I am proud to stand up for the community I grew up in, attended school in and have been so active and passionate about. That passion has lead me to me ashamed of our current civic offices and I want to use the skills of teamwork and leadership I have gained over the years from being involved in our community. I have served as a trustee, committee member and a volunteer for many local events and organisations including the Youth Initiatives Trust, Linwood Youth Festival Experience (LFYE), Diverse Youth Cafe and the Linwood Recourse Centre. Now with funding cuts across the city to so many community groups I want to be part of a team that stands up to fight for them. To have an open, accountable and transparent system where all of the community is included and their voices matter.

Top 5 Issues

1. Communities - Community Boards were first established as the very forefront of local consultation and representation for our community to get a say in what was happening in it. I want to see the funding that has been stripped from community boards put back so we can keep our say in what happens in our community.
2. Inner City - The heart of Christchurch is the central city, yet over the last term of council her heart has been allowed to wither away so the shops down her main streets are closed and vacant. People have moved out to the suburbs and we need to change this. We need to look at ways to revitalise the inner city, the heart of Christchurch.
3. Living Streets - To keep the name of 'The Garden City' is more than just a central city park but the have her streets alive with green spaces and walkways. We need to keep the balance between urban needs for space and urban jungle of concrete. We want a city that looks like 'The Garden City' and not just named as such.
4. Democracy - It seems a strange topic required to be talked about but the last term of council has seen a serious lack of openness, transparency and accountability that has gone unchecked for the most part and this must stop. We need a team from the Mayor through to the Councillors and Community Board Members that want to keep an open, transparent and accountable system in place for all residents to have easy access to.
5. Transport - This is going to be a big issue in this election with the proposed changes to the current bus exchange and current public services. Does Christchurch go to light rail or review the current bus system and tweak were required. The next council will get to decide on this and it is a huge issue that will affect public transport users for years to come as well as the face of our city.

Personal Profile

I have been involved with many community events and organisations over the last several years. They included The Linwood Resource Centre as a trustee and volunteer. The Youth Initiatives Trust as a trustee. The Diverse Youth Cafe as a committee member. LYFE (Linwood Youth Festival Experience) as a volunteer, committee member and advisory committee member one year as well. I attended Linwood College through till 7th form and feel deeply for the local community and am proud to have been brought up and schooled in it. Now I wish to give back to the community for all it has given me.