John Watson (New Zealand politician)

John Watson is a New Zealand politician who is a councillor on the Auckland Council.

Education and early years

Watson has lived in Hibiscus Coast and East Coast Bays his entire life. He attended Westlake Boys High School, where he served as head boy, captain of 1st XI cricket, and a member of 1st XV rugby and athletics. He graduated from the University of Auckland with an M.A. (Hons) in history[1] and worked as a secondary school teacher.[2]

Political and community involvement
Auckland Council
Years Ward Affiliation
2013–16 Albany Putting People First
2016–19 Albany Putting People First
2019–22 Albany Putting People First
2022–present Albany Putting People First

Watson has served as the President of the WRRA, the Trustee of Whangaparaoa Community Trust, a Rodney District Councillor and as a Hibiscus & Bays local board member.[1]

A Rodney District councillor, Watson stood at the 2010 Auckland Council elections alongside Wayne Walker, finishing fourth.[2]

He stood again in the 2013 Auckland Council elections and was this time elected as an Albany ward councillor.[3][4] He was also re-elected to the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, standing for "People & Penlink First".[5] Penlink is a proposed road that will improve transport links to the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

In his first term as an Auckland Councillor, Watson worked to reduce Auckland Council's spending and restrict rates increases by restricting the business-class air travel of councillors to health grounds only[6] and voting against the controversial 10 year budget on 25 June 2015, which included a transport levy and 9.95% rates increase.[7] He has also worked to improve transportation, improve and increase sports facilities[8] and reserves, protect Auckland's heritage and environment and increase communication with Auckland residents. While Watson works together with Walker, they often differ in their positions, as when they voted differently on passing the 10 year budget.[9]

Watson and Walker were both re-elected during the 2016 Auckland elections.[10] They were both re-elected again in 2019,[11] and provisionally in 2022.[12]

Awards

Watson has been awarded two Royal Society of NZ Teachers Fellowships, for producing a written account of a bomber crew who perished during World War II, and a written and oral history of Whangaparaoa.[1]

References
  1. "John Watson". Putting People First. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  2. "Albany Ward – John Watson". Localmatters. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  3. Walters, Laura. "Rates hike for some Aucklanders". Auckland Now. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  4. "Putting People First". Putting People First. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  5. "John Watson – People & Penlink First". Peopleandpenlinkfirst.co.nz. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  6. Orsman, Bernard (25 July 2014). "Auckland Councillors keep travel perk". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  7. Sergel, Michael (25 June 2015). "Auckland Council approves controversial new budget". Newstalk ZB. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  8. Watson, John (17 March 2015). "John Watson: Stadium policy should be knocked for six". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  9. Slade, Maria (25 June 2015). "Auckland's Long Term Plan budget is passed". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  10. "Archived copy" (PDF). www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "2019 local elections final results – Mayor, ward councillors, local board members" (PDF). Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  12. "Ward councillor progress results". Retrieved 9 October 2022.
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