She posted 10 pictures of fences, including those with broken or missing palings, mismatched repairs and weathered timber.<\/p>\n
Burns, who said she had lived in East Auckland for 48 years, reflected on the pride residents once took in their homes and neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t necessarily need the flashiest or most expensive house. Lawns were mowed, gardens were looked after, fences were painted and repaired, and there was a real sense of being house proud,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n
Burns acknowledged \u201ctimes are tough\u201d and maintaining a property costs money, stressing she was not suggesting everyone needed \u201cpristine designer fences\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I do think pride in where we live matters,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n
Burns described the photos as East Auckland\u2019s most \u201co-fence-sive\u201d fences and issued a \u201cgentle challenge\u201d for residents to tackle anything at the front of their properties that \u201cneeds a little love\u201d this spring.<\/p>\n
One of the East Auckland fences pictured in councillor Bo Burns\u2019 since-deleted Facebook post.<\/p>\n
She also encouraged people to post their own fence photos while respecting residents\u2019 privacy. <\/p>\n
Although Burns\u2019 post was deleted, screenshots were reshared to a local Facebook group, where residents were divided over her comments.<\/p>\n
One commenter called the post \u201cpretty poor form\u201d for a councillor, questioning whether \u201cpublicly shaming someone\u2019s house\u201d was kind when she did not know the occupants\u2019 circumstances.<\/p>\n
Another suggested the focus should be on helping residents find affordable solutions, while one agreed Burns \u201chas a point\u201d but believed she should have left out the photos.<\/p>\n
Some defended Burns, with one saying a lack of pride in maintaining homes had become prevalent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink ya probably goin a bit overboard [sic],\u201d another wrote. \u201cShe just commented on a few fences around our community that need a bit of love.\u201d<\/p>\n
Burns posted 10 photos of fences she believed needed attention, prompting backlash from some residents.<\/p>\n
Burns told the Herald the post was intended to highlight what she believed was a decline in the appearance of parts of the Howick Ward, an issue she said had also been raised by residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was born and raised here, and I take enormous pride in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Burns removed the post after reading comments pointing out some residents could not afford to clean or repair their fences.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat made me stop and think. Instead of simply highlighting the problem, how can I\/we turn this into positive action and help people who genuinely need support?\u201d<\/p>\n
She maintained she had deliberately used close-up photographs without addresses, street names, house numbers or people, but acknowledged the concerns raised.<\/p>\n
She was now exploring a community project involving businesses, tradies and volunteers to help elderly, disabled or financially struggling residents with fence maintenance.<\/p>\n
Howick MenzShed had responded positively to the proposal and agreed to explore the idea further.<\/p>\n
Howick Local Board chairman Bruce Kendall said he understood why residents had pushed back against Burns\u2019 post, pointing to the financial pressures facing many households.<\/p>\n
The board regularly heard complaints about unmown berms, rubbish, deteriorating fences and untidy properties, but Kendall believed there could be a range of circumstances behind them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people are struggling,\u201d he said. \u201cSome of these people don\u2019t own their properties, they\u2019re just renting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kendall believed financial pressures could also contribute to issues such as illegal dumping, with some people potentially unable to afford a trip to the tip or organise rubbish removal.<\/p>\n
When it came to the state of people\u2019s fences, he was reluctant to pass judgment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI live in a building that\u2019s not in the best of conditions because it\u2019s really old, and I can\u2019t afford to maintain it myself,\u201d Kendall said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI keep the grounds as neat and tidy as I can, but it\u2019s just difficult out there, and I totally get it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kendall questioned whether publicly pointing the finger at residents was the best approach, particularly when fixing a property could come at a high cost.<\/p>\n
Despite disagreeing with the approach, Kendall defended Burns\u2019 intentions.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe does have the best interests of her people at heart. People make mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n