I am speaking as a 3rd generation Aucklander who is ashamed and pissed off about the city at the moment and just want to have a rant!
I love living in Auckland. The only time in the past I have considered moving was when I got offered a job in Melbourne. Now however, I find myself looking at houses elsewhere - sell up and getting out of here.
Why don't we make Auckland a "super city" they said, that will make it better, they said..... Yeah good one. All I have seen since this happened is a massively increased rates bill!
This whole crap about rezoning suburbs so high rise apartments can be built is an absolute ****ing joke. Our mayor is a moron. Way to devalue hard working people's properties *****r. Areas that they want to do this has old character villas which will be knocked down by developers if this goes ahead.
Also, raising fuel tax and tolling roads just for auckland because of congestion - what a stupid idea! We don't have the public transport system (well a reliable one at least) as an alternative, so we will still just have to sit on the same ****ed roads, and be poorer for it! If Len Brown just gave up on his stupid inner city rail loop which will NEVER happen, and concentrated on making the public transport system we have reliable, maybe people would use it!!
Now, I have an easy way to elevate the predicted growth in the city. It may seem racist (which I am not), but hey.
When people immigrate to NZ now on, don't allow them to settle in Auckland! Go to Hamilton, Wellington, Dunedin, Palmerston North. That will help elevate the strain on Auckland, and help share the load.
But I think the saddest thing was when Jess went into town last Saturday night with a friend for the first time in a while. When she came home she said she wouldn't be doing that again as she didn't feel safe. She felt safer walking around New York and LA at night by her self then she did in Auckland City. I'm talking fights in the middle of intersections on Queen St and arseholes grabbing her arse as she walked down the street. She said the cops were doing there best with the fights, but since our government likes to cut police funding, there is only so much a couple of cops can do!
Well, there is my rant. Time to go earn some money so I can afford to use the motorway!!