Indian Weekender spoke with Auckland Mayor Phil Goff for the first time after the elections to discuss a range of issues concerning Aucklanders in general and the Indian community in particular.
Among issues such as rates, housing, public transport, and Mt Roskill by-elections, we asked questions about a long felt latent demand within the Indian community to declare Sandringham area as a Little India.
The mayor's answers varied on a scale from being an activist to diplomatic on many issues. His diplomatic best was saved for the last question on the demand for a Little India, where he chose to be a "facilitator" instead of being an "endorser" of the demand. We present excerpts from the interview below.
IWK: How has been your first few days as Auckland's Mayor?
Phil Goff: Hectic and busy! I had almost 18 interviews lined up with the media immediately after the elections were announced and it hasn't slowed down. It's great to be in a position where I can do something to create an Auckland that we can enjoy working and living. It is not going to happen overnight. We are starting the processes to make Auckland council a more efficient and less wasteful body. We are also starting a process of working with our ministers to invest in the infrastructure for housing and transport.
IWK: Will you be working for Auckland of today or would you be busy in creating Auckland of future?
Phil Goff: It is a good question, and I think it is both. The problems we face in Auckland today are real problems that need to be tackled now. Having said that, we have to create an Auckland for our coming generations too. We cannot afford to think short-term. We have to plan for the longer term and for the generation to come.
IWK: What are your top three priorities right now?
Phil Goff: I have set out three priorities: first, to have an effective and best performing city in the country; second, to work with the government to start to tackle the problems of traffic congestion, which is getting worse and not better at the moment; and third, to work with the government to deal with housing and affordability, which gives us a title that we did not seek for our city—that we are the fourth least affordable city in the world.
IWK: Are there any other plans apart from "working with the government" to find funds for solving Auckland's problems?
Phil Goff: I think that is what we need to explore for things such as Auckland light rail, which has become an election issue in the Mt Roskill by-elections. I am in favour of the light rail. The Labour party has said that they will pay for half of it, which I welcome, but then, they say that you will have to pay the other half of it, which is another $670 million. Actually, in most cities of this country, all major transport projects are 100% funded by the government. So I will be advocating for the people of Auckland for the best deal with the government.
IWK: Do you have any special promises for the Indian community as Auckland's Mayor?
Phil Goff: (laughs) My promise to the Indian community is that I will have the same relationship with you that I had for the last 30 years. You know me, you have worked with me, and you have seen what I have done. I am grateful that the Indian community has expressed confidence in me, so none of that will change. Am I there to make big spending promises to different community sections? Of course not! What I will do is that I will be there listening to the Indian community. I will be there working as hard as I can for an inclusive rich diverse multicultural community. I will be there to celebrate everything that the Indian community brings to Auckland. I will be there working on the same problems as you have and as every other Aucklander has—rates, transport, and housing.
IWK: There has been a latent demand in the community for some time to declare Sandringham as ‘Little India’. Do you support that demand?
Phil Goff: Well, that is interesting. The council came up with a proposal that Balmoral should be called Chinatown, and when we went [to] businesses all around Balmoral, mostly Chinese businesses were strictly opposed to the idea and categorically rejected to be called as Chinatown. They wanted to be seen as inclusive with other communities. But if there was a strong view within the Sandringham community and that is what they wanted, then I am there to acknowledge the will of the local people on local issues. So yeah, if there is an overwhelming view of that kind, then I am happy to facilitate that. But I will listen closely to what the local board, the local community, and local retailers have to say before I jump to any decision.
IWK: Shall we take this as a yes for your support for the ‘Little India’ 'demand?
Phil Goff: I am saying that if that is what the whole of the community wanted, then we will be happy to facilitate that. But I don't know yet if that is what everyone wants.