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Ex-journo chases community board seat By NIC DALEY Monday, 16 April 2007 • Howick and Pakuranga Times AFTER years of neutrality, former journalist Kaine Henderson is jumping off the fence and announcing his entry to local body elections. Former Howick and Pakuranga Times journalist Kaine Henderson is standing in local body elections this year. Times photo Nic Daley. The former Times civic affairs reporter will stand for the Pakuranga Community Board in the October poll. “In all, I have worked with Manukau City Council residents, staff and elected representatives for 10 years as a reporter,” he says. “I have sat on the fence with many issues and told both sides of the story.” He says it’s now time to make a difference first hand, as a community board member. “I have witnessed the frustrations of residents and I want to work with them, as well as council staff, to get solutions and progress this rapidly growing city.” Mr Henderson, who will stand as an independent, wants to tackle a number of citywide and local issues. “We must manage growth so infrastructure is in place and Manukau’s heritage is maintained.” Other citywide issues include rates and transport, he says. “Rates increases are unavoidable if we are to provide infrastructure and cater for the immense growth, however any increase should be inflation-based and the frivolous spending stopped.” A supporter of early AMETI (Auckland-Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative) plans, he’s keenly awaiting the outcome of community consultation. Locally he cites graffiti, boy racers and treasuring the area’s coastline as issues to cover. “The Western part of Pakuranga, across the road from Westfield Pakuranga and up to East Tamaki, is in dire need of improvements.” Mr Henderson also advocates further improvements around the town centre. “This is the heart of Pakuranga and must be inviting for people to use.” Since leaving the Times Mr Henderson has edited a newspaper in Orewa and run a wedding photography business. He recently started a three-year Bachelor of Education at the University of Auckland. The 32-year-old recognises a need to work closely with Howick and Botany-Clevedon community boards, “who share a common cause – working for the eastern suburbs”. “Although a part of a bigger Manukau City, we are united on many fronts and must support each other to benefit all eastern residents.” Ratepayers are essentially the council’s employers and have every right to make demands, he says. “I intend to give them more bang for their buck as a Pakuranga Community Board member with a lot of energy and fresh ideas.”