Auckland's first all-Māori cricket team and the 'secret' tunnels beneath Maungauika-North Head

[If you are unable to view this message correctly, click here]( [stuff header]( Hi {NAME},  It was almost five weeks out from the [October 8 election day]( when someone in the [Auckland mayoral race]( lit the [rates rise fuse](. Once a staple ingredient, the great “how much will you put rates up by?” question looked like it might never surface. Labour and Greens-endorsed [Efeso Collins left the door open.]( Collins has made passing references to rates as a proportion of household income, being well below what is measured in one formula as “affordable”. It’s an academic way of talking that is removed from the way most people see their rates bills and is so esoteric that finally [“The Fixer” Wayne Brown accused Colli]( of being comfortable with an almost doubling of rates till they hit the 5% “affordability” mark. This is not a time to bring out the hoary old rates chestnut and perhaps unwittingly the [Taxpayers’ Union offshoot]( the Auckland Ratepayers Alliance, has best illustrated that. The activists who once pedalled a 2% rates pledge for candidates to sign up to are now floating a 2022 version, seeking a guarantee candidates won’t support anything above the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the official measure of [household inflation](. [The CPI is running at 7.3%]( [a global phenomenon.]( If it stays (it may rise) it would give those elected ARA’s blessing to raise rates by nearly twice the previous Auckland Council record. Even in its day, 2016, the ideological war between the 2 per centers and the 2.5s was silly. Much of [Auckland’s infrastructure]( catch-up in water and stormwater stems from politicians who historically spent what was politically sellable, rather than what the city needed. Despite silly campaign talk of the council being “broke” or “losing three million dollars a day”, its [finances by most measures are solid]( except when compared to how it was [pre-Covid-19](. Auckland has huge and urgent challenges, such as [shifting the dial on global warming]( and trying to maintain infrastructure investment despite a reduced allocation in this years budget. [Wayne Brown]( who constantly tells audiences that it’s all about “the numbers”, had been wise enough to avoid hanging his hat on a rates rise number. Mayoral candidates should avoid the rate trap and focus clearly on what needs to be done, what in their view doesn’t and how it will be paid for. Rates will be just a part of that strategy. [user profile pic] Todd Niall Senior Stuff Journalist [See more Auckland news]( [Privacy Info]( [Privacy Info]( [Watch this video now] Could one of Auckland's landmarks be hiding a secret? Some tunnels underneath Maungauika-North Head don't exist officially. But a number of Aucklanders grew up playing in them and believe that they are there. The sealed tunnels might be hiding old ammunition or maybe even planes, activists think. But the Department of Conservation and Defence Force say there are no "hidden" or "undiscovered" tunnels. [Read More]( [Privacy Info]( More Auckland stories you might have missed [Article Image] Tongan language week begins, focusing on nurturing language [Read more button]( [Article Image] Auckland trauma counsellor worried proposed crossing will trigger her patients [Read more button]( [Article Image] Efeso Collins wants more co-working hubs to shorten commutes [Read more button]( [Article Image] Auckland's first all-Māori cricket team set to take on Cook Islands [Read more button]( [Support Stuff]( [Discover more Auckland news at Stuf]( You are receiving this email because you are opted in to receive the Your Auckland newsletter. [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