John is a lifelong local resident and has a strong insight into the aspirations of the community he wishes to serve.

A member of the Howick Community Board from 1995 John was re-elected on three successive occasions serving as chairman of the board from 2004 to 2007.

John is a committee member of two active local organisations and has recently channelled his energies into assisting with nationally important restoration and conservation projects.

He is keen to see further invigoration of the wider business and arts community with the on-going development of local buildings and facilities.

John is passionate about Howick and wants to be part of a team that will ensure the area's unique character and features are maintained and protected for all to enjoy. These include its historical elements, coastal zones, walkways, and parks and reserves.

Please vote for John Spiller for the Howick Local Board.

Top 5 Issues

1. Ensuring Howick has a strong voice within the wider region to help preserve its unique atmosphere, history and quality of life for its citizens and ratepayers.
2. I want to help the Howick business district remain competitive and vibrant to be able to compete effectively with the large alternative venues that vie for consumer dollars. This means retaining the targeted levy on commercial landlords, with the support of business tenants, to fund promotional activity and the village management team.
3. I support fairness in charging methodoloy for rates, water and wastewater and believe that more emphasis on user pays for wastewater charging should be adopted. A small UAGC component would be appropriate and would take some of the burden off high volume users without penalising low volume users.
4. I'm passionate about the opportunites for recreation in our local parks and reserves and will continue to support development of outstanding walkways such as are found in the Mangemangeroa Reserves. Volunteers working alongside council parks staff, local schools and 'Friends'groups will ensure the on-going success of these wonderful reserves.
5. Our local area abounds in talented people,both young and old, and I hope to be able to support the provision and development of venues such as the Uxbridge Arts centre where artists from all disciplines can learn, prosper, and showcase their talents.

Personal Profile

My family has lived and worked in Howick since 1942 when my father and grandparents decided to move North from Ohakune in the King Country. Buying a general store in Picton Street soon after arriving cemented our retail involvement in the area and the family business that evolved over time now trades as Spiller's Hammer Hardware in Howick's main street.

In 1973 I opened a small ship's chandlery business in Rosscourt, Howick, eventually selling up and gaining work experience with a number of companies in sales roles before returning to Howick to work in the family hardware business.

In 1995 I successfully stood for the Howick Community board and served four consecutive terms, the last as chairman up until 2007. I served on several community committees during this 12 year period, some in my role as a board member and some as a consequence of following interests outside of local body politics.

In 2008 I was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Howick Rotary Club for contributions to the community. I still pursue my love of the Howick community through my involvement as a committee member of the Friends of Mangemangeroa group and the Howick Tramping Club. Participating in restoration and conservation programmes with these groups enables me to give something back to the community whilst spending time in some of my favourite environments.

If elected I will continue to contribute positively to the Howick community in as many ways as possible while also keeping a watchful eye on council expenditure and policy.

Howick is a fantastic place to live, work and recreate and I would love the opportunity to help nurture it along so successive generations will find it as appealing as I do.