Hi,

Educated at Whangarei Boys High and Massey University, I've lived in Whangarei most of my life with employment background as Northland Manager Allied Farmers and Management Education at Northtec.Self employed for 8 years now with business interests in Avocado growing, dog boarding and residential property. I'm an Independent Hearings Commissioner for Far North District Council.

Current community roles include: Chairing Roadsafe Northland and Northland Business Development Trust; Deputy Chair Kamo Home and Village; Board member Kiwi North; Parish Council St Johns Church; National Councillor NZ Automobile Association. Former WDC Councillor.

I stand for: Fixing sewage and stormwater issues; Safer roads with better footpath and cycle opportunities; Better suburban parking; A proper CBD and Town Basin strategy maximizing living and walking opportunities, encouraging private enterprise; Better Council commitment to the Art/ Culture/ Heritage dimension; Looking after Denby Ward.

I want a transparent, open, user friendly council welcoming public input.

Top 5 Issues

1. Making sure Denby Ward has its evolving needs looked after
2. Safer Roads with stronger commitment to fixing black spots on high risk roads, intersections and around schools
3. A comprehensive and inclusive strategy to developing the CBD and rejuvenating the Town Basin. This will encourage the private sector and the Art, Culture and Heritage dimension so that we develop an iconic walking shopping and living environment.
   The question needs to be asked" Is Council ownership of the Town Basin and Hatea River properties holding its potential back". We need to deliver on the answer.
   
4. Fixing the stormwater and sewage issues for the long term
5. An open transparent and user friendly Council which welcomes public input and is no longer a secret society. We deserve better than what we have.

Personal Profile

The above profile is the official one appearing in the candidates booklet with the voting papers. It is limited to 150 words and gives little room to state what I am passionate about and why I am standing for Council.

1. I reckon that if you believe that the way things are done at the moment is wrong, then you should put your hand up to change it, if you have the opportunity.

2. I believe in Whangarei and the huge potential we have, especially to be able to create something special around a rejuvenated Town Basin and CBD.Great cities have a thriving CBD where people live and work and generally enjoy themselves. Foreign travellers marvel at the ability to be able to sail up the Whangarei Harbour which is no longer clogged, tie up at the Town Basin and be either shopping at a supermarket within 5 minutes or be deep in the bush within 10 minutes. That is a picture we can enhance into an exciting strategic vision for our city. We cannot let the CBD die.

3.I believe that our roading emphasis on congestion relief is out of kilter and needs to change towards making our roading system safer. This involves a careful analysis of our high risk roads, identifying the " black spots" and fixing the road to make them more self explaining and forgiving.This approach need not be expensive and has a far higher benefit / cost ratio than the second harbour crossing. This new bridge is a bad deal anyway and only has any rationale at all because of the availability of NZTA money not being spent in Auckland.

4. It is time the current Council stopped fudging the debt level.

5. I want to be part of an open, transparent, user friendly Council which welcomes public input. I want to initiate a public forum at all full Council meetings where interest groups and community groups can tell  Councillors what they do, their aspirations and their concerns. I believe an annual referendum about key projects and issues should be trialled and I will deliver a regular newsletter to Denby Ward residents.