WELCOME!

I have been Mayor of our city for nine years, and I am proud of what we have all achieved. I decided to stand in 2010 because I believe that strong, experienced, proven leadership is critical to ensure that Wellington continues to be the best place in New Zealand to live, work, play and visit. This is a great city, and we are still on the up! So when your papers arrive on 18^th September, please vote for my experienced leadership, and make sure our city continues to be the best little Capital in the World! Thank you!

 

Kerry Prendergast – Mayor of Wellington

Have your say! See my website www.kerry4mayor.co.nz and give me your questions and feedback

Please vote as soon as your voting papers arrive!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Issues

1. RIGHT NOW, STRONG EXPERIENCED PROVEN LEADERSHIP IS VITAL TO WELLINGTON
   Auckland’s new Super City council will have a significant impact on our city. It will want to fast-track initiatives, to show that the Super City council works, and will be hungry for government funds to invest in Auckland’s under-performing infrastructure.
   
   In Wellington, strong leadership can ensure that Auckland doesn’t monopolise government spending. I will work to make sure Wellington gets it’s fair share.
   
   I understand Wellington, its people and politics, and I have strong, established relationships across Parliament, and with the current Government. The Council I lead will make sure that Wellington secure our fair share of funding, so that we can remain what we all know Wellington really is, New Zealand’s true super city.
   
2. LET'S MAKE SURE WELLINGTON KEEPS GROWING
   Economic development over the past five years has created more than 8000 jobs, and about $300m has been invested our infrastructure to strengthen and refurbish low-cost housing and improve our roads. Tourism numbers have increased by over 30%, and around 2800 people now work in our creative industries. I believe we can be even better!
   
   An eco-friendly, sustainable, capital is what we all want.
   My vision is for a carbon-neutral Wellington, and we’re already working hard towards this goal. My initiatives already include green buildings, creating a rapid transit network and minimizing energy across Council facilities.
   
3. MY COMMITMENTS TO YOU AND OUR ENVIRONMENT
   I want a sustainable future for your city.
   We’re already delivering on my vision of a Carbon Neutral Capital. But there’s more to be done, so over the next three years I will:
   • Complete planning and preparation for a rapid transport network from the railway station to the hospital and airport
   • Show leadership in introducing fully electric car technology
   • Work with private sector and government to deliver energy saving programs for homes and businesses
   • Complete “Wellington 2040” which looks at key opportunity for responding to climate change while making the city more sustainably competitive at the same time
   • Make Wellington the most sustainable eco friendly city in the southern hemisphere with an aspirational goal to become carbon neutral
   • Implementing the Climate Change Action Plan.
   
4. MY COMMITMENTS TO YOU AND OUR ECONOMY
   I want to keep the current momentum going by:
   • Delivering a world class Indoor Sports Centre
   • Ensuring the best RWC experience in New Zealand
   • Increasing our tourism numbers and spend above NZ's average
   • Ensuring that our inner city remains vibrant and safe
   • Becoming the most sustainable eco friendly city in the southern hemisphere
   • Making sure our great little city gets its share of resources from the government.
   
5. LET'S ALL ENJOY WELLINGTON
   No-one can put together special events and parties like Wellington: the New Zealand Festival of the Arts, World of Wearable Arts, The best place for New Zealand’s biggest events
   Wellington on a Plate, and the New Zealand
   Arts Show to name but a few. We and our visitors are able to enjoy Karori Sanctuary’s stunning Zealandia centre, Carter Observatory, along with Te Papa, our superb art galleries, theatres, numerous shows and more.
   
   We’re at the heart of sporting action
   Wellingtonians are really on the ball when it comes to supporting our sportspeople. The All Whites, who were undefeated at the FIFA World Cup, is built around the Wellington Phoenix!
   
   Next year, our city will be the only place to be during the Rugby World Cup. Aucklanders have their tent, but it will be full-on party central in Courtenay Place, Civic Square, and
   the Waterfront!
   
   The Sevens is our ball, no one is taking it off us
   There’s only one city that’s right for the Sevens. Ours! As mayor, I will do all I can to stop those who are trying to take this great Wellington event away from us. The Sevens must,
   and will, stay here.
   

Personal Profile

 

Wellington has grown continuously during my Mayoralty. Tourism numbers continue to rise, we’ve seen more events, and economic development has created more investment and jobs.  $300 million has been invested in infrastructure including; enabling new bus lanes, improved storm-water systems, upgraded social housing and the construction of our new world-class indoor sports centre, and more public art.

Our creative and innovation sectors are flourishing.  Our great ”can-do” attitude means we continue to make things happen.  We need to finish planning the proposed rapid transit network plan, maintain our sustainability focus, and complete the Wellington 2040 plan to determine the vision and shape of the city for the next 30 years.   

Strong proven trusted leadership is vital for Wellington’s continued growth. Wellington needs to have a strong voice to compete against the new Auckland Super City.  Please support me, and allow me to continue for three more years as your Mayor.                                   

