Strong family ties to Tai Tokerau 22 years Local Government experience, Manukau City & Far North District Strategic  and Policy Development Sustainable Environmental focus Socioeconomic focus

Bronwyn is of Te Rarawa, Te Roroa, Ngati Whatua and Ngapuhi descent, and has worked for her community in local government for 20 years. At Manukau City Council, Bronwyn managed the libraries and information services, and led the development of initiatives in equal employment opportunities, Maori and local government. Bronwyn then returned home to Kawakawa to establish the far north district library system for Far North District Council.

In subsequent years Bronwyn’s role was expanded to include the management of community facilities and i-SITE visitor information services. This provided Bronwyn with excellent grounding in consultation, tourism, environmental sustainability, life-long learning, education, and addressing the needs of the district as a whole without compromising the sense of identity that individual communities hold dear to them.

Bronwyn is now managing the Strategic Policy Unit at Te Runanga o Te Rarawa. The team is involved in Te Tiriti o Waitangi matters, environmental matters from maunga to moana, iwi research and development, training, special projects, annual and strategic planning practises and policy development. Bronwyn’s role has her working with and alongside a wide variety of communities from marae through to government agencies across the region.

Bronwyn is proudly passionate about the importance of utilizing relationships and “team ethics” to progress a strategic regional approach to issues affecting both this generation and the next.  She will bring to the governance table knowledge and experience in community and economic development, dedication, and a willingness to listen and be innovative.  She maintains a solution-based focus matched by a sound belief that the Northland region is unique, and collectively a difference can be made.

Bronwyn’s community interests are wide and varied, including Mid-North Lions Group, Executive member of Te Roopu Whakahau (NZ Māori Library & Information Workers Network), Greenpeace, Taitokerau Maori Tourism Association, Bay of Islands Hundertwasser Trust, Bay of Islands College Board of Trustees and the R Tucker Thompson Sailing Trust.

Top 5 Issues

1. There is a need to drive change to ensure that NRC as a multimillion dollar business is well managed, proactive, aspires to exceed the expectations of its communities and is reflective of the actual needs of the region in terms of its responsibilities in the arena of Infrastructure, socio economic development and the environment.
   Key factors to achieving this is effective communication both ways, transparent, inclusive, shared sense of purpose across both governance and the operational arm, collaboration and innovation underpinned by a set of values that are more than just print in an annual plan.
   
2. The health of the environment is incredibly important, The concept of Whanau ora and families realising their potential is seen as a key initiative of central government. The role that NRC can contribute towards the success of Whanau ora is to play a leadership role with respect to the environment alongside DoC, iwi and hapu. The quality of the water in our harbours, streams and waterways are in dire straights. We need to ensure that there is a focus on cleaning these up over a twenty year period. Alternative options should be investigated with respect to disposal of wasterwater other than discharging to water.
3. I will be pushing for the further development of Enterprise Northland and it with hope that there will be far north representation on the current or any future governance entity.There is value in having a cenralised economic development agency that has a focus on building the capacity and capability of small business’s and communities to achieve their aspirations in the area of tourism, agriculture, education, forestry, horticulture.
   
4. The development of a regional growth strategy that is utilised by all agencies will provide the foundation for which all future development should be based. I am very supportive of looking for ways to shared services across all Local authority organisations particularly in the area of technology, databases, accomodation, information dissemanation and customer services.
   
5. Maori Engagement outside that of meeting the legislative requirements of the RMA can be further developed. Maori as tangata whenua and a community stakeholder have a important role to play by particpating in the decision making processes of council at both a governance and operational level. More maori commissioners must be envouraged to beome qualified and a streamlined process developed across all local government agencies to ensure that maori particpate in the development of policies and subsequent strategies are only two of many intiatives that I would support and drive.

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