John Watson is a family man with 3 children. He understands the different communities of the Shore and has longstanding family, sporting and work connections with this entire ward.

John has experience as a Rodney District councillor. He fronted campaigns protecting valuable community assets and advancing community safety. Action not just talk. John stands for honest, open and fair leadership with community and family values. 

John has held numerous leadership positions in a number of community and sporting organisations. He was head boy at Westlake. He’s been a secondary teacher at several Shore schools including Albany, currently on a Royal Society Fellowship researching Whangaparaoa’s history. 

John wants an end to the yearly cycle of rate increases, a much improved transport network, safer communities with enhanced facilities for all ages and environmental protection.

A vote for John Watson will deliver you a strong, experienced and independent councillor who will put people first. 

John is standing along with Wayne Walker  as ‘Putting People First’.

 

Top 5 Issues

1. RATES
   
   The original selling point for the‘Super city’ was increased efficiencies and reduced costs- that original justification has disappeared off the radar. ‘Reduced costs to ratepayers’ needs to be put firmly back on the agenda. That means an end to the continuous cycle of rate increases year after year - people cannot afford them !
   
2. TRANSPORT ENHANCEMENTS & COMMUNITY FACILITIES
   
   This whole ward is growing... and fast – it needs community and recreational facilities to keep apace. We believe that this is an important part of the Council’s business – it’s what binds communities together and adds to our quality of life. It also needs an integrated transport system that will serve Auckland’s needs well into the future, that has to be all of Auckland and as far as the North Shore goes it can build on the already significant investment in the infrastructure established by the Northern busway.
   
3. SAFER COMMUNITIES
   
   Initiatives are required to make our communities safer to live in. This is a recurrent concern across the ward. Vandalism and anti-social behaviour are both a financial and a social cost. In other parts of Auckland innovative responses have been successful in combating behaviour that impacts negatively on people’s lives.
   
4. ENVIRONMENT
   
   Protecting and enhancing our natural environment is important – now and for future generations. Water quality at our beaches and in our streams must be maintained at the highest standard. As this area continues to grow more playing fields, open space and bush reserves will be required for our communities
   
5. ECONOMIC GROWTH
   
   Local businesses and employment need to be encouraged with strategic planning – so do 'work from home' opportunities. The real potential for sustained economic growth needs to be harnessed in those areas zoned for commercial/light industrial activities for the employment opportunities essential to our residents of all ages.
   

Personal Profile

I certainly don’t pretend to have all the answers. What I do bring, however, is the ability to process information, ask pertinent questions (both from within and without the council) and to make decisions based on a reasoned and fair assessment of the options. I’ll do my homework and try to come up with an intelligent understanding of any given issue that arises. I’ve never just followed the party line for the sake of an easy life. If there are concerns to be raised in the public interest I will raise them and keep on raising them.

 

I don’t have any links to vested interests or political parties who I am beholden to. My priority is the interests of ‘ordinary’ residents, you know the ones  ...all those people whose rates and taxes actually fund councils.  That’s why I’m in ‘Putting People First’ along with Wayne Walker.

 

Settled on North Shore in 1961.

Head Boy Westlake Boys High School 1977

Attended Auckland University

Graduated with an M.A (Hons) in History (1981)

Captain of Northcote Rugby Club’s U 19’s, U 20’s and U 21 teams

Played in Birkenhead Cricket Club’s Premier team 1976- 1980, Grafton Cricket Club 1981-1987. Played for Northcote Tigers Rugby League Club 1982-1988

Premier team captain of Northcote Tigers 198

Hibiscus Coast Cricket Club 1988- 2007 Captain 1989- 95

 1983 - 2003: Teacher of English and History at Glenfield College (1983 – 2004)

Dean of Forms 3-7, Outdoor Education Co-ordinator, Project ‘K’ Director, Liberal Studies Director, coach of numerous sporting teams in rugby, cricket and rugby league.

 2002: Awarded a Royal Society of NZ Teachers Fellowship

President of the Whangaparaoa Ratepayers Association 2003

Appointed to Whangaparaoa Community Trust 2004

2004 - 2007: Elected as a Rodney District Councillor

2008:  English teacher at Albany Junior High School

2010: Awarded a Royal Society of NZ Teachers Fellowship to produce a written and  oral history of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula