Peter Taylor, MBA, MA(Hons)

The People's Choice: 2021

I love this city! The beautiful Port Hills, parks, beaches and rivers, our pure water supply, our mountains. But our greatest asset is us. Let's promote thriving people-centred communities. Neighbourhoods are the glue that holds a happy, safe city together.

 

As a finance professional, I think that the best people to decide how our money should be spent are the city’s residents. It is wrong that raw sewage overflows into rivers while money is frittered on dodgy property deals. Council decision-making has been behind closed doors.

 

Let's raise the standard! I offer extensive governance experience in community and commercial organisations. Chair of community-owned finance provider NZCU South, serving 22,000 South Island people. Chair of Shirley Intermediate 2003-07, leading a turnaround team that created a thriving kids-centred school. Founding manager of Just Dollars Trust enterprise loan fund, creating several hundred jobs for Christchurch people during the 1990s.

 

960 8118, peter@petertaylor.co.nz, www.petertaylor.co.nz

Top 5 Issues

1. Democracy & council decision-making.
   
   Bring back council standing committees to enhance our council's decision-making processes.
   
   My concept of People's Forums will allow city residents to initiate good ideas rather than simply submitting to annual plans. Read more about this concept on my Web site at http://bit.ly/9MFS5q
   
   I will fight for the reintroduction of a democratically elected regional council.
2. Neighbourhoods and community.
   
   Promote and fund activities in our neighbourhoods that encourage neighbourly contact and support the isolated.
   
   I was recently inspired by the folk of Linwood Playcentre and their good work. Read more at www.petertaylor.co.nz
3. Council spending.
   
   We seem to have slush funds for pet projects but no funds for fundamental human needs:
   
   - why did we spend $17m bailing out a property developer?
   - why are we balancing the books by hiking the rents on social housing and cutting community funding?
   - why are we taking ten years to reduce sewage overflows into our rivers?
   - are we getting the full story about what council debt funding will do to our future rates?
   
   More rigorous financial processes are required. The reintroduction of standing committees will provide greater transparency and oversight for expenditure issues.
   
   My People's Forum proposal will provide a way for residents to have a greater say over expenditure. Read more about this concept at www.petertaylor.co.nz
4. Quality of life.
   
   Christchurch is the quality-of-life capital of the world. Let’s keep it that way!
   
   - Canterbury's artesian water supply and waterways must be protected. I support a democratically elected regional council where the people decide how Canterbury water is allocated.
   - Our water strategy must include an accelerated investment in preventing raw sewage overflows into Christchurch rivers.
   - Our Port Hills are a recreational treasure. I would promote efforts to retain and enhance tracks and native bush.
   - The Ihutai Avon-Heathcote Estuary is a water sport treasure and wildlife delight. Let's work on stopping sewage overflows and reducing faecal contamination.
   - Development of uninterrupted green spaces along the banks of the Heathcote & Avon would be a pleasure for residents and a drawcard for visitors. Have you noticed how many busy roads you have to cross if you want to walk the banks of our rivers?
   - Our city parks need greater attention so that winter sports suffer less disruption.
5. Enhancement of public transport and cycling options.
   
   I favour ongoing development of our bus system as a cost-effective solution for public transport. Light rail is another expensive trinket that this city can ill-afford. Our city does not have the population density to support this expensive infrastructure. The road corridors and stations that would be reserved for light rail could be used by buses for much lower cost. We have barely begun to explore the possibilities offered by quiet, smooth, energy-efficient, technologically advanced buses.
   
   We must continue to encourage commuter cycling and cyclist safety. Safe cycleways that are physically separated from motorised traffic should be a part of our long-term planning.

Personal Profile

I am a 47 year old, living in Linwood, born and bred in Christchurch.  I grew up in North New Brighton, went to Shirley Boys High and the University of Canterbury.  My 18 year old daughter is at Otago University.

Two of the big reasons I love Christchurch are the Port Hills and the Southern Alps.  Skiing, climbing, tramping and hill running are the activities that spin my wheels.  Movies, music on vinyl records and watching the All Blacks beat the Springboks are major passions.

My values are centred on community and neighbourhoods.  All my adult life I have been involved in organisations and activities that build community.  I have worked hard to develop the business skills and expertise to make me an effective and practical contributor.

Qualifications

MBA – Master of Business Administration

MA (Hons) in New Zealand history.

Current Roles

Chair of the Board at NZCU South.  A credit union (basically a bank, owned by its customers).  $100m of assets and 22,000 members.  14 branches from Nelson to Invercargill.  Our Christchurch branch can be found at The Palms shopping centre.

Chair of the Southern Region of the Sustainable Business Network.  A nationwide forum for businesses focussed on environmental sustainability.

Marketing Strategist consultant at Claude & Associates.  Christchurch’s longest-established marketing and advertising agency.

Convenor Green Drinks.  A monthly networking event for folk working or interested in environmental sustainability.

Past Roles

Chair of the Board at Shirley Intermediate School.  A great team of parents banded together to stop the decline of this school.  We are so proud of the kids-centred vibrant school that came out of our hard work.

Founding manager at Just Dollars Trust.  In the early 1990s I joined a fantastic group of community-minded folk who had the idea of forming a people’s bank.  We had no idea!  But we very quickly worked out a practical goal of seeking investments from the community to support loans to low income people setting up in self-employment.  We made it work and it is still running today.  This organisation has been responsible for the creation of hundreds of jobs in Christchurch and Canterbury.

General Manager at Credit Union Canterbury.

Director at Christchurch Small Business Enterprise Centre.  Community-owned company that provides business training, accounting services, employment placement, migrant business support. These people do good work!

Strategic Development Manager at CallSouth.  The South Island’s own telecommunications company during the early 2000s.  Community owned.  Residential phone and Internet customers throughout New Zealand.