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Joseph Erceg - Henderson-Massey local board

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Joseph Erceg - Henderson-Massey local board

Community and business advocate. Organiser Te Atatu Food Truck Fridays and Henderson Dining District platform.

Boards of Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust, Don Oliver Youth Sport Foundation, Croatian Cultural Society, Te Atatu South Community Association.

24/03/2026

We need your help.

Some of you may have checked out the amazing new section of Te Whau pathway this weekend from the North Western cycleway to Roberts Road. It is an impressive infrastructure asset for Auckland but it isn’t finished. We need it to go all the way to Green Bay to connect the two harbours and have more links to public transport, the Whau and other suburbs. There is currently no funding allocated, and the continuation of the pathway is not included in council plans even though it has resource consents and the contractor expertise and equipment waiting to continue the build. This is the best and most cost-effective time to continue construction.

If you would like to support the pathway continuing, we need help from people to submit to the current council budget consultation that closes on Sunday 29th March.

You can make a submission calling for the pathway to be included in the plan and funded via the link below:
https://tewhaupathway.org.nz/2026/03/20/lets-get-it-finished/

19/10/2025

Over the last week people have been asking me why I think things didn’t work out. During the campaign, I would tell people it will be challenging as there were so many candidates on the centre & right of the political spectrum splitting votes. This is what eventually played out.

Last election there were 20 candidates and two central government “teams”. This election there was 29 candidates and 4 “teams”. The centre & right spectrum candidates went from 10 to 18 while the left spectrum 10 to 11. The amount of voters was similar in both elections but the door was opened for candidates on the left by the vote splitting on the centre & right.

People also simply voted for teams which makes it difficult for independents. I doubt if many candidate profiles were read but more important was what team they were on. Most the independents from last election lost over 3,000 votes with the additional candidate numbers. Independents found it tough competing against the political machines of teams with their greater branding, volunteer numbers, systems, data and funding. It can make things inequitable.

I had tried to counter this effect but it didn’t have enough impact. My Facebook accounts views were over 100,000 the month before the election date with engagement over 20,000. It seemed incredibly high. I still don’t really understand why this engagement was so high.

The overall effect of this vote splitting meant the results weren't reflective of what the community actually wanted which is illustrated in the voting percentage chart. There were only 2 candidates elected from the centre/ right while 6 were elected from the left of the political spectrum. An even split would have been a better representation of how people voted.

To me, independents use to be the purest form of democracy and egalitarianism, when anybody from the community could put their name forward to stand for their community. These days seem to be dying where now political teams dominate.

11/10/2025

The progress election results are in and I guess it’s just not meant to be. Thank you to all the support, my multiple campaign managers, all the social media comments, likes, shares, help and chats. Mostly importantly thanks to all the people who had faith in voting for me and gave me a chance. It really meant a lot especially standing as an independent.

I hope all my ramblings on these pages over the last two campaigns may have helped trigger something in people to try make the area a better place. I will keep trying to make a positive difference but I felt I would have been more effective on the local board. This will be the end of my attempts to get on the local board. I gave it my all. It is time to move on.

Congratulations to all the other candidates who stepped forward to try represent the area. They will know it is a costly, time-consuming and crazy circus process but they should all be commended for making the effort to represent us. Best of luck to the elected candidates.

05/10/2025

With a few days left to vote in the local government elections this post covers why I hope to earn your support. Voting closes 12 pm Saturday 11th October.

I have had real community experience. I believe this first-hand community experience gives you insight in to the roots of the community and how things work. I haven’t just showed up for pre-election photo ops, I’ve been working away for over a decade to try make the area better in multiple roles. I believe I have skills, knowledge, passion and governance experience to do the role well. I know community organisations, council staff and how things work.

I do not have any political biases. I believe political biases can lead to bad decision making for the community. People can get stuck in their political beliefs and ideologies that they don’t take in all the information around. People should be listening to the community, not stuck in their beliefs. I like hearing good positive ideas regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum.

I’m one of only two or three of the 29 local board candidates born and raised in the area. I feel it gives me greater connection, passion and knowledge of the area.

This role needs commitment to do the job well. I run my own business, so it allows the required flexibility. I have seen others struggle in doing the role with full-time commitments and they don’t give the community what it deserves.

I value the importance of decision-making based on community, people’s wellbeing and inclusiveness. I like to make decisions based on facts for what is best for the community. I don’t like seeing money being wasted. I know people work hard to pay their rent and rates and want the best value possible.

I want to make people proud to be West Aucklanders. I feel the gloss has gone off this since the Waitakere City days. I want to try bring this back. I want to see West Auckland thrive economically, socially and environmentally.

If you still have your voting papers, you have 8 votes for local board. If you think there are only a few candidates who can do the job, just vote for them. The choice is yours.

30/09/2025

The story behind the Tales of Te Atatu. Back in 2019 I wanted to bring Te Atatu’s stories to life so people could feel a stronger sense of connection to the place. I wanted cover the history of the area, support local businesses and highlight some of the people doing great things in the community. It has covered local stars like Pagen from Countdown/ Woolworths, Michael Jones, the Marsh family and the Outrageous Fortune home.

It has been on a bit of break but there are plenty more stories to tell.

This is one on the most popular stories from 2020 on the Outrageous Fortune/ Westside home that reached over 200,000 people. It was located on Royal View Road before making way for housing.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/172JPSenFA/.

