I am running for a seat on the Upper Harbour Board I am a many-generation Kiwi, with whanau links all around the country. The pandemic has changed us.
e fact that it was our Kaumātua who started the journey which resulted with women having the right to vote. Because of this I have always voted when I was eligible to do so. I love to see diversity in our community. I believe that is what gives us strength - whether you can count your Kaumātua as indigenous, early settlers, or you arrived yesterday you have qualities which add to our melting pot. We certainly aren’t all the same and collaboration is what builds resilient and adaptive communities. I fully believe that we all have the right to our opinions, our own choices (tea or coffee, crunchy or smooth, jam or marmalade etc). I will always support another person's right to make informed decisions. I even believe in ‘gut’ or ‘instinct’ decision-making. I have friends and family who have made choices that are different to mine. I choose to respect their decisions and in turn I expect that to be reciprocated. I have never and will not ever support anyone’s hatred and threats (or acts) of violence against others. I am politically and religiously agnostic, preferring to support my community without fear or favour.
* Why I want to be elected:
I want to learn more about what I can do for my community - how I can best serve, if you like. For over 10 years I have served in the RNZNVR, Girl Guides and Lions club as well as community committees bringing events to cities around NZ and Australia. I know how to work in diverse committees; how to ensure that decisions are made and outcomes achieved, and how important collaboration is. It’s fair to say that the last 2 years have affected us all in ways that we hadn’t thought possible. I like to think that it has also made us stronger. The recovery budget acknowledges the struggles that we have been through and looks forward, put simply, to recovery. I want to be a part of that - to be involved in helping our community utilise the strength we’ve discovered and move into the future together. Of 6 seats on Council, 3 have not stood again this year. I see this as an opportunity for fresh blood and new energy! We need Counsellors who can put their full effort into steering us into our pandemic recovery and our future. The projects and relationships developed by the last Council team will continue regardless of who sits in those seats. Looking forward; I personally would like to serve 2 terms on the Council, but I think that would be enough - after that it would be time to make way for someone else to take control. For now, I am able to dedicate myself completely to serving the community without religious or other political distractions. I can already see that there are other new candidates with fresh energy, lots of varied experience and with whom I would love to build a team. You’ll see me riding my new electric bike around the area (OK, when it’s warmer!) I have always been keen to do my best to reduce my waste profile and I’d love to get involved in environmental projects, particularly around waste minimalisation.
* What I love most about the area I want to represent:
I was born in Devonport and grew up on the Shore, and my first primary school was in Albany. My Mum tells me that they used to say that once you hit the Greenhithe turnoff you were in the country and that’s what they loved about the area. It’s probably why that semi-rural lifestyle has always appealed to me. Many years later, my family settled in Greenhithe so that our daughter could go to secondary school in Albany - a circle of life, if you like. Auckland has grown and changed since I was young - which is always a sign of vibrant, healthy community! I still see it as one city; after all it is very small and uncrowded in comparison to many others. I feel a sense of ownership of Auckland which has developed into service over the years. I love and want to protect our green spaces. I also understand the importance of Urban Development so there is a vital balance that must be kept in planning our development. Watching the way the Upper Harbour area has grown over the last 20 years has been incredibly exciting! I have lived elsewhere and Auckland has always been my home. It will be a privilege to serve this vibrant, diverse community that I love!
* What I will prioritise if I am elected:
I want to ensure every resident feels included, welcome, necessary, in such a way that they develop their own sense of ownership of our community. My personal interests lie in the development of our community, particularly the safety of our whanau. I believe that water safety for our children and dog safety for the community are vital. I love talking to people about the fact that in NZ you’re never more an hour away from the sea. The flip side of that is our terrible ongoing drowning toll. How do we ensure that all children have access to water safety and drowning prevention lessons before they start school? Could we provide advanced water safety lessons through our secondary schools? Newcomers to the country also feature in our drowning statistics. How can we ensure water safety lessons are not only made available but taken up by new residents? Many of us have dogs and we know that a well exercised and socialised dog is a happy, safe dog. Are our off-lead dog parks sufficient and well kept? As a Girl Guide leader we have a Dog Safety programme, tapping into organisations that teach children how to behave around dogs and alleviating fear around dogs. Is there a need for broader assess to these organisations for the rest of our community? Reducing our waste footprint is a great passion of mine. Households are working hard towards this but still have a huge amount of waste/recycling that comes into their homes in the first place. I would like to see manufacturers cut their use of plastic packaging to help reduce this. Auckland Council is working towards balancing urban development and harmonious living. I feel that creating the infrastructure with ecologically friendly power, water, transport provisions makes a strong base from which households can build on to reduce their own waste footprint. Auckland Council is also working on our COVID-19 recovery plan. I want to encourage kindness and support during this time. Everyone has their stories about how the pandemic affected them. I want to build our community up to share the strength they have gained and not only recover together, but ensure that should any emergency arise we are prepared. We are resilient, together we can be powerful.
* City centre and local development:
I would be reviewing the current and planned work for our community and utilise the information gained from public consultation for our future needs. Economic and cultural development
Auckland Council’s plans for International events and maintenance of existing tourism venues is vital to our city as a whole and needs our support. There will also be ways that our community can benefit from these as part of our regional economic recovery. Environment management and regulation
Continue to work with Auckland Council on their pest eradication and greenspace plans.
* Funding and financing
Auckland Council has a greatly reduced budget for the next 3 years in comparison to the past and intends to encourage voluntary salary reductions for staff earning over $100,000 as well as reductions in general spending. When every cent saved will go into community services this is something that we should watch closely. Our work will then be how we can continue with our regional economic recovery on a tight budget.
* Outcomes for Māori
Working with Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau and our Māori Outcome Leads to ensure that Māori feel enabled and encouraged to participate in all aspects of the community, and that their input is respected and appreciated. A community in harmony provides wellbeing for all.
* Parks and community
We will have the opportunity to reinstate community events like Movies in the park, and support our young musicians with a Summer music events programme. Community hubs are ideal for these events, and this is something that I’d like to discuss with them.
* Transport
We certainly need to reduce small, single-person car trips and improved public transport is key to this. Work with AT at Council level to relay public needs. Water, wastewater and stormwater
I would be reviewing the current and planned work for our community and utilise the information gained from public consultation for our future needs.
