Born 57 years ago at the foot of Maungakiekie, I know and love Auckland City as well as anyone. Raised and educated by a business family in the Eastern Suburbs my home of the last 20 years is in Avondale.
I have lived and worked in many parts Auckland from Murrays Bay and Glenfield in the North to Papatoetoe in the South.
I bring a vision of us living in the best city in the world; let’s add detail to that together! With a 1st class Masters in Politics from The University of Auckland in 1996 I have the capacity for oversight of this super city. My specialty is conflict resolution with a particular focus on issues of culture and I am an expert in building consensus as well as being a strong and effective Chairperson.
My knowledge, experience and wisdom come with no baggage; I have never belonged to a political party.

Top 5 Issues

1. Healthy environments.
2. Wise use of resources
3. Transport
4. Community developments
5. Mental health

Personal Profile

I went to Remuera Primary and Intermediate schools and then to Selwyn College. A little about my early years is revealed in this 'Breakfast' interview:

http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/owning-new-zealand-s-first-tv-sets-3573710

I was raised a 50's girl to be a good wife and mother by working class parents who both left school at age 12. My mother was a seamstress before becoming the perfect stay-at-home mum. My father was into electronics in a big way, building the first TV transmitter here in 1957.

No one in my family had ever had a tertiary education and my intellectual abilities went unrecognised. After a few years of filing, reception work and credit control I decided to better my opportunities by sitting the entrance examination for University.

I studied for double-honours in Political Studies and Philosophy at Otago before leaving after year 2 to run a community work programme with the Salvation Army and the Inter-Church Trade and Industry Mission.

Returning to my hometown, Auckland, I was involved in the development of the Youth Resource Centre in Wellesley Street and was their representative on the Auckland Youth Council.   My Rarotongan partner moved home to work for her local media and I had a few years of devotion to a performing arts co-operative. We took our skills and equipment to rural areas, set up in marae and shared with whoever wanted to learn, as well as running workshops in various performing arts.

We came to rest at the Mangataipa marae and I didn't leave Northland for a decade, returning to Auckland in 1990 with my 3 year old son.

Ko Ari Baker taana ingoa me ko Katorangi Beazley te whaaea o taana paapaa.

Ka ako ahau te reo o nga rangitira ki te whare waananga o Taamaki-Makaurau ingari inaianei taaku koorero he koretake me ka whakamaa ahau.

While living up north I remained involved with community projects, including the local High School's music department. I worked at the local library while building my own house.

Two years after returning to Auckland my son started school and I returned to university, graduating in 1996 into a difficult employment environment.

I took on the role of Chair of our local school board which became a steep learning curve as I entered the role at a time the school was facing uniquely difficult circumstances requiring strong leadership.

Avondale is a cosmopolitan area in which people from many cultures live happily as neighbours and I am able to work with those from any culture, of any age, gender or ability. My interest is in the well-being of all and in the sanctity of life.