I’m passionate about people and communities; working together with Council to make Wellington even better.

I promise to: Communicate and act with integrity and honesty; Support community involvement; actively represent our communities on Council; Promote a progressive and sustainable economy.

I’ll continue to collaborate with other Councils, organisations and government, looking for opportunities to increase safety, improve public transport, roads and suburban centres to create an affordable future, with a good quality of life. 

I’ll promote re-development at Johnsonville Pool and Library, Community facilities in Churton Park and revitalization of Tawa’s town centre.

With a background in local government and management, I have spent the last 12 years balancing council responsibilities, community work and study, all with the support of my family.

Planning is in place for improved community facilities.  Its time to implement these! 

Please support me.  Keep up momentum!

Put 1 by Ngaire Best when you vote.

www.ngairebest.co.nz

Top 5 Issues

1. Wellington needs to maintain an affordable, progressive and sustainable economy – I will actively promote this by:
    Supporting emergent high growth businesses (particularly export oriented business).
    Encouraging energy efficiency both within Council and in policy development.
    Supporting reasoned rate reviews.
   
2. Working with Communities to address local issues including:
    Graffiti, litter and an improved recycling programme.
    Safety and emergency management preparedness.
    Reliable public transport.
    Pest control and beautification in our parks.
   
3. Implementation of policies that were adopted over the past three years including:
    Community Facilities Policy which supports the redevelopment of the Johnsonville Library and Pool, development of Community Facilities in Churton Park and maintenance of existing facilities.
    Johnsonville and Newlands Town Centre Plans which supports strengthening both centres, improving the public transport hub, traffic flows and safety.
    Northern Reserves Plan, improving and extending the track networks throughout the north in particular in areas identified as future reserve in Churton Park / Stebbings Valley.
   
4. The future governance of the city must be carefully evaluated, promoting collaboration, community spirit and local decision making.
5. Town Centre Planning in Tawa, there are a number of empty buildings, some for sale and others awaiting re-development! This is an opportunity for the community to shape the future of this area. Council plans to undertake a town centre planning process similar to Johnsonville and Newlands in 2012, I believe this will be too late, we must capitalize on the opportunities that are before us today. I will be doing everything I can to ensure this opportunity is not missed.
   For more information on any of these issues please check out www.ngairebest.co.nz .

Personal Profile

I have lived for most of my life in the Northern Ward, growing up in Tawa, attending Redwood School, Queen Margaret College and Wellington Girls College.  I have been actively involved with local community groups for as long as I can remember, playing Tennis, attending Girls Brigade and swimming for the local swimming club.

Over the years I have been fortunate to have four generations of my family living in our community, which has given me the benefit of insight into the specific needs of each of the  generations in our community.

I have been married to Andrew for just over 21 years, and we have two fantastic kids, Estelle (16) who is in year 12 at Wellington Girls College and Gregor (14) who is year 10 at Tawa College. I have a firm belief that to fully benefit from all that a community has to offer I must be willing to participate, which is why 13 years ago I decided to become involved in Local Body Politics.

Over this time, I have had some really good wins and have suffered through one or two lows which have taught me that; above all, we should always act openly with integrity and honesty. This is the principle on which I base my decision making at Council.

I have a background in Management and Law and now, after 13 years I think I can honestly say Local Body Politics. 

Since the birth of my children I have held the Chair of Tawa-Linden Plunket, been a member of the committee of Plunket in the Wellington Region and have been involved with Parents Centre as both a committee member and a Childbirth Educator along with umpiring children’s netball and managing a junior football team.

I am a perpetual student, and really have no desire to say I have learn’t all I wish to in life and am always seeking new information to shape my views and decisions.

Presently, I’m a Wellington City Councillor holding the role of Social Portfolio Leader, a Resource Management Act Commissioner, a member of the Tawa Community Board, Tawa Ratepayers Association, Porirua – Tawa Walkway steering committee, and co-organiser of the Spring into Tawa Festival. In addition I'm currently completing my Bachelor of Business studies via the extramural study at Massey.

Over the past 3 years I have regularly attended the Makara-Ohariu Community Board, Churton Park, Grenada Village and the Newlands Paparangi Progressive Association along with the Johnsonville Community Liaison Group.

In my 12 years in local Government I have held many roles including:

• Wellington City Councillor
• Member and chair of the Tawa Community Board,
• Member of the Audit and Risk Sub-Committee
• Member of the Strategy and Policy Committee
• Member of the Regulatory Committee
• Wellington Regional Community Board Representative (Zone 4), to the New Zealand Community Boards Executive Committee
• Quality Partnership Agreement (Alternate)
• Wastewater / Landfill Joint Committee (Alternate)
• The Porirua Harbour and Catchment Community Trust.

Prior to returning to Council in 2007, I worked as a local Real Estate Consultant for two years in the Johnsonville – Tawa area. Resigning as I believed that I could not maintain the quality service that my Real Estate clients should expect and the service you, as a member of the Northern ward community would expect of your elected representative.

The roles I have taken during my working life have I beleive allowed me to help shape the community for the better.

I aim to leave this city a better place for my being a part of it.