Wellington is a fantastic city that's been transformed over the past 15 - 20 years ! Wellingtonians are proud to call it home. We have better facilities than most cities several times our size. We are the recognised leader in arts, film and creative industry, events, and tourism promotion, and have the country's most successful stadium (building it in the right place was vital). Our infrastructure is in good shape - much better than most Councils !

We consistently top the national Quality of Life survey, and are rated among the best cities worldwide to live in. We’re a top visitor destination. Many Wellingtonians have helped this change. I’ve been privileged as your City Councillor to play a key leadership role in the Counclil's part of this transformation.

Council has to deal with a myriad of often complex inter-related issues. I understand the issues and offer a clear, consistent, integrated vision and a creative approach.

I have a record of hard, effective work (and not just at election time!).

I’ve delivered the results I promised (please see my website www.andyfoster.org.nz for details).

Being your councillor I’ve had the chance to make many positive differences. I’ve made the most of that privilege!

I love working with residents, businesses, colleagues and officials to make good things happen.

I’m leading many big picture, long term strategies including urban planning, transport, and environment strategies. I’ve worked with many hundreds of individuals, schools and community groups on issues large and small. I constantly seek better ways for Council to work with you. I listen, am willing to change my position, but am also prepared to make hard decisions.

Looking ahead we must keep working together as a city and region so future development enhances, rather than damages, the unique features that make Wellington a great place to live, work and play.

I hope you will again give me the privilege of being your councillor over the next three years. I will deliver.

There is much more detail on my website www.andyfoster.org.nz. Please check it out.

Top 5 Issues

1. 1 - Transport
   
   The car is a vital part of our transport system, but rising energy costs, climate change & limited road capacity mean we must improve public transport, walking, cycling & encourage a compact urban form. I've been working with Regional Council and the bus companies to improve your services. We are delivering on bus priority projects to improve reliability, the airport bus service has been significantly enhanced, real time information is about to be rolled out to 290 bus stops and railway stations. An exciting 'hub and spoke model' is being worked on, featuring more frequent feeder services from hill top areas into public transport hubs connecting with fast frequent services to the central city. It could revolutionise public transport in Wellington.
   
   I've got a 10 fold increase in money going into cycling and we have just announced a major cycle / walkway right through Tawa following the Porirua stream. Expect more significant developments in walking and cycling.
   
   We will need to work very closely with the New Zealand Transport Agency to ensure their (currently unknown) plans for State Highway One are well designed and work for the city.
   
   
2. 2 - Urban Development
   
   In 20 years time around 40,000 more people will call Wellington home. I’ve led our urban development strategy to accommodate growth as sustainably as possible while preserving the character we love. New rules require better protection for heritage areas, higher quality design, encourage residential development closer to services, shops, and public transport, and protect suburban centres as the hearts of each community. Well located, quality community facilities are vital to make those hearts strong and vibrant. This all builds on one of Wellington's greatest strengths - our compactness. It will help reduce transport pressures too.
   
   
   
   We’ve developed long term big picture community visions for Johnsonville, Adelaide Rd, Newlands, Kilbirnie. The Central City is the current focus with Miramar, Tawa & Karori to follow. We are now moving to deliver those visions - for example Johnsonville's upgraded pool and new library, and necessary roading infrastructure, Adelaide Road's boulevard (Drummond St beautification is under way now), Newlands new supermarket and shopping cetnre improvements, Kilbirnie's public space and pedestrian connections. Working closely with businesses and residents is critical, for example setting up business and residents groups to act as guardians of and advocates for the community's visions. Council housing is being upgraded in partnership with the Crown.
   
   
   
   I’d like to work with all communities to help develop their own vision and image and will drive their delivery. The children at Crofton Downs school have provided a wonderful example of developing a community image. Their art work has been made into welcome signs and banners for their community. Check them out when you are next passing !
   
   
3. 3 - Our Natural Environment
   
   Imagine our seaside city, surrounded by forested hills, teeming with bird life, enjoyed by walkers, runners, bikers. Streams & coastal fisheries have been progressively restored. Visitors from around the world enjoy the 5 day Coastal-Green Belt walk. We host a multitude of home grown recreational events. Zealandia - Karori Sanctuary’s global reputation blossoms with an ever growing tally of ecological & scientific firsts. The visitor centre opened in 2010 has helped it achieve financial self sustainability. It has a close partnership with attractions like Otari, Te Papa, the Zoo .
   
