Waiheke Island’s Needs in the News

Below is a growing list of links to news stories. Waiheke has a reputation as Auckland’s Jewel in the Crown, actively promoted by Auckland Tourism and Tourism NZ as a playground for the rich and famous with the requisite beautiful couple sitting outside with glasses of wine and the seascape in the background. While this is real for the comfortable class, the reality is – as with many places suffering from social and economic polarisation – that Waiheke has a disproportionate number of vulnerable citizens who do not make the news or if they do, it is soon forgotten. This list will grow as new stories are published and old ones found.

Time to take back control

November 5, 2020 By James Belfield, Editor

Both Chlöe Swarbrick and Helen White put housing towards the top of their priorities as they fought for our vote in the general election – and now they’re both in the Beehive, it behoves them to look for an answer.

But in many ways, ours is a unique challenge and will likely require a unique solution. Tourism, development, zoning, tank-water, our ageing population and the growing disparity between the wealthy and the workers are ingredients we understand because we experience them daily and see how they affect housing and the makeup of our population.

It’s high time we took control and did something about it.

http://www.waihekegulfnews.co.nz/time-to-take-back-control/