invitation to return to the island and I look forward to working with you, going pig hunting and climbing Mt Hobson.

The freshly painted bus stops with no bus service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visiting the council offices on the island

Media release – Parking Revenue Return to Local Business Districts

The UPTOWN Business Association has voted in favour of investigating a new funding mechanism to upgrade Auckland’s Metropolitan and Town Centers. The proposal looks at a portion of all funds collected from on-street pay and display machines be returned to the relevant Business Improvement District (BID) for utilisation on transport-related projects in the relevant BID areas.

The project has been spearheaded by Waitemata Local Board member Rob Thomas that wants to see an equitable distribution of Auckland Transport funding being invested back into upgrading our business districts.

Mr Thomas says, “Over the last three years Auckland Transport has reduced the funding available for footpath and cycling improvements from $21 million per year to $10 million per year. Businesses have really struggled through the 2008 global economic crisis and it’s time for us to look at alternative funding to support local area improvements.”

“Auckland Transport have been criticized in the past for using on-street parking as a revenue gathering exercise. This is an opportunity for visitors to a business area to feel real good knowing that a proportion of what you pay goes back into the local area.”

Across the Auckland Region there are 46 business associations partnering with the Auckland Council on the Business Improvement District (BID) Programme which levies a compulsory financial contribution from businesses with a specific geographic area to fund local area improvements. The existing on-street pay and display machines return about $12 million a year. The lion share of this is in Auckland’s Central Business District of $10 million, Newmarket $1 million, Takapuna $500,000 and Manukau $200,000.

The types of improvements that Mr Thomas is suggesting would earmark the funding for improvements that might include footpath, curb and channel upgrades, way-finding signage, bicycle parking, seats and beautification like flower bedding.

Mr Thomas says “Even if Auckland Transport had a transparent process in place it would fall short of delivering upgrades to our Auckland metropolitan and town centers with the existing budget. Cities around the world have a similar parking revenue return system which works successfully.”

The UPTOWN Business Association, which represents over 700 businesses in the Newton area, are the most recent business district district to implement pay and display to encourage more accessible parking outside retail areas. At their latest business meeting the members passed the following resolution:

The Uptown Business Association has considered this proposal and resolved as follows:

1. That the Uptown Business Association supports the parking meter revenue return scheme in principle.

2. The proposal is forwarded to Heart of the City, Newmarket, K Road, Ponsonby, Parnell, Remuera, Takapuna and Manukau Business Associations for consideration.

3. The Business Association requests that a business case is developed with recommendations being reported back to the board.

4. That a working party is established from representatives of the above Associations, Auckland Council’s Economic Development Department officers and Auckland Transport officers to develop a business case and recommendations for consideration by the Board of Auckland Transport.

To view the full report from UPTOWN, click here Parking meter revenue to improve business district

ENDS

Auckland Local Event Guide

Each year there are thousands of events, markets and activities happening all across our community – join in the fun and excitement!

 

Local Events

14 September	Duruje Korean Festival	Aotea Square	www.fb.com/duruje
19-21 September	Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival		www.autcsa.co.nz
29 September	Festival Italiano	Newmarket	www.dante.org.nz/festival.html
19 – 20 October	Diwali Festival of Lights	Aotea Square
November	Show me Shorts Film Festival	Capitol Cinema	www.showmeshorts.co.nz
7-9 November	Art in the Dark	Western Park	www.artinthedark.co.nz
14-17 November	Taste of Auckland	Victoria Park	www.tasteofauckland.co.nz
16-17 November	Parnell Festival of Roses	Parnell Rose Gardens
30 November	Grey Lynn Park Festival		www.greylynnparkfestival.org
14 December	Christmas in the Park	Auckland Domain	www.christmasinthepark.co.nz
17 January	Big Day Out	Western Springs Park	www.bigdayout.com
January – March	Movies in Parks	Grey Lynn Park	www.facebook.com/MoviesinParks
	Music in Parks	Auckland Domain, Albert Park, Grey Lynn Park	www.musicinparks.co.nz

