I’ve been appointed deputy chair of the Economic Development Forum, chaired by Councillor Arthur Anae. It’s just about a full circle for Arthur and I. In the late 1990s I was his assigned parliamentary press secretary when he was an MP promoting Pacific Island issues and I was in the National Party’s Research Unit.
The role fits in well with my chairmanship of the Business Advisory Panel and I’m also chair of the District Plan and Urban Design Forum.
A big part of the our economic development responsibilities are the region’s 44 BIDs or business associations. And of course I ran the Newmarket Business Association for five years which is Auckland’s second largest BID. So it’s a bit of a home coming really.
Rest assured voters, these days I’m spending much more time promoting Orakei’s three BID areas – Remuera (pictured), Ellerslie, and St Heliers.
Very good news to see someone on Auckland Council’s ED Forum who has direct knowledge of ED including for our urban centres – congratulations Cameron.