Sharon Stewart (politician)

Sharon Stewart is a New Zealand politician who is an Auckland Councillor for the Howick ward.

Councillor
Sharon Stewart
Howick Ward councillor
Assumed office
31 October 2010
Serving with Maurice Williamson
Preceded byPosition created

She is also the chair of Auckland Council's Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee. Stewart assumed the role in 2013.[1]

Political career
Auckland Council
Years Ward Affiliation
2010–2013 Howick Independent
2013–2016 Howick Independent
2016–2019 Howick Independent
2019–2022 Howick Independent
2022–present Howick Independent

She was awarded the Queen's Service Medal (QSM) in 1998 for services to Howick.[2] Stewart served on the Manukau City Council for twelve years, between 1998 and 2010. The councillor was instrumental in helping aid New Zealand rescue efforts in the 1999 Jiji earthquake.[3][4] On the Manukau council, she was an advocate against 3G cell tower construction, in her local area, on the basis of decreased property values and "health risk[s]".[5][6]

In the 2010 Auckland Council elections, Stewart won a seat on the Auckland Council, topping the poll in the Howick ward.[2]

Prior to being elected an Auckland councillor, she opposed the naming of her ward seat, which originally had been named 'Te Irirangi' after the area's principal Māori chief prior to European colonisation.[7] Stewart organised a petition to instead name the ward 'Howick', which was successful.[8] She was reelected unopposed in 2013. She was again re-elected in the 2016 Auckland elections.[9] She was again re-elected in the 2019 Auckland elections.

Between 2010 and 2019, Stewart opposed denser housing in discussion around the Auckland Unitary Plan,[10] as well as rate rises.[11] During debate over the Unitary Plan, she attracted controversy by suggesting that potential requirements to consult with Māori were "undemocratic" and a "form of economic and social apartheid".[12][13] The councillor stood on the self-dubbed "B Team" in opposition to the leadership of Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.[14]

In the run-up to the 2019 Auckland elections, the New Zealand Herald opined that the councillor made little contribution to council discussions and that Stewart would be better suited as a member of the Howick Local Board.[15] In that year, she supported the prioritisation of the Reeves Road Flyover roading project instead of the Eastern Busway public transport project.[16]

In March 2022, Stewart was the only councillor to vote against the council's Regional Streets for People programme which would give money to walking and cycling infrastructure projects.[17] Stewart has advocated for higher-quality pavement due to personal experiences – known as her "war on footpaths".[18][19][20] Meanwhile, in June 2022, she said high-density, affordable housing should be built in rural areas like Glenbrook, instead of within existing central isthmus suburbs amid a debate over special character area housing provisions. Stewart said: "We should be building where the blue-collar want to work – if they want to work."[21]

References
  1. "Minute Item Attachments of Extraordinary Meeting of the Governing Body - 29 October 2013". infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  2. Stewart and Ross for Auckland Council Howick and Pakuranga Times, 9 October 2010
  3. Tan, Lincoln (17 September 2019). "Reunion to mark 20th anniversary of 1999 Taiwan earthquake and NZ's rescue efforts". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  4. Master, Farida (10 October 2019). "Strong bond that came out of disaster". Times. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  5. "Cell towers don't affect property values, says researcher". NZ Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  6. Bowen, Matt (27 July 2009). "Cell towers not wanted". Stuff. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  7. "Brian Rudman: Sorry, Howick supporters, but your history is against you". NZ Herald. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  8. "Howick: Name game over – now who will lead". NZ Herald. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  9. "Auckland Council" (PDF). Auckland Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  10. Orsman, Bernard (18 September 2013). "Zoning 'horrifies' councillor". ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  11. "Mayoral and Council candidates sign rates pledge". www.scoop.co.nz. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  12. "Fight over Māori reps' right to debate Akl Unitary Plan". RNZ. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  13. "Councillors' votes up in air because of their opinions". RNZ. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  14. Orsman, Bernard (13 September 2019). "Phil Goff's critics planning to take control of council after local body elections". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  15. Orsman, Bernard; Wilson, Simon (30 August 2019). "How good are they? We rate the Auckland councillors". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  16. "Auckland's $1.4b Eastern Busway project isn't without its critics". interest.co.nz. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  17. "Genuine Streets for People". Greater Auckland. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  18. Master, Farida (18 February 2020). "Pavement problems: Sharon Stewart trips and falls flat on her nose". Times. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  19. Taylor, P. J. (15 September 2016). "Councillor trip and falls on campaign trail". Stuff. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  20. Staff (24 January 2018). "Councillors take charge of Howick ward upkeep". Times. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  21. "The war of the villas: Inside Auckland Council's big decision this week". NZ Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
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