The mayoral poacher turned gamekeeper
Monday, 26 August 2019
OPINION: Something tantalisingly new always has an appeal that can't be matched completely by something dependable and familiar.
Phil Goff has been a politician long enough - 38 years - to recognise that is the challenge he faces in trying to retain the Auckland mayoralty that he won as a newcomer three years ago.
Goff himself noted the campaigning advantage held by newcomers - this time led by John Tamihere.
'You've got no track record to defend and you can propose anything you like, and people don't know whether you are going to deliver it or not,' he said.
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The line is a clear poke at Tamihere, who in keeping with his 'Shake it Up' mantra is pledging everything from an 18-lane harbour bridge to partial sale of the council water company, both which need majority backing not only of councillors, but also parliamentarians. On Monday, Tamihere threw a three-year rates freeze into the mix as well.
Goff in 2016 took a more measured approach, in a contest where there was no incumbent, following the departure of two-term mayor Len Brown.
His promises were important but unspectacular, holding general rate rises at no more than 2.5 per cent, tackling the pollution of the city's waterways, advocating for the already-evolving light rail plans.
He added the razzamatazz by repeatedly mentioning the transformative possibility of a downtown stadium, while carefully not taking a committed stance.
Goff can rightly be proud of the council's performance during his watch, keeping the pressure on an efficiency drive that was well-underway before his arrival, accelerating by 20 years the infrastructure needed to clean up the city's beaches and waterways.
The pace of home construction has continued its steadily upward path from the post-GFC slump, and the revamp and ongoing big investment in public transport is delivering world-class patronage growth.
On the flip-side, his 2016 call for more accountable council agencies, remains a theme in this campaign, his biggest revenue-widening initiative, an extra rate on accommodation providers, is awaiting a High Court ruling on its legality, and political management has been a struggle.
Goff's problem is that the challenges being tackled are significant, and even major successes are going to appear only incremental.
No matter how big the swing to public transport, walking and cycling, a city growing as fast as Auckland will probably never escape traffic congestion.
Permanently pristine harbours and waterways and the eradication of environmental pests would one day be spectacular achievements, yet might go unnoticed by Aucklanders going about their daily lives.
Tamihere, to unseat an incumbent elected with a comfortable majority, must be loud and bold to attract attention and to be considered as an alternative.
Goff's challenge is convince voters that there is more to come, on top of the council's achievements over the past term.
So far the new policy messages have been incremental at best, such as a slight discount to fares paid on weekdays by school students on public transport.
Goff has made a commitment to buy only electric or hybrid cars for the council fleet, when in fact that was already achieved in the past year.
Will that be enough to persuade voters to stay on the Goff course?
Stuff's mayoral debate on September 2 will mark the start of the final five weeks of campaigning, and will give Goff, Tamihere, Craig Lord and Jannaha Henry the opportunity make clear how the next three years might be different - in a good way - from the last three.