Churches sell illicit tobacco, barbers join forces, and Aucklanders get Queen's Birthday honours

Neither Rome nor a climate-friendly Auckland were built in a day, but the first week of June has seen seismic activity that has shaken some pillars of old-world Auckland. First, about 1500 walkers and cyclists brushed past a police barrier and [crossed the vehicle-only Auckland Harbour Bridge]( demanding one of the eight lanes be handed over. The following day, a senior Waka Kotahi official publicly acknowledged for the first time that that work was underway. Four days later, after considerable work over many months in secret, the Government [announced it would spend $685 million]( building a parallel harbour bridge for cyclists and walkers. On the same day, one of the biggest roading projects on the books for Auckland - [the $3.5 billion Mill Rd arterial]( - was buried. The spending focus for new southern greenfields developments will instead be on access to new rail stations and line upgrades. Meanwhile, Auckland councillors formally put the “for sale” sign on the site housing a citadel for private motoring, the downtown car park building which has capacity for 2000 people. The hope is that redevelopment will create space for people and not vehicles. Each of these are decisions that will be hard for some to swallow. Committing $685 million to a single cycling and walking structure based on a belief in what the Auckland of the future should be is a big call. The response of building new roads when existing ones become congested has also been a largely unquestioned approach to managing how we get around. However, it is timely to remember what still lies ahead if Auckland is to deliver its pledge to halve its 2016 carbon emissions by 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2050. But unveiling the hardware that will enable Aucklanders to change the way they get around is only part of the challenge ahead - getting Aucklanders on board is the big job for decision-makers. Read more from Todd Niall here [Read more]( An [investigation is underway]( after a massive fire at a south Auckland car yard. The fire [started on Sunday afternoon]( at JCP Car Parts in Papakura and engulfed several buildings. A warning was sent to residents to stay inside and keep their windows closed, but that was later lifted. [Illicit tobacco sold in church fundraisers]( [Barbers join forces to help men open up about struggles]( [Minister who led community through Covid gets Queen's Service Medal]( [Locals believe 'danger is imminent' from house dangling over cliff]( You've received this email because you have opted in to receive Your Auckland from Stuff Did a friend forward this to you? [Sign up to get Your Auckland]( to your inbox [Unsubscribe]( [Newsletter Settings]( [Privacy Policy]( [Advertise]( [Feedback](