My key messages are:

ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP:

Ordinary citizens/people – ‘actively’ engaged in exploring new ways to address complex community change.

The Council by it’s very construct has limitations on it’s capabilities and capacities to address complex community issues. Active citizens and active communities are critical to assisting Councils. How? – By providing the kind of thinking, dialogue, experience and knowledge that only they have about their work or their respective communities. Councils will need to change in order to be more responsive to ‘Active Citizens’.

We need to have the courage to front up and say ‘this is not working, let’s stop, and take stock.” What might it be like to go to the community and say – “Look we need help with this – we need the community, we need private sector, we need tangata whenua –whoever – to help us on this one”.

There are individuals as well as organizations that are making huge differences in our communities is a whole range of different ways. – The Knitting Circles; Greatfathers; Nannys and Koros who are actively caring for their mokopuna – either in inter-generational living situations or externally.

COMMUNITY PRIDE:

Everyone in our Community being ‘proud’ of our City. Active citizens taking ownership and responsibility for a whole range of activities within our City, because they choose to. It is about the ‘depth’ of pride in our many communities.

REALISTIC:

Maintaining a healthy ‘Reality’ about our role and responsibility as a Council. Our strength is in mature collective cohesion and decision making. We are there to serve ALL – for the highest good of ALL. At minimum – do no harm!

Top 5 Issues

1. QUESTION 1: Do you support investigating a public-private partnership to resolve issues at the City’s northern outlet or do you prefer to get “shovel ready” and wait for central Government approach?
   The responsibility of our national highways is that of the Central Government.. Therefore the responsibility of Council is to maintain pressure on Central Government to deliver via the submission process.
2. QUESTION 2: Do you consider a Len Lye Centre a want or a need? Please elaborate:
   The real question is “what sort of community infrastructures are rate payer’s prepared to pay for or not pay for?” This then allows Council the opportunity to look at other funding options to support such community projects.
   
3. QUESTION 3: What specific action would you want to see the council take to minimize rate rises if you were elected?
   The specific action is: Lead Council to direct the CEO to:
   1 Review all “rate related” income and expenditure
   2 Review of TIMIL to ascertain if we are on track for “zero rates” in 2020.
   3 Review all Private, Public and Philanthropic income and expenditure to Council
   

Personal Profile

I was born in the small coastal town of Opunake in the province of Taranaki, on the west coast of the North Island of Aotearoa-New Zealand. As a NZ Maori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa-NZ, I am affiliated to the following tribes: Taranaki Tuturu, Ngati Mutunga, Te Atiawa, and Ngati Mahuta. I am also of Scottish, Irish descent and much, much more!

During the past 30 years I have worked extensively in Community Development, Maori Business and Economic Development, and more recently in regional development. Within these sectors I have represented primarily women, families and Maori.

I am also a trainer, facilitator, researcher, author, a sister to 5 siblings, a Aunty, a Great Grand Aunty and Great Great Great Grand Aunty to a total of 41 nieces and nephews. I am the wonderfully wild and wacky partner and best friend of Roger Lloyd.