Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up, fundraising campaign hits $3m and Auckland's most expensive ice creams, ranked

[If you are unable to view this message correctly, click here]( [stuff header]( Hi {NAME}, Can Auckland fix today’s problems without creating new ones for tomorrow? It is natural for the biggest, most recent events to dominate thinking and debate about what Tāmaki Makaurau’s top priorities are. Restoring storm-hit communities, [repairing roads and essential utilities]( and getting the dislodged into good permanent housing are immediate must-dos. But a top priority is just that: the task at the top of the list, rather than being the only thing on the list that [Auckland needs to manage](. The country’s only international city needs to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, dealing with today’s priorities while ensuring that tomorrow’s and the next decades will also be met. This challenge is reflected in [the council’s budget]( ready now for just one month of public input starting on February 28, before the politicians have to start making tough decisions. It is a budget proposal already out of kilter from when it was presented in December 2022, when it was focussed on the cost-of-living crisis - how to keep immediate rate rises as low as possible. This included dialling back revenue for new and [upgraded stormwater construction]( and axing funding to respected and long-standing community development programmes. Within weeks, and after two record rain and storm events, the already-running project to accelerate water quality improvements and to reinforce the strength of hard-hit low income communities appears even more important than it did before Christmas. Turning off the funding tap for the major events that bring spirit, visitors and economic boosts in future years also looks shortsighted and can’t be pitched as an either/or versus a new stormwater drain. All of this in a budget where the starting point is to close [a forecast deficit of perhaps $295 million](. It feels like the biggest moment since the 2010 local body amalgamation that Aucklanders and their leaders need to figure out how to meet both today’s needs and the future’s. [user profile pic] Todd Niall Senior Stuff Journalist [See more Auckland news]( [Privacy Info]( [Privacy Info]( [Watch this video now] Volunteer's overnight vigil to protect dotterel chick from stalking cat Volunteers have been taking turns to fend off a stalking cat and uncontrolled dogs threatening a dotterel chick on a popular Waiheke beach. Gabrielle Young, of newly formed volunteer group Waiheke Dotterel Guardians, said when the chick hatched the group started patrolling the area on weekends when locals, visitors and their four-legged friends descend on the beach. [Read More]( [Privacy Info]( More Auckland stories you might have missed [Article Image] Cyclone Gabrielle: Stuff's fundraising campaign nears $3 million [Read more button]( [Article Image] What kind of storm would it take to blow over Auckland's Sky Tower? [Read more button]( [Article Image] Auckland's most expensive ice creams, ranked [Read more button]( [Article Image] Schools want more funding to help 'shocked' students after Cyclone Gabrielle [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