   
   
   I drove the doubling in size of our reserve network. Our Outer Green Belt is now unbroken from South Coast to Johnsonville. We’ve implemented comprehensive pest control programmes; there are 60 community environmental care groups, & an ever improving track network. We've made a huge amount of progress in the last 15 or so years in transforming our natural environment. I want to finish the job.
   
   I aim to complete our reserve network, link the Outer Green Belt to Colonial Knob, and protect Hutt Escarpment & Miramar Peninsula. A new pest control initiative I've been after for several years is to free the Makara Ohariu area from pests like goats and pigs. A funding package is currently being put together with landowner support.
   
4. 4 - Sports facilities
   
   I'm a keen sportsperson myself, playing football and running, cycling, tramping etc. Sport is important to healthy individuals and healthy communities.
   
   Last election I said I wanted 4 - 5 artificial pitches. I'm a football player and administrator. Artificial turf is great to play on and they are real cancellation beaters! Every season players will have 20-40, even 50% of their games cancelled and/or 'played' in impossibly muddy conditions. We’ve opened 2 artificials and budgeted 5 more, but councillors consistently blocked my & officers efforts to bring those 5 forward. However I now expect 5-7 more to be delivered in the next 3 years. Some people say they are expensive but the subsidy per player is expected to be under $2, compared with over $15 for every user of the indoor sports centre, and around $7-9 for pools, libraries and recreation centres.
   
   Council’s biggest 2010 budget debate was about pools. My priority is learn to swim programmes. I brought forward additional learn to swim space at Karori Pool (starts soon) and the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre. After several rounds of debating I was delighted that we agreed a partnership programme with schools & learn to swim providers to upgrade school pools. Applications for that programme will start soon. Likely projects in Onslow Western include Khandallah & Cashmere schools. We also helped Makara school pool stay open by assisting with water testing costs.
   
5. 5 - Value for your money.
   
   Delivering value for your money has always been important to me. That doesn't mean doing nothing, but choosing the projects which deliver value. I've consistently argued to change the way we consult, so that instead of getting submissions which tend to focus on generally support for a single issue/project, to get submitters to focus on prioritising from among possible discretionary projects. The aim would be to get a feel from you, the public, which projects you most value across the range of possibilities.
   
   I would also like a taskforce including non Council people to assess Council's budget line by line looking for possible savings. Almost all your councillors are reluctant to do that level of assessment. We used to do it and I think we should, discipline ourselves to do it again. I'd see organisations like the Federation of Wellington Progressive Associations and Employers Chamber of Commerce participating, The Chamber has already offered.
   
   Our infrastructure is in good shape, and looking ahead Wellington is not going to face the major rises in expenditure that many Councils will to address infrastucture deficits.
   
   Finally I there is real potential for savings through joint services with other Councils. This is being explored now as part of our region's response to the 'Super City' concept in Auckland. We are already saving many hundreds of thousands of dollars through co-operation in water/wastewater/stormwater, and exploring joint development of IT systems (surely we don't all have to invent our own !), rates collection, building consents etc.
   

Personal Profile

Andy is a highly experienced, effective City Councillor, and has had a diverse career in finance, company directorship, teaching, conservation and economic research. He has a teaching diploma and Commerce and Arts degrees from Victoria University. Since 1995 Andy has chaired major Council committees covering Works, Transport, Built and Natural Environment and Recreation. He now chairs Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee as well as being Urban Development Leader and Associate Transport Leader. He was a founding trustee and is now a Guardian of Karori Sanctuary, is President of TRAFINZ - the Traffic Institute of NZ, and a Wellington Conservation Board member. He chairs the Karori Brooklyn Community Charitable Trust, and Karori Park Sports Club. He’s served on several Boards and is currently on the Board of Capacity Infrastructure Services. Andy is also on the Executive of Waterside Karori AFC, a Sanctuary volunteer, and helps organise the ‘Gutbuster’ run/walk event. He is a keen mountain runner, plays football for Waterside Karori, and occasional netball and tennis. He is a member of Tararua Tramping club and Karori Baptist Church. Andy has lived in Karori for 37 years. He is 48, married to Ann, with children Brendon (8) and Ella (5).