I have been the Auckland Regional Councillor for Franklin for twelve years and Chair of the Environmental Management Committee for six, communicating with you, providing information and resources, while representing you at every opportunity in regional decision-making and will continue to do this.

I will continue to work towards accessible public transport to the southern sector, innovative solutions for rural communities, and upgrading facilities for those with limited mobility.

I have the ability, dedication and commitment as an Independednt Councillor to represent equally all residents of the Franklin Ward. At this time of huge change, it is important to have councillors who have experience and understand issues.

I am that person. I have been involved in formulating regional plans and look forward to implementing any changes in consultation with the community.

I understand the rural-urban interface - I am ready for the new era to give Franklin and its rural population effective representation.

Top 5 Issues

1. Rural representation : Rural Voice - 80-85% of the Region is rural land, and where approximately 60% of Auckland's food is produced. The rural production sector is also responsible for much of the export earnings for the region. It is important that this sector is strongly represented by an experienced councillor so that its economy remains viable and has the ability to grow. I will ensure there is a Rural Industry Group Forum where this sector can have input to policy. I will also be looking for flexible, innovative ways to deliver public transport to rural and other isolated communities and for those people with limited mobility.
2. Decisions on Environmental Management - although many of the region's decisions will be made by Council Controlled Organisations, environmental policy development and its implementation will be a strong focus of the Governing Body. A new Sustainable Management Programme has been prepared by ARC, dividing the region up into 8-9 catchments which will have differing issues and challenges but under one Council will be easier to manage. Air quality, water resources and stream management, coastal issues such as pollution, safety, aquaculture, marinas and moorings, mangrove management, will all be issues that I have experience in making decisions with policy and implementation. I will continue to endorse and seek further funding for EnviroSchools and WasteWise Schools, and Ecocare groups.
3. Strategic Planning - Legislation requires the Auckland Council to produce a Spatial Plan (landbased) which will be a high level document directing Auckland growth, development of infrastructure and services that will enhance the economy and wellbeing of the people. I believe a Marine Spatial Plan should also be prepared as 84% or the region is water and there are many competing and diverse users for this space - it needs to be managed holistically. The outgoing ARC has already reviewed the Regional Policy Statement and prepared a draft, ready for notification to the public for submissions. This when finalised will be the foundation for the management of the Region. As one who assisted with the preparation of this RPS, I will be ready to hit the road running, fully conversant with its content. I will not need the usual 2-3 years "to find out what it is all about".
4. Council Controlled Organisations - until the third Bill, there was little control that the Auckland Council would have over these CCO's, with its appointed Boards, spending about 80% of the region's income. With the enactment of the third Bill, they must now prepare SOI's, report quarterly to the Council, meet with Local Boards and hold public meetings. All may be disbanded by the Council after 2012 should the Council wish to take their assets and responsibilities back in-house, except Watercare which must remain until 2015 and Auckland Transport which will need an Act of Parliament to disband. It will be a big challenge for Councillors to manage the CCO's and their performance, to ensure that people appointed to the Boards are worthy of the position, or replace them with those who will perform to give effect to the Councils policy and plans.
5. Local Boards, Community and Community Groups - Baseline responsibilities for Local Boards should be announced prior to 1 November. These must give the greatest local decision-making powers to the Boards - if there are others that I believe need to be delegated to the Boards who will be making decisions on behalf of local communities, I will do my utmost to see this occurs, with funding made available to accomplish this.I will continue to work closely with community groups, providing information and resources as I have done for 12 years, and encourage Local Board Members of each subdivision to meet with me as Ward Councillor out in the communities at regular intervals, for feedback.
   I will be following up within Council and its budget, contestible funds available for community groups to empower them to enhance their environment, and provide facilities for club and community use. These may be made available either through Local Boards or the Governing Body of Councillors.

Personal Profile

Please read Election Issues first as I have included much information that will support this personal profile.

