'Too risky' to change Covid-19 alert level settings, as two school cases announced

[padding] [If you are unable to view this message correctly, click here]( [padding] [stuff header]( [spacer] [padding] Hi {NAME}, It would be easy to miss the significance of the new plan to boost the size and number of Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses in south and west Auckland. A multi-pronged approach to accelerating a recycling and green economy sector is part of a pitch for $60 million from the Government in next year's budget. The proposal, to be unveiled late on Monday morning, has been developed by a small team in Auckland Council’s Community and Social Innovation unit, the re-brand of the Southern and Western Initiatives. For a moment, it seems a lot of money, but only for a moment. In the heady early days of the Auckland Council which arose from the 2010 amalgamation, there were several agreed strategic priorities. One was to get a green light for the transformative City Rail Link project. Another was The Southern Initiative (TSI). TSI was the most ambitious social and economic aspiration ever adopted by local government to link arms with the government and lift the quality of life in the poorer southern suburbs. The government of the day was not interested in the scale of the ambition, or sharing the job of delivering it. TSI eventually re-set into an effective community level initiative helping those in most need of help. The proposal to create a network of green economy businesses providing skilled jobs for those in the most deprived urban communities returns to the initial ambition of TSI. The $60 million budget bid is seen as a catalyst that would attract far more private investment. Is it a lot of money? The government has happily spent $51 million (and rising) on a dedicated cycling and walking bridge over the Waitematā Harbour, which it now won’t build. It spent $70 million through and after the first Covid-19 lockdown to ease the financial burden on Auckland ratepayers of the slump in revenue on public transport. The bid to finally deliver part of the promise to Māori and Pasifika in south and west Auckland deserves a decent shot. [padding] [user profile pic] [padding] Todd Niall [padding] Senior Stuff Journalist [padding] [spacer] [padding] [See more Auckland news]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][Watch this video now]( [spacer] Survey: How do you feel about Auckland's Delta lockdown? [spacer] Auckland is entering a new phase of this Delta outbreak. The city is now part of one the world’s longest lockdowns. There is a new Covid-19 [traffic alert level system]( and a target of [90 per cent fully vaccinated]( in order to start it. We want to know what you think about the Covid-19 situation, what your concerns are, and how you rate the Government’s response. This is a[quick survey]( and will only take a couple of minutes to complete! We really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. The survey will close on Monday evening, [click here]( to take the survey now. [spacer] [Read More]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] More Auckland stories you might have missed [spacer][separator] [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Macleans College]( [spacer] Mt Albert Grammar School student and Macleans College staffer test positive for Covid [spacer] [Read more button]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Covid-19 testing station]( [spacer] Increase in cases expected, 'too risky' to change Auckland restrictions - experts [spacer] [Read more button]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Young woman walks through underpass] [spacer] Teenagers left homeless without support for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder [spacer] [Read more button]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Jet Park Hotel] [spacer] Police trying to locate two positive cases who absonded Auckland MIQ on Saturday [spacer] [Read more button]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [padding] [spacer][Support Stuff]( [spacer] [padding] Discover more at [spacer] [stuff logo] [spacer] [www.stuff.co.nz/auckland]( [padding] [spacer][footer bar] [padding] [spacer] You are receving this email because you are a opted in to receive the Your Auckland newsletter from Stuff. [Unsubscribe]( [Manage your profile]( [Privacy Policy]( Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up to get Your Auckland in your inbox]( Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland, 1021, New Zealand [spacer] [padding]