Two days of intense debate and tough decisions brought Auckland Council’s 2022-2025 Governing Body term to a close, ending with the valedictory speeches of three councillors standing down after nearly 70 years of service between them. This is part three in our series of tributes - Councillor Sharon Stewart.
Mayor Wayne Brown acknowledged the work of the Governing Body and paid special tribute to the three departing councillors.
“The role of councillor can be both demanding and thankless. This term alone the Governing Body has spent more than 375 hours in meetings and workshops, with mountains of paper to wade through.
“Yet it can be a richly rewarding experience. I respect anyone who is willing to put their hand up and serve,” said the Mayor.
A staunch advocate for safety
Mayor Wayne Brown welcomed Councillor Sharon Stewart to the podium as the last valedictorian of the final Governing Body meeting of the 2022-2025 term – and as the longest serving councillor to depart this term, after 30 years in public office.
“I particularly want to acknowledge the role Sharon has played in strengthening Auckland’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities since the extreme weather events of early 2023. We will always remember her advocacy for better management of stormwater catchments and streams,” Mayor Brown said.
It started with a bang
An unwanted firework coming too close to her young son’s pram and a dilapidated structure in a park were the catalysts for Councillor Sharon Stewart’s first foray into the world of local politics.
Some 30 years later, Cr Stewart is retiring to spend more quality time with family. In her valedictory speech she reflected on her time on the Howick Community Board, 12 years at the former Manukau City Council and five terms at Auckland Council, where she also served as chair of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee from 2013.
Cr Stewart took the room back to 1989 where the chance encounter with a stray firework in a local park prompted her to lobby the council to remove a dangerous structure.
“Within five weeks the structure was removed and, with a group of local mothers, we fundraised for new equipment for the park,” she said.
She also recalled drumming up so much support for blood donation after a friend’s tragic death that they were turning people away; being awarded ‘Howick Citizen of the Year’; and experiencing life in Singapore, which nurtured a love of working with Asian communities.
Cr Stewart talks fondly of former Manukau City Council Mayor Sir Barry Curtis.
“I had the privilege of working alongside Sir Barry who was, in his earlier life, a town planner and always planned in stages. He took pride in planning Manukau city. He was a statesman and very well respected.”
She recalled other fellow councillors that she worked well with, including Sir John Walker, Dick Quax, Jamie Lee-Ross, Arthur Anae and others who continue to serve Auckland.
Cr Stewart also had a fond recollection for Auckland Council Chief Executive Phil Wilson, who was a staff member at Manukau City Council. She recalls “community stalwart and citizens’ watchdog" Laurette Worsnop of Howick once telling her, “… that young man will one day be the CEO!”
Sharon Stewart stood for both the Howick Local Board and Howick Ward councillor in the first term of the amalgamated Auckland Council – and got both seats. She went with the ward role off the back of more than 20,000 votes from her constituents.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature is often not kind
Cr Stewart’s connection with first responders more than two decades ago would lead to a role with the council’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group.
“I recall a devastating earthquake in Taiwan in 1999 that buried around 6,000 people alive. At the time the government didn’t have either budget or legislation in place to send a team so I reached out to the Taiwanese community and before long a NZ Search and Rescue team was funded and assembled to deploy to help,” she said.
Cr Sharon Stewart and Auckland Emergency Management GM Adam Maggs celebrate the new fleet of response vehicles in 2025.
Cr Stewart chaired the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee from 2013 to 2025. Routine readiness programmes, annual Shakeout earthquake drills, localised weather events and a few tornadoes paled in early 2023 when the Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle hit Auckland.
“As chair of the Civil Defence Committee it was a challenging year with the severe weather events – unfortunately, Mother Nature is often not kind.
“The council had an honest report by Mike Bush and lots of changes have been made to improve the way Auckland Emergency Management handles these situations.
“I am pleased to say that we have an extremely good set of hands in control of our councils Civil Defence function. I would Like to thank Adam Maggs and the team,” she said.
Going out with the pipes
For a touch of something different, Cr Stewart shared her memories of organising the 2014 Howick Military Tattoo and its tribute to the life of her late brother, Johnny.
“Organising events for the community is something that I have been involved with since 1995 and this was a family friendly community event that I was really proud of.
“Anyway, it’s time to retire and enjoy my grandchildren and spend more time with my husband who is retiring on the third of October.
“It’s time to start enjoying life. It’s so precious!”
Watch the valedictory speeches at the last meeting of the Governing Body for the 2022-2025 term here.
