Dick Hubbard
Dick Hubbard ONZM, B.Tech. (Food Tech.), founder and principal of
Hubbards Foods in
Auckland,
New Zealand, and
mayor of Auckland (2004-?). His management of Hubbard Foods gained some prominence for his "socially responsible" attitude towards many facets of his business.
He also founded New Zealand Businesses for Social Responsibility (BSR) (now the Sustainable Business Network) and became Chairman of the New Zealand
National Parks & Conservation Foundation. He has been a supporter of
Outward Bound in New Zealand. He was elected
Mayor of Auckland on
October 9,
2004, replacing
John Banks.
Hubbard is married to Diana, a committed born again Christian, and has two adult children.
Dick Hubbard's was elected as a part of a broad swing to the centre-left in Auckland City, and personally won a large majority. Dick Hubbard's support on the council is mostly derived from the centre-left leaning City Vision and
Action Hobson tickets.
His mayoral term started with some controversy on issues like threatened speedway closures, the failure to win V8 supercar hosting rights, and projected large rates rises that he opposed prior to the election. He also failed in an attempt to remove his deputy Mayor, Dr Bruce Hucker after disagreement over social policy announcements. He again tried to remove Dr Hucker a year into his term, again without success.
Queen St Trees
In December 2005, Dick Hubbard was forced into a u-turn over the proposed "Queen Street Tree Massacre", when several dozen large trees on Auckland's Queen St were threatened with being cut down to make way for redevelopment of the streetscape. The issue was compunded by the fact that the council was seen to act in an underhand manner by seeking to chop the trees down while many residents were on summer holiday. Public outcry in early January 2006 caused the council to revisit the decision. This subsequent u-turn cost Auckland ratepayers
$5 million dollars in extra costs and penalties.
Aotea Square Upgrades
Not long after becoming Mayor, Dick Hubbard's council was faced with a $85 million dollar repair bill for newly discovered structural issues involving
Aotea Square - a prominent open space next to the Town Hall. Hubbard used this issue as an opportunity to propose some impressive plans for development, including building a new library, large video screens to public gatherings and a road under the square. These plans were known as
"Outside the Square". When the total bill was estimated at in excess of $750 million dollars, the plans were quietly shelved by council officers, describing the plans as
"a low priority for the city's needs". Dick Hubbard has expressed hope that the plans could one day be used to help redevelop the Aotea Precinct in the future.
Rates increases
Hubbard and the the leading bloc on council have recently (midst of 2006) proposed to raise rates by around 13%, despite Mayor Hubbard's promises that
the 2006 rates increase would not be bigger than the 2005 rates increase of 9.7%. Future rates increases of a similar level are proposed due to lack of central government funding for transport and stadium projects to be built in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
The NZ Herald (leading Auckland paper) has described Hubbard's spending plans as
weakness" on his part. The rates increases have emerged as a significant issue for Hubbard and his council to contend with. He has used his own money to take out a full-page ad in the NZ Herald in August 2006, where he defended the need for rates increase to fund improvements to Aucklands future infrastructure. Public perception of the ad was very mixed, with many considering it a publicity stunt.
Other Issues
Hubbard has also received council funded media training due to initial concerns over his public performance. In April 2006, there was also a public outcry after it was revealed that there was record expenditure on travel junkets for councillors, including the Mayor's travel. These were defended as necessary to learn about good governance and city infrastructure improvements in other parts of the world, mostly the UK.
Hubbard has promoted new heritage policies as well as some urban design standards for the CBD. His council has brought in controls against development of older heritage homes and has also appointed architects to urban design panels that oversee substantial commercial developments. The winning of the 2011 Rugby World Cup hosting rights presents both significant challenges and opportunities for the remainder of Dick Hubbard's Mayoral term. Also, proposed redevelopment of the "Tank Farm" area next to the Auckland Viaduct as a park and marine recreational precinct represents big infrastructural challenges but also a chance to leave an impression on the city. Dick Hubbard is also seen as a "gay friendly" Mayor, and has attended and hosted a number of functions celebrating the gay community in Auckland.
Discontent over Hubbard's Mayoral performance has caused some media speculation about future Mayoral contenders, including a possible comeback by former Mayor
John Banks. Other names mentioned as potential Mayoral aspirants to challenge Dick Hubbard include former top civil servant Christine Rankin (whose former husband is a present Chief Executive of Auckland City) and current Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker, and current Auckland Affairs Government Minister
Judith Tizard.
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Profile at Hubbards Foods
