An east Auckland resident has taken the rare step of publicly thanking one of their local elected representatives for their help in solving an irritating problem.
Well-known Pakuranga local Dave Upfold addressed the Howick Local Board’s members during their most recent business meeting.
He said if someone does something outstanding or does their job properly, they should be thanked for it.
“When I go back to my place, over the past few years, I’ve been trying to get poplar trees cut down, trying to get a dangerous hazard which is growing on towards bamboo, trying to get Auckland Council or council members, and this is council-owned land, but not council-maintained.”
Upfold said he tried to get the bamboo removed, but a council contractor said it was unable to do it due to the risk of tree falling onto a worker and that being a health and safety hazard.
He said he then contacted a member of the Howick Local Board, who asked him to email them photos of the problematic bamboo and they’d see what they can do.
“I got a letter back saying, ‘your query has been withdrawn’,” Upfold said.
“It was pass-the-parcel. This person sent another email, and within days council contractors were there, Ventia was there, taking out the bamboo.
“Everyone was happy, even my neighbours couldn’t believe that I could get something done which they’d been trying to achieve for months.
“And that particular person … happens to be Bo Burns. Two emails and that was done, and I would like to thank her personally on behalf of the community I stay in.
“Do your job well and people do recognise the good work, so a big ‘thank you’ to Bo Burns.”
Burns was deputy-chair of the Howick Local Board during its previous term but left the board when she was elected to Auckland Council in the Howick ward at the local elections in October last year.
She wasn’t physically present in the board’s meeting room when Upfold expressed this thanks, but was taking part in the meeting online from her council office in Auckland CBD.
She said she wanted to respond to what Upfold had said and thanked him for his kind words.
“I know I spoke to [board member] Damian [Light] and there were other board members who supported getting that sorted for you.
“One thing I’d like to reply to you on is the importance of people not just keyboard-warrioring or talking about it, but actually investing the time to do what you did and contact us.
“It’s really important, because on an operational side of things the board and councillors can’t do anything unless you contact us via email.
“So thanks for taking the time to do that and I’m glad the board and Ventia and I could help out, so all the best and we’ll keep in touch, thank you.”
- Disclosure: Bo Burns is the owner of the Eastern Times.
