Tena koutou katoa

It has been a privilege to serve the community as mayor of Rotorua for the past 6 years. I pledge my fulltime commitment and energy to continue in this role. I offer business and council experience, understanding of rural and urban communities and a track record of integrity, vision and action.

Under my leadership we've achieved New Zealand's lowest rate increase and brought international flights to this district. We've secured $72m from the crown for improving lake water quality programmes and we've developed strong partnerships with Police, Social Development, Education and Health. We've seen major redevelopment of our library, museum, civic theatre, airport and customer service centre. Major investigations are underway to future proof our extensive roading network that will allow better inter and intra regional traffic flows.  

With your support I intend focusing on growing our economy, lifting employment, improving air and water quality, building programmes to keep residents safe and developing effective partnerships with iwi

Lets Keep Rotorua on track

Top 5 Issues

1. Economic development to achieve economic growth by Rotorua District Council facilitating more Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and or Joint Ventures (JV) with developers and stakeholders
2. Lake Water Quality improvement programmes for our 14 fresh water lakes This includes a detailed review of our District Plan to allow greater flexibility of land use and subdivision for land owners that minimises the nutrient impact on all our lakes, especially Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti
3. Safety of residents and visitors alike, including programmes to reduce domestic family violence
   The new "Treasure Rotorua" brand is a joint agreement between RDC, NZ Police, ACC, MSD, CastleCorp, Toi Te Ora Public Health, Te Waiariki Purea Trust, Iwi and Neighbourhood Support. This committment was signed in June 2010 under the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Safer City designation
   We are all committed to working together to make Rotorua even safer.
4. Keeping Council costs and rate increases to Consumer Price Index (CPI)
   The Minister of Local Government has congratulated Rotorua District Council on our financial performance and resource consenting application timelines
5. Visitor promotion and major event attractions to Rotorua and Bay of Plenty. Through using the "Central Park" brand for the Central North Island promotion and marketing campaign and the new Tourism Standing Committee of Rotorua District Council will ensure that Rotorua maintains and enhances its "best of" attractions to grow our Visitor Industry. The Rotorua International Airport is a key driver of this.
   
   CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE:
   
   Securing $72m from the Crown over the next 8 years for Water Quality Improvement programmes for our 14 lakes
   
   Securing AirNZ to fly International Flights to and from Sydney twice weekly and developing the infrastructure at Rotorua International Airport to cater for A320 Jets.
   
   Assisted in Major Treaty settlements with Central North Island Iwi Collective and Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa and the Crown
   
   The Rotorua Partners Programme has resulted in approx $40m being "gifted" to Rotorua District Council to be used to build better community facilities eg The Rotorua Energy Events Centre,
   
   

Personal Profile

Married to Sue

B.Ag.Sc

Justice of the Peace

2 teenage children

Former Dairy Farmer of 30 years

Aged 53

Spare time activities include mountain biking in our wonderful forests, fishing at Waihau Bay

Qualified Master Skipper for Rotorua Lakes Volunteer Coast Guard for Royal New Zealand Coast Guard for dedicated Search and Rescue

CURRENT COUNCIL COMMITTEES and MEMBERSHIP thereof include:

Chair of Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Chair of B.O.P. Mayors and Chair Triennial Group

Chair of Te Arawa Standing Committee

Chair of Kauae Cemetery Trust

Chair of Audit Committee

Chair of Executive Committee

Chair of Ngati Whakaue Gifted Reserves Protocol

Trustee on Rotorua Centennial Museum Redevelopment Project 

Trustee on Pukaki Trust

Trustee on Rotorua Community Youth Centre

Trustee on Eric Bridgeman Trust,

Trustee on Gordon Bartlett Trust

Trustee on Margaret and Huia Clarke Trust