Shore Action

Shore Action
Logo used in 2016 Campaign
Council Candidate	Grant Gillon
Council Candidate	Anne-Elise Smithson
Founded	1 January 2013 (1 January 2013)
Merger of	Team of Independents
Political position	Centre-left
Colours	Purple
North Shore Ward Councillors	0 / 2
Devonport-Takapuna Local Board	2 / 6
Kaipātiki Local Board	4 / 8
Birkenhead Licensing Trust	1 / 6
Website
https://www.facebook.com/ShoreAction/

Shore Action is a political ticket which contests the boards and council seats in the North Shore Ward of the Auckland Council.^[1] They have a strong focus on retention of local assets and investment in local environment, along with a focus on local participation in local body politics.

Grant Gillon, a former Alliance Party MP, and AUT lecturer, along with Anne-Elise Smithson, a Community Development Coordinator for the Children's Autism Foundation, contested the North Shore Ward Seat on the Auckland City Council.^[2] The wider team contested the local boards on the North Shore Ward.

While neither Gillon or Smithson won the Council seats for the ward, Shore Action did win seats on the Devonport-Takapuna and Kaipātiki Local Boards, and the Birkenhead Licensing Trust.

Policies

Shore Action wishes to retain the Takapuna Beach Holiday Park, stopping development on the area for a Marine Reserve. They also wish to stop any developments occurring to the Anzac St Carpark and keep it in its current state.^[2]

They wish to invest in various environmental services by increasing volunteer networks, which they believe will aid in pest reduction and the reduction of pollution of bushes and waterways. Throughout the instrumentation of their policies they aim to keep their voters and ratepayers adequately informed. They also have a focus on better public transport, advocating for easing congestion on Lake Road as well as highlighting a need for heritage protection.^[2]

To ensure the conservation of North Shore's playgrounds and children, Shore Action advocated for shadsails to be put up over all playgrounds in the area; the protection from the sun would allow the playgrounds to last longer and prevent the risk of skin cancer in children.

Elected representatives

Current representatives

Shore Action holds seats on the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, Kaipātiki Local Board, and the Birkenhead Licensing Trust.

• Grant Gillon - Devonport-Takapuna Local Board
• Jan O'Connor - Devonport-Takapuna Local Board
• Anne-Elise Smithson - Kaipātiki Local Board
• John Gillon - Kaipātiki Local Board
• Paula Gillon - Kaipātiki Local Board, and Birkenhead Licensing Trust
• Adrian Tyler - Kaipātiki Local Board

Former representatives

• Lorene Pigg - Kaipātiki Local Board 2013-2016 (Team of Independents)

2013 local body elections

Many of those who contested the 2016 local elections for Shore Action had contested the 2013 local elections under the ticket 'Team of Independents' alongside Grant and John Gillon. Shore Action holds the same values as 'Team of Independents'; Shore Action came as a rebranding of the same issues. Shore Action retains a focus within the North Shore Ward, whereas Team of Independents supported a candidate beyond the North Shore for the Upper Harbour Local Board.

Of the two candidates that ran for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board both were elected. However, only three of the four which ran for the Kaipātiki Local Board won. The only candidate to contest the Upper Harbour Local Board, did not win. Gillon did not win his council bid, and came fourth in his attempt to win one of the two seats.

2013 local body election results for Team of Independents

The following are the 2013 local body election results for Team of Independents.^[3]

2016 local body elections

Auckland Council - North Shore ward

Grant Gillon ran alongside Anne-Elise Smithson to contest the 2 available seats on the council. Both failed to win, however Gillon came a very close third to Richard Hills who won the seat. He received 12,523 to Hills 12,651.^[4] Smithson came in fifth on 5,967, behind Auckland Future's Danielle Grant.^[4]

With neither Gillon or Smithson receiving first or second, Shore Action had no candidates elected to the Council.

Devonport-Takapuna local board

Gillon also ran for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, already serving on the board, he was re-elected with 7,640 votes, coming in third of six candidates. After the board initially sat, Gillon was elected Chair.^[4]

Jan O'Connor, a 'Team of Independents' incumbent on the board stood for re-election and won, coming in fourth on 6,688 votes.^[4]

Of the five candidates for six seats, only Gillon and O'Connor were successful. Trish Deans, Rohan Lord, and Garry Venus were not elected.

Kaipātiki local board

Like Gillon in Devonport-Takapuna, Smithson ran for the Kaipātiki Local Board. She was elected coming in seventh at 7,014.^[4]

John and Paula Gillon, Grant Gillon's son and daughter, were also elected to the board receiving 10,766 and 8,921 respectively coming in third and forth.^[4] John Gillon, a 'Team of Independents' candidate was re-elecetd to the board, was then elected Deputy Chair of the board, serving alongside Auckland Future's Danielle Grant who was elected Chair.^[5] Paula Gillon, also ran as Shore Actions only candidate for the Birkenhead Licensing Trust, she received 5,012 coming first and won one of the six available seats.^[6]

Adrian Tyler was also elected to the board receiving 6,934 votes.^[4]

Of the six candidates for eight seats, both Sarah Nilson and Lisa Ducat were not elected.

2016 local body election results for Shore Action

Upon winning a seat on the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, Grant Gillon was elected Chair at the board's first meeting.^[7] John Gillon, was elected Kaipātiki Local Board Deputy Chair at the first meeting.^[5]

References