Photo credits: Westside TV

29/09/2025

Last Friday I went on another tour of Te Whau pathway as it was getting nearer to land. This video was watching the custom-built travelling gantry, Te Kōwhai Nui (Big Yellow, as named by the kids at Freyberg primary) in action putting a beam in place. It was designed specifically for the job to traverse the terrain and have as little environmental impact as possible.

The pathway reaches land on Wednesday! The walk for this section is approx. 12 minutes or a 3–4-minute cycle. It is looking to open late February.

28/09/2025

Another one of the community organisations I’ve have been a trustee on is the Don Oliver Youth Sport Foundation. This Foundation was formed in 1996 to support young West Auckland athletes to pursue their dream with financial assistance and guidance. It was named after legendary West Auckland weightlifter, fitness entrepreneur and community advocate Don Oliver. In nearly 30 years, the Foundation has helped more than 300 young athletes.

I joined the Foundation as I wanted to help West Auckland young people to reach their full potential and not be restrained by finances or support. Sport plays an important role in community life. Beyond the benefits for the mind and body, it builds a strong sense of belonging and identity. The more people who participate the better. The Foundation has helped build a legacy of incredible young people, who have brought immense pride and inspiration to West Auckland. Its impact continues to shape lives and leaves lasting benefits for the community.

Our next Scholarship Awards Night is coming up this October with a new batch of recipients to be announced. The attached photo is from last year’s Scholarship Award night with Bronze Award recipient Lex Revell-Lewis. Lex is a highly accomplished sprinter from Waitakere City Athletics Club. Earlier this year becoming the first Kiwi to run a sub-46 seconds 400m, clocking 45.88 seconds.

23/09/2025

3 years ago, I brought attention to this sad neglected heritage sign. It sits as a gateway to Henderson on Great North Road. Shamefully 3 years on it still sits in its sorry state. It’s a reflection of how many parts of the area are treated. I guess to some people with no history in West Auckland the sign doesn’t matter but to many it does.

Heritage like this sign tells a community story of who we were and what went before. It seems to be on a course for demolition by council neglect, a mission to erase our identity to our past.

More effort needs to be made to restore this. It is on council land, their asset and it is their responsibility to take care of it like they do with other public assets. Our collective history should matter more. West Auckland Historical Society Auckland Heritage

21/09/2025

The back story of Te Atatu Food Truck Fridays. Back in 2018 the Te Atatu South community centre and surrounding area always felt like it sat empty and no one knew about it. I wanted a regular event to bring life back to the place and build an identity for the area. I wanted to create a “third space” away from home and work where people could get together. This was how the first iteration of Te Atatu Food Truck Fridays was born.

Since then, it has become a regular summer Friday night fixture for many, drawing peak crowds of up to 2,000 people. It has featured a vast array of entertainment and activities from art fairs, record fairs, live bands, markets, street performers, sitar players, opera singers, a repair café, craft upcycling workshops, siva afi performances and a wide spectrum of tasty food from around the world.

It has given an opportunity for local businesses and entertainers to showcase their wares to a wider audience. It has become a place people come to connect with the community and feel part of something instead of being locked away in their homes. A local entertainment option for a Friday night. Hopefully, this in turn has made the West Auckland community a little bit stronger.

I’m hoping to ensure there are more community initiatives that empower community members to build their own local identities, connect people and serve the needs of their communities in whatever form that may take. These types of initiatives are especially important today, as people seem increasingly drawn toward disconnection and divergence.

The next event is coming up October 3rd. Save the date at https://www.facebook.com/events/1082441557410986.

18/09/2025

New West Auckland songs Spotify playlist.
It was great to hear all the feedback from my last Spotify playlist on West Auckland musicians. I loved the community help discovering new West Auckland musicians and now there’s a big family of West Auckland musicians all living in one place on Spotify.

The next playlist is a playlist of songs that name checks West Auckland and its places. It also includes a few overseas artists who want to join the West Auckland family. The playlist can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4U4RVPNogtnpFckQju5b6K

Are there any more songs that shout out West Auckland places to add to the playlist?

The West Auckland area covered is Avondale to Waimauku.

16/09/2025

The back story of the Henderson Dining District platform. Back in 2021, hospitality and Henderson businesses were going through tough times with covid. I wanted to do something to try and help the business owners. I wanted to try bring some life back to Henderson’s streets by promoting the great restaurants that were there. This was how my Henderson Dining District platform was born. Hospitality can be a key driver in reviving town centres. They bring a buzz to a place, build communities, show talent and culture and can spark further investment.

I have many ideas around this and want to continue advocating for all the town centres in our area to grow as the play an important part in building community and identity.

You can find the page at [https://www.facebook.com/hendersondiningdistrict](https://www.facebook.com/hendersondiningdistrict). Thinking of eating out? Maybe give a new local restaurant a go.

14/09/2025

Not many people know there is a $100m revenue company with 240 staff in the heart of Henderson. Grinding Gear Games is one of great West Auckland’s success stories as the developers of the popular video game Path of Exile. I’m stoked they have continued to show loyalty to West Auckland and keep their business here and support the local economy.

We need more companies like this be attracted to West Auckland to create a hub. We need more work opportunities outside of retail and hospitality so people don’t spend their valuable time travelling all over Auckland to work and strengthen the economy here.

You can read more about Grinding Gear Games in the comments with the NZ Herald article reposted there.

Photo credit: NZ Herald.

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