George Wood (New Zealand politician)

George Wood
CNZM

George Wood
4th Mayor of North Shore
In office
1998–2007
Preceded by George Gair
Succeeded by Andrew Williams
North Shore Ward Councillor
In office
1 November 2010 – 14 October 2016
Serving with Ann Hartley and Chris Darby
Preceded by Office established
Succeeded by Richard Hills
Personal details
Born 5 August 1946
Birkenhead
Nationality New Zealand
Spouse(s) Myra Wood
Children three
Occupation police officer (formerly)
Website www.georgewood.co.nz

George Sydney Wood, CNZM, (born 5 August 1946 in Birkenhead, New Zealand) is a former mayor of North Shore City and a former Auckland Councillor. He was the only North Shore mayor to be elected for three terms and later represented North Shore ward on the Auckland Council between 2010 and 2016. He is now the Deputy Chair of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.[1]

Early life

Wood was born in Birkenhead of the North Shore, in Auckland. He was educated at Birkdale Primary School, Northcote Intermediate School and Northcote College.[2]

Police career

Wood originally worked for the New Zealand Police, primarily as a crime investigations manager. As a Police investigator, he worked on many inquiries and served at various times in Auckland, Rotorua and Palmerston North. In his final years of service (1995–98), he was the manager of Police services within North Shore City.[3]

A graduate of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Command and Staff College[4] and the Australian Institute of Police Management Sydney[5] from where he gained a Graduate Certificate in Applied Management.

He is the recipient of a New Zealand Police long service and good conduct medal awarded in 1980.

Political career

Mayor of North Shore City

In October 1998 Wood was elected mayor of North Shore City following a fiercely contested election. Wood was able to bring together a new style of council administration with only three standing committees and all councillors members of these committees.[6]

During his three consecutive terms as mayor (1998–2007), Wood was most successful in melding the council together and pushed through major reforms in relation to sewerage (waste water) infrastructure improvements, revamping the strategic plan and long term funding programme for North Shore City and developing and building the Northern Busway project.[7][8]

Chairman of the Auckland Mayoral Forum

Following the 2001 local government elections Wood was elected to the position of chairman of the Auckland Mayoral Forum. In this role Wood pushed through a major joint programme between the Government and Auckland councils for transport funding.[9] This culminated in the Government passing the Local Government Auckland Amendment Act 2004 and the provision of an additional $1.6 billion of transport funding over the following ten years. This extra funding has resulted in huge improvements to the Auckland roading and public transport networks.[10]

Controversy

In April 2007, Wood acceded to pressure from Chinese officials not to attend an international cultural show by Divine Performing Arts, which contained scenes depicting the oppression of people who practice the Falun Gong spiritual system.[11][12][13]

Wood was planning to attend the show with his wife, but after a phone call from the Chinese Consular General's office he backed out, and was quoted as saying:

I don't want to get involved in internal People's Republic of China politics but I also want to maintain a reasonable relationship with the People's Republic of China. They said that [the show] was involved in Falun Gong, they indicated Falun Gong, and I don't know what the true impact of that is, but it obviously has some concerns for them.
I had indicated that I probably would go to the show, but I'm not going to cause an international kerfuffle by going to something that I don't know anything about. I don't know anything about the Falun Gong or whatever it means. I am a mayor of a city not an international diplomat and I haven't really got the time to analyse the thing out.[14]

Hiatus from political office

Wood stood for a fourth term as an independent mayoralty candidate in the 2007 North Shore City elections but was defeated by Andrew Williams.

In the period since the October 2007 election Wood has worked behind the scenes on a number of projects mainly relating to transport. He is particularly vocal over the need to upgrade or replace the Auckland Harbour Bridge.[15] Wood has also strongly urged the improvement of public transport across the Auckland region whilst at the same time warning about the huge escalation in operational costs.[16] In 2009, in the lead up to the formation of Auckland Council, he questioned whether the new Auckland mayor would be able to control the proposed Auckland Transport Agency under the new proposed model.[17]

Wood was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to local body affairs in the New Year Honours 2008.

Involvement in Auckland local government reform

In 2006, Wood indicated his support for the amalgamation of Auckland's seven city councils and boards into one 'supercity' Auckland council.[18] Wood was one of four mayors who asked Prime Minister Helen Clark to reform the Auckland region's local government in September 2006. Subsequently the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance was formed to enquire into the future of local government across the Auckland region.

Wood submitted to the Commission with Wyn Hoadley.[19] Their submission was well received by the three commissioners and received a positive report in the NZ Herald.[20]

Wood and Hoadley called for one Auckland council across the region with a mayor elected at large, 13 elected and 5 appointed specialist councillors and 13 boroughs to replace the existing councils and community boards. They also recommended that an Environmental Protection Agency be appointed.[21]

The high level of debt that the seven territorial councils and the Auckland Regional Council would bring to the new council, along with the negativity by existing councils, was a major concern to Wood.[22] The figure of $3 billion debt that the new Auckland council will need to deal with has been quoted in the media.[23]

Wood was concerned as to how the report of the Royal Commissioners on Auckland Governance[24] would be implemented. He believed it should be a report delivered on a broad front and not implemented in a piecemeal manner.

Auckland Council

Auckland Council
Years Ward Affiliation
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 is now the chairman of the Auckland Council's Regional Strategy and Policy committee. This is a committee of the whole of council, meaning that it consists 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, has been a major interest for Wood.[37]

Wood announced in early August 2016 that he would not stand for Auckland Council in the 2016 local elections, but for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.[38] He did not stand for re-election to Auckland Council, 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] He has three adult children and five grandchildren. Wood is a keen supporter of North Harbour sports teams,[44] enjoys spending time with his family and helping community groups. He is also a full-time member of the Takapuna Rotary club, and in the 2009/10 Rotary year was the club's president.[45] His father Oliver Wood operated a trucking business.[46] Wood senior was a councillor on the Birkenhead Borough Council between 1959 and 1968, serving as the deputy mayor.[47]

References

  1. ↑ "Contact Devonport-Takapuna Local Board". www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "Friends of Northcote College". Northcote.pastpupils.net. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  3. ↑ Julie Middleton (8 February 2006). "Old foes at Hughes farewell". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". 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
  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. 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. ↑ "Epoch Times | Chinese Consulate Interferes With Cultural Show". En.epochtimes.com. 4 April 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ "N Shore Mayor succumbs to China Consulate pressure | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Ex-mayor claims 'veil of secrecy' over effect of future harbour crossing". The New Zealand Herald. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  16. ↑ "George Wood: Upgrading metro rail system incurs huge cost". The New Zealand Herald. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  17. ↑ "City will not control key roles". The New Zealand Herald. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  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.
  34. ↑ "C&R splits as members eye election spots". NZ Herald. 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.
  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
  44. ↑ Birkenhead/Northcote Rugby Club player and supporter since 1957
  45. ↑ "Rotary Club of Takapuna Inc – District 9910 Inc". rotary.org.nz. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  46. ↑ Beach Haven Transport which amalgamated with G&K Mills to become Bridge Freighters Ltd (Bridge Freight)
  47. ↑ Fisher, Muriel and Hilder, Wenman. (1969). Birkenhead: the kauri suburb, Birkenhead: Birkenhead Borough Counci
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