Pat has served as a Palmerston North City Councillor since 1994, and was an elected member of MidCentral Health Board in 2004-07.

As such he places health and safety issues high on the community agenda.

Currently Pat serves on policy making committees involved in planning, finance and community services. 

On the Health Board Pat was involved in advisory committees dealing with community and public health and disability support. 

He was Deputy Chairperson on the City's Economic Committee (1995-98), Chairperson on the Finance and Review Committee (1998-2001),

 Chairperson on Chief Executive's Performance Appraisal Committee (2004-07), and Chairperson on Audit and Review Committee (2007-04).

In addition Pat has represented the City Council on The Science Centre and the Manawatu Museum Trust Board (1999),

 Horizons Passenger Transport Liaison Committee (2001-04), and the Ethnic Council of Manawatu (2004-07).

Pat was appointed by the Health Board to Enable NZ Governance Group (2004-07),

and by the City Council to the Lower Manawatu Scheme-Rating Review Committee (2008-10).  

 

Top 5 Issues

1. Keeping rates to a minimum and affordable, reducing debt and providing basic services like water quality, recycling and waste dispoal.
2. Making sure Council and Health Board are open, accessible and accountable, and are financially transparent on services provided.
3. Communicating with constituents, listening to their concerns, advocating for them, and dealing promptly with problems raised.
4. Developing recreational and cultural amenities in the City, and speaking out on social and health concerns in the District.
5. Building a properous City that is sustainable by collaborating with the police to make it a safe place, working with the the Regional Council on environmental issues, and the District Health Board on health matters.

Personal Profile

Pat retired from teaching at Massey University in 2006, where he was employed in the College of Business Studies since 1979.

He served in the U.S. Army (1955-58), worked in television broadcasting (1958-62), and graduated from the University of Texas in 1962.  

He was awarded a M.Sc.(Econ) from the London School of Economics in 1965. 

Pat was elected to the London Borough Council of Wandsworth (1965-70), and was a ministerial private secretary in the British Parliament (1965-68).

He taught economics at Kingston University in London (1968-73), and was a senior lecturer at the Universtiy of South West England (1973-79).

Pat is married to Janet and has two adult daughters working in London.

He has been professionally involved as a member of the Royal Society, the Public Health Association, and the Institute of Public Administration.

He is currently a member of several community organisations, like YMCA and RSA, and an honorary member of Awapuni Rotary and the Manawatu Probus Club.

Pat enjoys fishing and boating, tramping and camping, riding with the Manawatu Classic Motorcycle Club,

and serving the community as a Justice Of The Peace.