I arrived here from Auckland in 1985 and have lived in the Waihi Ward ever since. I worked for the privately owned Waihi Leader for 16 years in a variety of positions, ending up as Chief Reporter.

After the Leader was sold I decided to publish my own magazine – ‘Real News Waihi, on a shoestring…’ a non-profit community magazine which ran for two and a half years. When I joined the Waihi Information Centre as their part-time administrator I reluctantly placed it in recess.

I am passionate about Waihi and its people and have always been pro community. I currently serve on several committees, including the museum.

Having sat at the press table and reported on Hauraki District Council meetings for over five years gave me an insight into how Council works. I want to represent you at the Council table and do the best I can for our community.

Top 5 Issues

1. Water for Waihi
   
   Ensure that we obtain the best possible water source for Waihi. Two possible sources are the Waitekauri River and the Waitawheta River.
   The Waitekauri lies in a valley which is rich in gold and sees much gold exploration activity. There is also the still-not-signed-off closed Golden Cross mine there. This is not a good prospect for a town water supply as who knows whether some day a mining company will want to mine up there again?
   The Waitawheta River already has a water consent on it to supply Paeroa's water. Fortunately for us, this consent is very near the Waitawheta's confluence with the Ohnemuri River. The Waitawheta has enough water at the top of the valley, near Franklin Rd, to supply Waihi as well and as there is not the gold prospecting interest there, it seems to be the logical choice for a water supply to Waihi. However at this stage no decision has been made as to which river will be used and it has been left to the incoming councillors to make this decision.
2. Keeping rates as low as possible in these difficult economic times
   
   Councillors should ensure that there is a continued balance between council provision of community services and rate increases.
   No-one likes paying rates but if we want services the money has to come from somewhere. Achieving a good and reasonable balance between services to the community and their cost is a fine tight-rope balancing act. Our rates here are at a reasonable level and we need to keep them so. With no pay rises in sight because of the recession for those workers who are lucky enough to have a job, and many residents here who are on a fixed income, we need to hold our rates as low as possible. That may mean doing without something we would dearly like to have in our community, such as a heated swimming pool complex.
3. Library Upgrade
   
   Decide what we would like so see done about the upgrade of our library - Should our library be refurbished or should we have a brand new one built?
   Libraries are a district-wide cost so this decision will affect the rates of all ALL Hauraki rate payers. That means the decision will be made by all Hauraki councillors, including those from Ngatea and Paeroa.

Personal Profile

About me personally:

I am Dutch born and have a little Indonesian heritage flowing through my veins. My parents emigarated to NZ in 1957 and chose Auckland as their home. I was schooled there, and eventually went on my OE to Europe and then Australia. All in all I was away for 14 years.

I arrived here from Auckland in 1985 and have lived in the Waihi Ward ever since. I have one married daughter, a great son-in-law and two beautiful grandchildren who live at the Beach. My education consists of a Bachelor of Arts degree from Auckland University and an Advanced Journalism diploma from Massey University. I enjoy writing, gardening, playing cards and have three cats.

I like my part time job at the Waihi Information Centre and have for the past three years led a great team of 36 volunteers who are all keen to promote Waihi.

Like them, I am passionate about Waihi and its people and have always been pro community. Along with (then) Green Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, Collette Spalding and I helped hammer out the Amenity Effects Program, which gave residents whose amenity values were majorly affected by mining activities a six monthly amount of money as compensation. These residents are affected by mining for a particular span of time and expect that eventually they will no longer be affected. I currently serve on several committees, including the Waihi Arts Centre & Museum as President, Waihi Heritage Vision and Waihi Community Vision.

I have an an insight into how Council works, having sat at the press table and reported on Hauraki District Council meetings for over five years..

I want to represent you at the Council table and do the best I can for our community.

I think that we have a good council – not perfect, but what is perfect in this imperfect world? Whilst I am interested in the whole district, I am particularly interested in Waihi – where you and I live. Waihi is an awesome town, it has a lot going for it and I want it to be as good as it possibly can.

A vote for me is a vote for the best Waihi can be.