 

Food, Arts & Craft Markets

Every Saturday	Parnell Farmers Market	545 Parnell Road	www.parnell.org.nz
	La Cigale French Market	St Georges Bay Road	www.lacigale.co.nz
	City Farmers Market	Britomart	www.cityfarmersmarket.co.nz
Every Sunday	Grey Lynn Farmers Market	510 Richmond Road	www.glfm.co.nz
	La Cigale French Market	St Georges Bay Road	www.lacigale.co.nz
Every second weekend in the month	Parnell Artisan Craft Market	545 Parnell Road
Over three months	First Thursdays – Arts and Crafts Market	K Road	www.kroad.com

 

Community activities

Everyday	Parnell Community Centre	545 Parnell Road	www.parnell.org.nz
	Ponsonby Community Centre	20 Ponsonby Terrace	www.ponsonbycommunity.org.nz
	Grey Lynn Community Centre	510 Richmond Road	www.greylynn.org.nz
	Central City Library	44-46 Lorne Street	www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/Events
	Parnell Library	545 Parnell Road	www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/Events
	Leys Institute Library	20 St Mary’s Bay	www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/Events
	Grey Lynn Library	474 Great North Road	www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/Events
	Auckland Art Gallery	Kitchener Street	www.aucklandartgallery.com
	Auckland Museum	Auckland Domain	www.aucklandmuseum.com
	Tepid Baths	100 Customer Street West	www.tepidbaths.co.nz
	The Olympic Pools	77 Broadway	www.theolympic.co.nz
Seasonal	Parnell Baths	Judges Bay Road	www.clmnz.co.nz/parnellbaths
Seasonal	Point Erin Pools	Point Erin Park	www.clmnz.co.nz/pt-erin-pool

 

A promise delivered – Costley Reserve playground renewal gets the green light

Last night on the final agenda of the Waitemata Local Board, the Costley Reserve playground renewal was approved in the 2013/14 local improvement budget. It has been a year and half long process but I am thrilled that this project that residents championed has come to fruition.

A public meeting was held at Costley Reserve on Sunday 7 April 2013 where Council staff and local board members were able to discuss the proposals with residents. It is estimated that approximately 100 people attended.  A total of 34 completed survey forms were received (two online and the reminder as paper copies) along with one incomplete paper form and one joint submission from seven neighbouring properties.

Based on the feedback from residents the design is “getting back to basics” with the renewal of playground and enhancing the entrances to the park:

• Improvements to the alignment, grade and equipment of the existing play space at Costley Reserve to improve access, reduce maintenance problems associated with shade/leaf fall and increase play experience.
• Improvements to the entrance ways and path realignment at Costley Reserve.
• Appropriate crown lifting of certain trees and selected removal of vegetation to improve lines of site, following CPTED best practice guidelines. A number of respondents commented on the dense vegetation reducing site lines and making the reserve feel unsafe.
• Upgrade the retaining wall at Renall Reserve, already identified as a Condition 4 asset, to create improved access points, and relocation of existing benches to provide improved outlook and views across the city.

Previous blogs

4 April 2013 – New plans for Costley Reserve, Freemans Bay

27 March 2012 – Costley Park review

 

Media release – Rob Thomas promises to kick commuters out of residential streets

Media release – Rob Thomas promises to kick commuters out of residential streets

Parking in the central suburbs has become a serious issue, with locals and commuters jostling for precious parking spaces.

Waitemata and Gulf Council Candidate Rob Thomas says “As the next Councillor for the Waitemata and Gulf Ward I will kick out commuters from resident streets in the inner-city and encourage people to us public transport. Our residential streets are not parking lots.”