REPRESENTATION

I am standing as an Independent candidiate as I believe elected representatives should be individually answerable to her/his community, and be able to vote on issues that will benefit the Franklin Ward. I have experience in making regional decisions that benefit the whole of Auckland whilst ensuring that Franklin is included in the debate and is also best served by the decisions I make. I am well known to work successfully as an independent member across all political "leanings" and will represent all of Franklin, both rural and urban, all cultures and from all political preferences. I have extensive skills in negotiation and collaboration to achieve outcomes I strongly desire for Franklin, the environment and the Region as a whole.  

The incoming Auckland Council will have the responsibility in urgently establishing regional strategic and environmental policy, whilst continuing environmental services - all areas in which I have extensive experience. The seven Council Controlled Organisations will be responsible for managing assets and infrastructure particularly in the short term, and will be accountable to the Governing Body of Councillors through Statements of Intent - another area of regional accountability in which I have had experience. I am ready to "hit the road running". 

I will represent the Rural District of Franklin with expertise as we work through Rates Policies to ensure a fair regime across the region. I was one of the drivers in adopting 50% rates remissions for community groups owning property, 100% for land legally protected for environmental purposes and 25% rates postponements for land actively used for rural industry (outside the Metropolitan Urban Limit and of a minimum of 12ha); if sold, the previous 5 years rates reduction is required to be paid.

ROLES WITHIN AUCKLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL

2004-2010 Chair of Environmental Management  Committee and Resource Consent Hearings; Chair of Environmental Initiative Funds (EIF), Coastal Enhancement Funds (CEF), Environmental Awards, Low Impact Design Innivative Grants (LIDIG), Maharangi Action Plan: Land Assistance Fund (MAP:LAF); Chair of Navigation Safety Bylaws and Aquaculture Review Sub-Committees, Chair of the Rural Industry Group. Member of all Committees of the Council (Regional Strategy and Planning, Parks and Heritage, Finance, Transport and Urban Development,); ARC representative on Regional Transport Committee, Hauraki Gulf Forum, all Southern Sector Committees and Working Groups, Inter-regional Committees (EW and NRC); National Grid Upgrade Forum

Ambury Park Centre for Riding Therapy Inc. (2000-2010) and Life Member (2010), Auckland Botanic Gardens Friends Trust Board (2002-2010), Hunua Quarry Ecological Trust (2010-2011).  

Past appointments 2001-2004 : ARC representative on Franklin Tourism, ARC Total Mobility Board, Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (remaining the Alternate)       

SOME NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE AUCKLAND REGION

I was instrumental in getting trains for Pukekohe - from the first service there has been huge growth in the demand for rail service, and I have ensured that the service increased (currently 20 return services per day). As a member of Auckland Council I will ensure that additional parking is established by Auckland Transport, and a connecting overbridge is built, as well as negotiating for weekend services.

0800 SMOKEY - a campaign I initiated because of the state of the air in the Auckland Region and my reaction to pollutants when driving to Council on the Auckland Motorway. People were asked to call this number to report "smokey vehicles" to alert the ARC and especially Central Government to the seriousness of the problem. Through this campaign, the quality of deisel was improved and vehicles are now tested at WOF and COF time. I also initiated a programme to educate the public about the correct manner to operate domestic fires, to reduce pollution and to encourage residents to change to more efficient and cleaner methods of heating their homes. Updated policy for the management and improvement of Air Quality is included in the reviewed Regional Policy Statement. 

I had all Regional Parks audited for accessibility for people with disabilities and limited mobility - many parks are now upgraded to cater for this sector and all new parks are developed for accessibility. I have been awarded Life Membership of Ambury Park Centre for Riding Therapy (2010)

I initiated a Mangrove Steering Group to investigate the rapid spread of mangroves in the top half of the North Island, and as Chair of EM, funded a project to review the Auckland Coastal Plan to see if amendments should be made to manage this aquatic plant species. This has now occurred and the final signoff of Plan Change 4 has been accomplished with rules now more permissive, especially in removing the juveniles without a consent. 

I worked with many communities to promote better management of the Coastal Marine Area and initiated Coastal Compartment Management Plans where conmmunities and councils work together to plan future programmes to develop and enhance the coast. Two locally completed Plans adopted and now being implemented are those for the Pahurehure Inlet, Papakura and Waiuku Estuary.

