I am 47 years old and first arrived in Tauranga in 1984. - attracted here by its natural beauty, harbour, beaches and memories of family summer holidays.

 I have witnessed the tremendous changes and pressures the population growth has put on the region’s infrastructure. Who remembers Bethlehem as its own little centre and when Mount Maunganui was a sleepy fishing village in winter?

During the last eight years I have been in business for myself, initially as an importer and currently in the passenger transport industry.

I am a director/shareholder of a small company that provides employment for 16 people, a responsibility I take seriously.

I also do contract work for the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce.

I intend to bring an open and questioning mind to the council, while contributing knowledge gained through  my business  background.

Like most of us, I care for the environment and believe if we continue making small changes and work towards a more sustainable future then everyone - businesses and individuals alike - can achieve financial and lifestyle benefits.

I appreciate that managing the continuing growth of our region  will require a balancing of economic demands, social service requirements, and environmental impacts, in order to retain the lifestyle that drew most of us to Tauranga.

I have a strong belief in doing what is just and fair, and back this up with the tenacity to see issues through to the end.

Finally I have family, friends and colleagues -covering a wide range of ages and personal situations - who will continually provide me with a balanced perspective while working for you.

Top 5 Issues

1. Prudent use of funds:
   We all know the global economy is not in the greatest shape.
   The BOP Regional Council has a substantial annual income from its shareholding in the Port of Tauranga. We need to make this income go the extra mile - ease the burden on ratepayers. We can look at luxuries once the economy is back up and running.
   
2. Preserving our environment and lifestyle:
   This is an emotive topic with “Global Warming or Climate Change” as it’s now called creating plenty of debate around the dinner table.
   Which expert do we believe???
   What I know is, as an avid sailor, I have enjoyed our harbours, beaches and lakes for many years from way back as a youngster on family holidays, coming over from the Waikato. The simple pleasure a pristine environment has given me needs to be preserved for future generations.
   On a local level we need to focus on what we can do locally.
   We need to preserve and restore our environment. Why are mangroves, sea lettuce etc becoming such an issue. Yes, we may need to remove some of them but more importantly look at what is causing them to flourish, and take action to remedy the problem.
   
3. Port of Tauranga and the Local Economy:
   Without the port, Tauranga the city wouldn’t exist and most of us wouldn’t be lucky enough to live here. The type and size of ships wanting to call here is changing and getting bigger. The Port of Tauranga is gearing up for this. We need to do our part and ensure improvements to road, rail, and infrastructure continues.
   It can be done and, if done in an environmentally sound manner, we will all benefit.
   
4. Growth:
   We are facing a major challenge here with infrastructure needs, roads, water, etc. We need to start planning now if we want to protect the lifestyle we lead, the environment, and basically just function as a city. An ability to work with other councils - and their representatives and government agencies in a credible and collaborative way - is the only option.
   
5. Administrative costs:
   Bureaucracy is one of the necessary evils of democracy, and by its nature it is not always the most efficient way of doing things. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t always strive to improve efficiency and by doing so make life easier for people or businesses - attempting to achieve and trim costs for both them and Council.
   

Personal Profile

As outlined above