“For five months I have been door knocking residents in Parnell, Newmarket, Grafton, Arch Hill, Freeman’s Bay and Ponsonby. Residents have told me they pay exorbident rates or rent and yet they have to park two blocks away from their house to get a carpark.”

The latest research from Auckland Transport shows there are more free carparks in Freeman’s Bay than the Civic Carpark in Aotea Square and during the working day they have more than 90% occupancy on some streets. With parking in the city becoming increasingly expensive, suburbs with free parking have seen an influx of city commuters searching for all day parking. The link buses have unfortunately exacerbated this problem; turning leafy suburbs into park and ride services into the city. Residents are struggling to access their homes and commuters are forced to compete for free parking.

“Cars hawk local neighbourhoods looking for free car parking. Wellington has had resident only parking for years and now is the time for Auckland to roll this out across the inner-city.”

As a member of the Waitemata Local Board Mr Thomas has been involved in the St Mary’s Bay resident only parking scheme for over a year now which offers a blueprint for other suburbs. An annual permit costs $70 for a single car, with subsequent permits costing slightly more. The scheme also offers guest permits, giving temporary parking for residents’ guests. The trial has successfully moved commuters off residential streets, freeing up space for residents who lack off-street parking.

“The St Mary’s Bay trial has shown that resident-only parking works and is a viable alternative to the current system which has turned suburbs into parking lots.”

Resident-only parking will also help push more commuters onto public transport. As the trains are electrified and bus services are improved commuters will have more options beyond driving. Improved public transport will offset the loss of commuter parking from these suburbs and improve traffic flows.

“For the resident only parking scheme to work we need busses turning up on time and more park-and-ride facilities at train stations and on the Northern busway.”

Watch the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWu5wDjbdEk&feature=youtu.be

END

Media Release: Talking billboard gives Rob Thomas the innovative edge

An Auckland Council candidate embracing new technology, has launched talking billboards around Auckland city. Rob Thomas’s campaign is designed to change the way we engage with local government in new and innovative way.

Thomas says, “These are the first talking billboards ever to be used for election campaigning in New Zealand.” Each sign has a QR code that takes people to a free smart-phone app called Layar. Layar is one of the leading augmented reality programmes for mobile devices. Once Layar is loaded onto your phone, it’s as simple as opening the app and scanning the sign.

“Watch as the billboard comes alive! It makes a change from stuffy static campaigns, and allows me to talk directly with Aucklanders.”

“For the last five months I have been door knocking local residents across Auckland’s inner-city. Now each week I’ll post up a new interactive video dealing with issues I have heard from these Auckland residents.”

Each week, Thomas will launch a new video throughout his campaign. So look out for the videos as they go live. The technology is integrated across all Thomas’s campaign material. People will be able to watch these via large billboard on ANZAC Ave, street signs and advertisements or even his campaign t-shirts. They can all be bought to life using your smart-phone.

Thomas cites poor voter turn-out as one of the reasons for engaging with this new media. Approximately 42% of Aucklanders returned their voting papers in the last local government election. The average age of Auckland’s inner city resident is just 30 years-old. Thomas believes his constituents are early adopters of new technology, open to new ways of engaging with their Council.

His campaign slogan, ‘Let’s Talk’, encourages Aucklanders “to get involved and tell us what you want in your city.”

“Local government has a huge impact on our day to day life,” says Thomas, “I’m passionate about getting people to engage with their Council in new and innovative ways.” Thomas believes that this technology has a miriad of uses. Allowing your smart-phones to take you on a guided historic walk around the city centre for example – bringing Auckland’s rich history alive.

Try it yourself:

Download the app onto your phone http://get.layar.com 

Scan the image and watch the splash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, photos or interview opportunities contact:

Rob Thomas

Candidate for Waitemata & Gulf Councillor 2013
Elected Member, Waitemata Local Board, Auckland Council
Cellphone: 021 704423

Email: rob@robthomas.co.nz

Website: www.VoteRobThomas.co.nz

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VoteRobThomas

 

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