Meet the Candidates: Mayoral hopeful Phil Goff 'not satisfied' with Auckland Transport, promises changes

Monday, 22 July 2019

Meet the candidate- Phil Goff

Stuff is sitting down with four of Auckland's most vocal mayoral hopefuls. Today, we talk to Phil Goff as his quest for a second victory ramps up.

If you were trying to create a prototypical politician you might end up with something close to Philip Bruce Goff.

The 66-year-old oozes political pro.

It's the whole package – the perfect suit, the smile, the charm offensive, the polished responses to this journo's questions.

* 'Imperfect' Auckland mayoral hopeful John Tamihere on his fiery campaign

* Phil Goff's first election policy: Review Auckland Council agencies

* Auckland Mayor Phil Goff reveals wins, regrets for 2018 as he weighs up political future**

He screams stability – a safe bet, perhaps lacking the creativity of some of his political rivals.

Goff had a mixed first term at the helm of New Zealand's most powerful local body.

He implemented Auckland's first fuel tax, a hallmark policy of his last campaign.

But at times he found himself offside with many of his council colleagues.

Now Goff wants another round in the mayoral chains.

'In terms of personality, I've got experience, I can be relied upon, I'm trustworthy, I've shown integrity,' he says.

'I've spent 32 years in public life, a bit longer than that, and I've never been found lacking in terms of my ethics or my values.

'People might not agree with me, but they don't challenge that I work hard, I have the right values and I follow through on those principles.'

AIMING FOR AT, AGAIN

Auckland Transport (AT) has become something a political punching bag this campaign.

Goff, though more restrained in his criticism than rival candidates John Tamihere and John Palino, concedes AT needs reeling in.

While 'not out of control', Goff says AT and other council-controlled organisations 'need to be looked at in terms of ensuring that we get maximum accountability and public responsiveness'.

'I'm not satisfied that's as it should be at the moment,' he says.

The incumbent attacks AT over its no-show at an April public meeting about St Heliers traffic changes.

'In terms of fronting up, like at St Heliers, [and] being prepared to explain yourself, justify yourself, listen to people – no I'm not satisfied and I made that very clear to them publicly,' Goff says.

John Tamihere, left, and Phil Goff, after a live debate on TV. Goff says his former Labour colleague is unreliable.

'I basically told them, 'harden up, that's your job' – you've made the policy, you are responsible for operational policy by statute and that's your independent role.'

Goff claims AT 'admitted to me they got it wrong'.

'After I ripped into them and told them what I thought publicly – probably exceeded what my statutory authority was – they changed their policy, they are now working with the people in St Heliers.'

Despite its no-show in St Heliers, Goff claims council has done plenty to make AT more accountable under his watch.

He points to the mayor's letter of expectations and AT's statement of intent as ways of ensuring accountability.

But he also concedes AT has failed to do everything expected of it.

'The [St Heliers] occasion that I've given an example of is a clearest example of them having poor communication,' he says.

'I know why want they want to make the streets safer, I want to make the streets safer, but you go into the community and you talk to the people there.'

TAMIHERE 'UNRELIABLE'

John Tamihere has not held back in his criticism of Goff, his former Labour Party colleague.

Tamihere says the city has become 'Goff's ATM machine', while also claiming the incumbent has 'totally neglected' Auckland.

Goff hits back, labelling his rival unreliable.

'When he was on council he was on council as a member of the Independent Maori Statutory Board he turned up, according to Maori TV, on 20 per cent of the meetings,' Goff claims.

Tamihere's commitment during his time on the IMSB was 'not good enough', he adds.

Mayor Phil Goff defends Auckland rates increases in an interview with Radio Tarana's Vandhna Bhan.

'If you're going to take responsibility you put your heart and soul into the job – you fulfil the expectations and the obligations that go with it,' Goff says.

'John didn't do that in cabinet and he didn't do that when he was on council.'

WATERCARE STAYING

Goff, unlike Tamihere, is '100 per cent opposed' to privatising Watercare, saying a full or partial sale would be off the table under his mayoralty.

Tamihere wants to sell 49 per cent of the Auckland Council-owned water company, saying the proceeds of a partial sale could deliver cash to build much-needed infrastructure.

Tamihere made the splash during his first head-to-head debate with mayor Goff at a business breakfast on Auckland's North Shore.

The announcement baffled Goff, exclaiming: 'What?' in apparent disbelief as he listened to Tamihere.

'What that would mean for the average household is another $200 to $300 a year in water rates,' he claims.

'Because when somebody pays $4-$5 billion for a half share in Watercare they've got to get a financial return on that.'

Who would pay for that return? Goff points to you and me.

'It [Watercare] works well in terms of what it's delivering,' he says.

'It's regarded by the Government as the foremost water provider in the country and … as a model for other parts of the country to follow, and it's a monopoly – a monopoly providing an essential service.

'So you're going to pass that across to the private sector?'

TIME FOR CHANGE

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, pictured with Transport Minister Phil Twyford, says he will review Auckland Transport and the other council controlled organisations.

Cast your mind back and you will recall Goff's first term had some particularly rocky moments.

Last year, his councillors become particularly frosty over his office's handling of a $1 million stadium feasibility study by consultants PwC.

A letter to Goff, signed by nine councillors, followed. It carried claims of a lack of transparency and distrust.

Some councillors said the mayor needed to change his style and something must have given – relations around the council table have been far more harmonious since last winter.

Goff tells Stuff he is a man willing to 'change things constantly'.

'Life is about learning from your experience and sometimes you get it wrong, that's the nature of being a human being.'

So, what changes next term? What will Goff do differently?

Asked for specifics, Goff says the biggest shift will be the CCO review.

In fact, the sitting mayor says he has already started to grease the wheels.

'I've signalled to Government that I want to review them,' he says.

'I've said want them involved because they have to change the legislation to get the change.

'They've indicated that they're with me on that and that's one of the things we'll change.'

For the most part, Goff, predictably, gives himself a pat on the back for his efforts to date.

'On the whole, have I been able to get three budgets through council with the overwhelming support of the majority of councillors? Yes I have,' he points out.

'Have we made a difference for the city? Absolutely.'