Desley Simpson Ward: Orakei

Road to City Hall

Began more than 140 years ago when her great-greatuncle Sir Henry Brett served as an Auckland City councillor and became the sixth mayor of the city. Down the generations, her family have served in public office. Husband Peter Goodfellow is president of the National Party. Affectionately known as Lady Penelope for wearing bright outfits, Simpson has been a committed and popular chair of the Orakei Local Board for six years and relishes politics. Mentors include former Auckland City Mayor John Banks, who taught her to put people first, taught her about fiscal constraint and fostered a desire in her to make a difference. She replaced Cameron Brewer, who stood down in Orakei.

Maiden speech

Spoke about her deep family connections to public service in Auckland, the third-term Auckland Council being one of real progress and making the Super City model really work. She reiterated the message on the hustings for council to do more with less.

Top quote

“Aucklanders want to see value for the rates they pay, and more often than not, they don’t.”

Hopes and aspirations

Wants to make change really happen this term, starting with governance and ensuring local boards are an important ingredient in the one Auckland Council. Believes ratepayers cannot be the only ones to fund billions of dollars worth of infrastructure and wants to tap into people prepared to push things along. Wants to know what investment has been made where over the past six years. Not impressed with trust in council, wants more honesty and less hiding behind weasel words.

Five things I love about Auckland

1. The people and their diversity, all 191 ethnicities of them. They are what drives me to do what I do and deliver sound governance. 2. Our beaches, particularly those in Orakei. 3. Our sparkling harbours which host visitors via cruise ships, recreational boaties and those who fish, paddleboard, kite surf and sail. 4. Our parks and reserves, such as Selwyn Reserve in Mission Bay, which are so important in a growing city. 5. The fact Auckland is able to compete on a global scale where talent and enterprise can flourish and where it’s easy to do business locally, nationally and internationally.