Experienced in Local Government − former Community Board Chairperson and City Councillor, trustee Keep Waitakere Beautiful, Ecomatters Environment Trust, board member Keep New Zealand Beautiful, Chairperson Auckland Conservation Board. Justice of the Peace and Civil Union Celebrant Denise will: Put Community first − will listen to your ideas/viewpoints, value the environment, protect it through sustainable practices/encourage better understanding of its value; advocate for sufficient resources to maintain services and the lifestyle of communities in our area; support efforts to increase employment opportunities, including working from home; advocate for better roads and public transport options, especially in the urban area; encourage the continuance/improvement of community facilities − local parks, small halls, Community Houses, sports grounds, and 'things to do' for our young people; ensure our place is a good place to live, work, raise families and relax in, and is where we are proud to live. Please vote Future West.

Top 5 Issues

1. Keeping the Local in Local Government:
   
   No local body politician can expect to know all there is to know about everything and especially about the views and aspirations of local communities and groups.
   
   That is why I will want to have conversations with individuals and community groups before the Local Board discusses any matter at all that will impact n the community.
   
   I want the range of individuals and groups to be as wide as possible so that I hear all the ideas, all the views, and all the suggestions that people will have. I will listen to the R and R groups, but also to school boards, sports clubs, churches, play centre groups, whoever, and especially to groups of young people.
   
   I will also feed back to those individuals and groups so you will know what happened to your ideas, requests and comments.
   
   Waitakere has always been a place where partnerships between community and council have enabled good input and good output for mutual benefits. Grants, contracts and joint activities have helped build a cohesive community. I want that to continue between you and the Local Board.
   
   It is very obvious when I talk to people from other parts of the country, that this is not always the case outside of Waitakere, and the difference in the community is very obvious.
   
   Let's keep it going our way, as the new arrangements come into effect.
2. The environment and conservation are my passions.
   
   I am the chairperson of the Auckland Conservation Board, and have been on the Board for 8 years now. The Board operates as a team so that whoever has the knowledge and experience on a particular issue leads the debate, and is responsible for driving the action - be it conversations with the community, letter writing , formal submission, education etc.
   
   I would want the Waitakere Ranges Local Board to operate in this way too.
   
   I have a number ideas about how we should manage environmental issues in the future.
   
   I would support moves to have small local or individual power generation schemes - solar panels, small wind turbines, mini hydro stations etc.
   
   I would support management of waste water in small community treatment stations rather than pumping sewage across the city to Mangere.
   
   I would encourage and incentivise recycling and re-use of water for non-drinking purposes. I would encourage the collection of rain water for non-drinking purposes too.
   
   I would promote an incentivised process for people building new houses to incorporate sustainable features in their houses. And reward people who retro-fit their existing houses - installing insulation and other features like the ones I have mentioned above.
   
   I would want to see green waste and food scraps composted. I would promote growing your own veges and keeping your own chooks.
   
   I would expect to continue to support Ecomatters Environment Trust, Weedfree Waitakere and Keep Waitakere Beautiful. With the conspicuous outcomes that these groups have demonstrated, they have proved that every cent invested brings huge returns. If the hours of volunteer work the groups arrange were costed out, they would equal hundreds of thousands of dollars of work for the community and the environment.
   
   Some of the activities of these groups have become icons such as Trees for Babies, Schools Trash to Fashion, Ecowise Awards, the Sustainable Living Centre and Ecoday. I would be a vigorous advocate for these projects to continue.
   
   
3. Retaining local facilities such as parks, sports fields, libraries, and the Trusts' Stadium is vital. None of these should be for sale.
   
4. Local jobs for local people and good public transport for those who have to travel out of the area should be a priority.
5. To ensure sufficient resources are provides to maintain services and the lifestyle of communities in our area.

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