Auckland politician Penny Hulse: 'You've got to go when you're loving it'

Saturday, 29 September 2018

Penny Hulse will end 27 years in Auckland politics next October.

One of Auckland's leading politicians Penny Hulse is bowing out of local politics, saying she doesn't 'want to hang on until it gets tragic'.

Penny Hulse will leave politics next year and is not seeking re-election to Auckland Council.

'When you want to make a change, you've got to go when you're loving it,' Hulse said.

The West Auckland councillor will have clocked up 27 years in local body politics, including one term as deputy mayor of Waitākere City and two as deputy mayor of Auckland Council.

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Hulse, who will turn 60 next year, has taken on some of the biggest jobs since the amalgamated council was formed in 2010.

She led the development of the region's vision the Auckland Plan, and then the hotly debated development blueprint the Unitary Plan which raised housing densities.

Hulse said she was looking forward to getting back to grassroots in West Auckland.

Hulse listed both as among her proudest achievements.

As deputy mayor to Len Brown for two terms, Hulse kept councillors on track during the second as Brown became isolated after revelations of his extra-marital affair.

Hulse said a step up to run as mayor in 2016 had been a possibility for a while.

'I was asked by quite a large group of people and backers,' she said.

However, she said she had not been prepared to declare her interest without Brown first announcing that he wouldn't run again.

'It was taken as a sign of weakness by the group who were keen for me to run.'

Hulse said she has no regrets, despite thinking seriously about the move for several weeks.

'I'm happy to resign from politics without having taken part in dirty games,' she told Stuff.

'I still think it would be fantastic to have a woman at the helm of Auckland.'

Hulse was at pains to dispel any speculation that she was leaving in a fit of pique because Phil Goff didn't choose her as deputy when he was elected in 2016.

'These two years have been the best,' she said of her appointment to head the community and environment committee, two of her greatest passions.

She was instrumental in getting through new targeted rates to accelerate environment protection and improve water quality in streams and beaches.

Auckland's new waste management system was also work close to her heart.

'I don't think [Goff] realised what a fantastic role he was giving me, at the time.'

Hulse entered politics in 1992 on the Waitākere Community Board before moving on to the Waitākere City Council three years later.

She served as deputy to mayor Sir Bob Harvey for the three years prior to amalgamation in 2010.

Hulse is widely admired as a consensus builder, with the ability to negotiate sometimes contentious ideas through to conclusion.

She led Auckland Council's housing initiatives through two terms, including often tense negotiations with the National government over its Housing Accord.

Hulse reckoned she had about five to seven more years of doing 'some other good stuff'.

She fancied a leadership role in climate change, water, or waste reduction.

'The chance to do something at a national level in any those' was on her wish list.

But she said there are still things to complete in the 12 months, including a women in climate change project and 'nailing down' the future of Henderson.

She also hoped to get the Western Initiative programme underway, after council funding was secured to help get community-based social improvement.

'I also want to get back to grassroots out west – go back to the stuff that really fills [me] with joy.'