I initiated the Regional Energy Strategy to ensure a secure supply of energy for the Auckland Region (and especially to investigate renewable forms of energy) and the Mineral and Aggregate Strategy to protect these resources for future generations and developments in the Region. Both of these have been included in the reviewed Auckland Regional Policy Statement, which is ready to be notified by the incoming Auckland Council. I was a member of the Committee which carried out the review of the RPS and had much input so will be ready to make decisions regional policy in the new term.    

Franklin has been the greatest beneficiary of environmental, coastal and heritage funds for projects to enhance both public and private land. I have been the driver of the contestible funds available for a wide range of projects, working in partnership with other agencies and sponsors. I have continued to promote EnviroSchools and WasteWise Schools, gaining and keeping strong councillor support for the programmes which the ARC co-ordinates, as well as seeking and gaining contributions from other Councils. I support Trees for Survival and will continue to support funding in partnership with Rotary NZ.

With the support and encouragement from Federated Farmers, in 2009, I re-established and Chair the Rural Industry Group, providing a forum for this sector to have input to policy and planning for the region, management of water resources, etc.

ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGH OTHER AGENCIES and NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS.

I was a foundation member of Franklin Business and Professional Women (BPW) (1983) and was elected President 1985-7. I served on the BPW NZ Board as Projects Convenor (1991-94), as First Vice President (1994-6) and President (1996-9). I was elected as Oceania Co-ordinator for BPW International (1999-2001) and as Asia Pacific Regional Co-ordinator and a member of the BPWI Board, managing and interacting with all clubs in the region (2002-5). I represented BPW NZ at the United Nations Forum on Women in China (1995) and BPW International at the United Nations Sustainable Development Forum in Johannesburg (2002). I was appointed to the BPWI Water Task Force in 2002 and continue to serve on it, encouraging women into water management roles. I am currently also a member of the BPWI Environment and Sustainable Development Committee. I represented BPW NZ at International Congresses in 1985, 1987,  and as Delegate for BPW NZ in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002 and representing the Asia Pacific Region in 2005. 

I was made the first Life Member of BPW Franklin in 2009: also in 2009 I was awrded the BPW NZ Daphne Chapman Award for showing skills of communication, leadership and training at local, national and international levels. In 2010 I was awrded the inaugural BPW NZ Margery Toulson Scholarship for Leadership and Board Training.

I am a member of the Franklin and Papakura Branch of the National Council of Women, a member of the NCW NZ Environment Committee and have been a member of UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) since 1987. UN women's representative groups have now combined to become UN Women. 

Through a project jointly funded by Franklin District Council and the Auckland Regional Arts Council, I undertook a research project that resulted in the establishment of the Franklin Arts and Cultural Centre and then I served on the Franklin Arts and Cultural Trust for seven years. On retirement in 2005, I was made a Life Member. I was a member of the Trust at the time we planned the new Franklin:The Centre a joint Arts and Culture Centre and Library. 

 PAST EMPLOYMENT

Managed Adult Education at Pukekohe High School and Tuakau College : 1994-2004

Taught Secondary school 1964-1966 then 1974-1993 - subjects Home Economics, General Science and Biology then following retraining and gaining further qualifications (Advanced Diploma in Teaching) taught Art, Crafts and Art History.

Jointly owned and managed a small poultry farm 1974-81 but have had a lifetime engagement in the poultry industry.

Owned and managed a retail business in Tuakau 1968-71

SKILLS

Management, Chairmanship, Leadership, Strategising, Teamwork

Resource Management - hold current certification (2009-2014), with Chairs Endorsement : Making Good Decisions - a training, assessment programme for RMA Decision-makers.

Policy Development - Plans and Resolutions

Planning - Innovation through to implementing and building

Financial - projects and working to budgets : attended Local Government KnowHow - Financial Governance 101 in 2009 ,

Initiating, Co-ordinating, Facilitating, Organising, Decision-making, Lateral Thinker

Educative, Writing Reports and Articles to inform my community

Public Speaking, Public Relations, Consultation, Listening, Advocacy

Computer Literate

Travelled widely - worked at international level, and culturally aware.