George Wood (New Zealand politician)

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Auckland Council
George Wood
CNZM
George head and shoulders.jpg
George Wood
4th Mayor of North Shore City
In office
1998–2007
YearsWardAffiliation
2010 –2013 North Shore Citizens & Ratepayers
2013 –2016 North Shore Fair Deal For Shore

Wood was a councillor on the Auckland Council from its inception in 2010 until 2016. He joined the Citizens and Ratepayers Association (C&R) and was elected to the council on the Citizens and Ratepayers–North Shore ticket to represent the North Shore ward. He topped the poll for this ward [25] in the election. [26] [27]

In his inaugural speech to the council, Wood made particular reference to the need to address the recommendations of the Royal Commission report. He made a strong plea to the new council to become actively involved in pursuing improved social conditions and trying to ensure that fewer young people end up in prison. [28]

Since the election he has spoken out to ensure that rates for property owners are kept under control. [29] He voiced disappointment in not getting a lead position, especially in the transport area. [30]

In his first term (2010–13), Wood was appointed chairman of the Community Safety Forum, [31] and Deputy Chairman of the Accountability and Performance committee. [32] A major revamp of the graffiti control and removal plan across the Auckland Region was undertaken under the direction of the Community Safety Forum chaired by Wood. The Auckland Council Graffiti Strategy document brought a number of organisations under one umbrella. [33]

In mid-2013, Wood abandoned the Citizens and Ratepayers ticket and set up a new ticket named Fair Deal For Shore in order to contest that year's October council elections. [34] He was re-elected as councillor for North Shore ward. [35] Wood was the chair of the Auckland Council's Regional Strategy and Policy committee, which was a committee of the whole of council, meaning that it consisted of the mayor, 20 councillors and two representative of the Independent Maori Statutory Board. [36]

The preparation of the Auckland Plan, a spatial plan for the future development of the Auckland Region over the next 40 years and adopted by Auckland Council in 2012, was a major interest for Wood. [37]

Wood did not stand for Auckland Council in the 2016 local elections, [38] but was elected to the Devonport-Takapuna local board on the Team George Wood ticket. [39]

Wood has been a critic of the Auckland Council's draft Unitary Plan [40] that was adopted in August 2016. [41] Locations such as Milford and Browns Bay have resisted the idea of taller residential buildings than what was proposed in the plan. This was despite plaintive pleas from Mayor Len Brown. [42]

Personal life

Wood is married to Myra Wood. [43]

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References

  1. ↑ "Contact Devonport-Takapuna Local Board". www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "Friends of Northcote College". Northcote.pastpupils.net. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  3. ↑ Julie Middleton (8 February 2006). "Old foes at Hughes farewell". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "RNZAF - the NZDF Command and Staff College". Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  5. ↑ "Executive Education | Australian Institute of Police Management". Aipm.gov.au. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Local Governance Statement, 11 November 2008 [ dead link ]
  7. ↑ "Northern Busway". Busway.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "Auckland busway a 'revolution'". Stuff.co.nz. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "The Department of Internal Affairs: Local Government Act Review – Auckland transport investment package finalised". Dia.govt.nz. 30 March 2004. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  10. ↑ North Shore Times. "Auckland busway a 'revolution'". Stuff. New Zealand. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  11. ↑ "N Shore Mayor succumbs to China Consulate pressure | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  12. ↑ 6:22 pm Thursday 5 April 2007 (5 April 2007). "Wood pulls out of Chinese event | NATIONAL News". Tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 28 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "N Shore Mayor succumbs to China Consulate pressure | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "Ex-mayor claims 'veil of secrecy' over effect of future harbour crossing". The New Zealand Herald. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  15. ↑ "George Wood: Upgrading metro rail system incurs huge cost". The New Zealand Herald. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  16. ↑ "City will not control key roles". The New Zealand Herald. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  17. ↑ "New Year honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "Auckland is 'five non-world-class cities', says Cullen". The New Zealand Herald. 9 August 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "Submission to the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance" (PDF). Royalcommission.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  20. ↑ "Super ARC 'needs to take on social issues'". The New Zealand Herald. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  21. ↑ "Councils fight for identity in face of super-city plans". The New Zealand Herald. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  22. ↑ "Concerns raised over make-up of new 'Super-city' council". The New Zealand Herald. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  23. ↑ "Super city will start $3b in the red". The New Zealand Herald. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  24. ↑ "Decommissioned websites – Royal Commission on Auckland Governance – dia.govt.nz". Royalcommission.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "Election results in your area". The New Zealand Herald. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  26. ↑ "elections2010.co.nz". Elections2010.co.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "elections2010.co.nz". Elections2010.co.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  28. ↑ Bernard Orsman (4 November 2010). "Painting the big picture – in a positive way". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  29. ↑ Bernard Orsman (14 December 2010). "Mayor wins fight to set rate rise at 4.9 per cent". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  30. ↑ Bernard Orsman (10 November 2010). "Ex-mayor 'deflated' by minor position". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  31. ↑ "Community Safety Forum". Aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  32. ↑ "Accountability and Performance Committee". Aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  33. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  34. ↑ "C&R splits as members eye election spots". NZ Herald. 12 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  35. ↑ "Local elections 2013: Full Auckland results". NZ Herald. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  36. ↑ "Ward councillors". Aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  37. ↑ "The Auckland Plan – A first for Auckland". Auckland Council. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  38. ↑ "Auckland councillors bowing out". The New Zealand Herald. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  39. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  40. ↑ "North Shore Times Digital Edition". Northshoretimes.realviewdigital.com. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  41. ↑ "Auckland Council's Unitary Plan passed". NZ Herald. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  42. ↑ "North Shore Times Digital Edition". Northshoretimes.realviewdigital.com. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  43. ↑ Mt Albert Presbyterian church, 22 January 1972 m. Myra Grace Keucke
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of North Shore City
1998–2007		Succeeded by
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