I am thankful that Gisborne has allowed me to represent them as a District Councilor over the last 6 years.  I would like to assure you that I have taken this honour very seriously and committed to the role with absolute priority commitment. I am extremely diligent in my preparation for meetings. I have worked really hard with around 97% attendance at council and Council Committee level. I have also been hugely involved with many other organisations which benefit from the direct relationship of a councillor in their midst. My council portfolio's are Community Development, Wastewater Management, Environment and Policy and Civil Defense. I chair the Youth Transition Service and I am also representative on and also attend the meetings of Arts and Culture, Heart of Gisborne, Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti, Youth Voice. Gisborne Boardriders Club, Urban Development,  and I have an increasing involvement with Affordable Housing and Historic Places Trust.

The reason I choose to volunteer onto most of those extra agencies is because as a councillor I truly believe I must be inclusive and collaborative.  My participation and the relationships across these varied sector interest groups allow us all to work together with the aim of helping us all achieve shared goals. This will ultimately benefit our whole community. I believe a councillor should be a silo jumper and work to enable sector groups to have meaningful and productive relationships with council. To achieve those ends I as a councillor will continue to be available.

Top 5 Issues

1. Ensuring the awesome environment of "our place" is sustained and a future for our tamariki and mokopuna guaranteed. I don't want to be responsible for mindlessly selling all their assets and leaving them to pay for huge repairs and maintenance costs because we were neglectful in our time. I understand and respect the balance.
2. I know and understand the difficulty of the rates expense. No candidate can guarantee a future rate level. However all decisions will be seriously considered and debated with the rating impact as the foremost and most important consideration. Any opportunity to reduce rating impacts and not handicapping our future will be seized.
3. "An assured future requires a sound past."
   I am working very hard in this area to maintain and build on the great history we have. Much of this history is reflected in the Edwardian architecture we are struggling to retain.I am a leader in initiatives to retain, protect and enrich our unique built environment.
4. I will not forget the kids ! Chairing the Youth Transition Service is very satisfying. This government initiative designed to channel youth into work,training or back into education is having phenomenal results.I am also a council representative on Youth Voice where I am privileged to sit around the table with our very able young and learn so much from their perspective.
5. We have a special responsibility to our elderly and infirm. I understand the desire to retain their independence and how so many council decisions could affect this. All decisions taken will be with the knowledge of the impacts on those to whom we owe so much.

Personal Profile