CV

Kerry is in her third term as Mayor of Wellington. She served as Deputy Mayor from 1995 to 2001. She has an MBA from Victoria University (2003).  Her professional background was in the health sector, first as a registered nurse then as a registered midwife for 25 years, work she continued alongside her extremely busy local government roles until she became Mayor in 2001.

Qualifications

            MBA – Victoria University of Wellington (2003)

            RM –  Wellington (1977)

           Diploma of Intensive Care –  Wellington (1973)

           RGON – Wellington (1972)

            Justice of the Peace

  

Honours Held

 Medal of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

In honour of the relationship between New Zealand and Italy

Received from the Italian Embassy in Wellington, 2006

 

Medal of the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins – Grand Cross

The highest award for foreigners

Received from the Embassy of Chile in Wellington, ??

 

Local Government Positions Held

         Mayor of Wellington (2001 - until October 2010)

• Oversees and guides administration of $329m annual operating expenditure
•  Responsible for stewardship of $6 billion in city assets and 1400 employees
• Leads a comprehensive annual consultation process, presenting and positioning the Long Term Council Community Plan to ratepayers and residents
• Strategic and tactical planning for Wellington’s future
• Negotiation and resolution of difficult issues
• Provides leadership and guidance to 14 elected Councillors

 

Vice President – Local Government New Zealand (2005-present)

 

Chair – Wellington Mayoral Forum (2001-2007)

 

Deputy Mayor – Wellington City Council (1995-2001)

 

Councillor – Wellington City Council (1998-2001)

 

Councillor – Tawa Borough Council (1986-1989)

 

Board Appointments

 

           Trustee – Wellington Jazz and Music Festival Trust (2008-present)

 

           Director – Wellington International Airport (2001-present)

 

            Trustee – New Zealand Festival of the Arts (1993-present)

 

Trustee – Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society (1990-2006)

 

           Trustee – Skylight Trust (1996-2005)

 

           Director – Matpro (1996-2002)

 

            Director – Wellington Waterfront Limited (1998-2001)

 

           Director – Lambton Harbour Management Ltd (1993-1998)

 

            Director – Tui Milk Products (1989-1992)

 

Professional Memberships

            Member – Wellington Region Association of Midwives  (1990-present)

            Member – New Zealand College of Midwives (1977-present)

 

Community Service

Kerry has been involved in many voluntary groups over many years

She has been made an Honorary Life Member of Plunket and the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society

She is currently Patron of a number of organisations including:

Netball Wellington, Parent Help, Wellington Male Voice Choir, Wellington Rowing Club, Wellington Rose Society, Wellington Youth Orchestra, Wellington-Xiamen Association, Tawa Historical Society, and the Skylight Trust. She is Vice Patron of the Orpheus Choir and NZ Opera

In 1982, Kerry published a book called ‘Grief and the Loss of Your Baby’ and was then a voluntary Grief Counsellor for the next 18 years

Strengths

• An inspirational leader
• Extremely hard-working
• Reads other people well
• Passionate
• Organised
• High personal integrity and honesty
• Articulate communicator in all media
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a good listener
• Excellent negotiating skills
• Understands and supports process
• Sets goals and objectives and delivers
• Strategic thinker
• Excellent team leader – gets the most out of a team
• Politically astute
• Highly committed and tenacious
• Excellent memory
• Good sense of humour
• Logical thinker

Achievements as Mayor

• Her ‘Creative Wellington – Innovation Capital’ vision which has been accepted internationally as Wellington’s brand

• Her ‘best little capital in the world’  tag line – again accepted as defining Wellington  

• Wellington being accepted as the country’s ‘Arts and Culture Capital’

• Responsible for gaining major funding for the many sculptures placed around the city over the past 10 years

• Major progress on the waterfront over the past few years, including its first green buildings (Meridian and BNZ) and largest urban park in NZ (Waitangi Park)

•  Oriental Bay and Freyberg beaches

• Events like the Rugby Sevens, World of Wearable Arts, International Festival of the Arts, the David Beckham/LA Galaxy success, the Phoenix!

• Lord of the Rings premieres

• Indoor Community Sports Centre, which is being built

• ‘Greening the Quays’ with Pohutukawa trees along the centre of Aotea and Jervois Quays

•  ‘Three Parks in Three Years’ – an initiative which saw upgrades to the Courtenay/Taranaki St corner, Glover Park, and Cobblestone Park

• Wellington Regional Strategy including setting up Grow Wellington – the region’s economic development agency

• Partnership deal ($220m) with Government to refurbish the Council's housing stock

 

Personal

 Kerry was born in Christchurch, later moving to Wellington, and attending Tawa College. She has lived overseas in both Australia and the UK. She is married to hotelier Rex Nicholls. Kerry has three grown children – Melissa, Andrew and Jessica – all in the Wellington area. She has a  one year old granddaughter, Amber Leigh

 As well as being Mayor of the best little capital in the world, Kerry enjoys reading, cooking, skiing and walking and is really looking forward to becoming a grandmother in August.

 Kerry considers that she has more to do as Mayor of Wellington. She is seeking one further term.