Within family, I learned to contribute to my family unit.  I learned that being a member of the unit brings roles and responsibilities.  I gained valuable skills complimented with a compassionate, caring community spirit passed down through family traditions, values and customs.   More than this, though, through family experience; resilience matched with a resolute capacity for discipline and hard work developed.   I was taught to DO your absolute BEST and be your weight worth in gold.

• South Waikato has a growing young population and no jobs
• We have a low waged economy functioning because of low skills
• We need to create an environment that fosters innovation and wealth creation

It is my intention to bring a strong commitment to developing capacity within the South Waikato family.  Learning is earning.  That’s got to be good for you, your family, your neighbour, your community.  Visit me on www.facebook.com, www.twitter.com

 

Kei roto tenei whanau, kua whoatu au oku ringa raupa hei awhina hei tautoko hei mirimiri i a ratou te whanau kia pupuri ana ratou nga pukenga me nga tikanga o aua tupuna e kawe ake nei.  E poipoi ana ratou nga taonga a kui ma a koro ma, ki te whakakotahi ai tatou te whanau hei tu tangata kei runga nga moemoea me te tumanako me te whakapono o nga atua hei tiaki mai i roto i te wairua tapu.

• Mai te rohe o Waikato ki te tonga he maha rawa atu nga hunga rangatahi e kore mahi ana.
• E maha nga hunga no konei he iti noiho nga pukenga me te putea hoki.
• E tae ana matou katoa e hanga ana te hapori hei whangai ake nga kaupapa hou kei roto ki Waikato ki te tonga.

Ko taku tino hiahia e mau ana nga whanau whanui kei roto i te hapori o Waikato ki te Tonga i te tirohanga tahi tatou ki te whakaako tatou ki a tatou nga mea tika, nga mea tahi pono tatou hei hapai ake tatou te whanau whanui.  Tukuna mai i ahau www.facebook.com, www.twitter.com

Top 5 Issues

1. Workforce Development- This is a top issue for the South Waikato and a genuine understanding of our future workforce needs must get serious attention. Statistics NZ projections state it is most probable that Maori and Pacific Island peoples will be the majority persons in New Zealand within 50 years; this growing demographic should concern everyone for it is Maori and Tangata Pasifika youth who will be the workforce we need tomorrow and the nation tomorrow. But little is being achieved to see them finish school and gain the skills and ethics required for meaningful work and income.
   We MUSTensure our future workforce is skilled and resourced to be productive I have listened to more than 500 people spread from across all regions of Aotearoa who identified Maori Workforce Development as a key priority for the future. The following key areas were identified for further work:
   •Developing skills and lifelong learning a family priority
   •Improving career advice to support lifelong employment and employability
   •Promoting and supporting workforce participation among Māori as a matter of urgency
   •Inviting closer industry involvement with Māori
   •Ensuring that kaupapa Māori educational options are supported by quality out-of school care options to promote Māori women’s labour market participation,
   •Finding ways to make Modern Apprenticeships and other vocational pathways work better for Māori and Pasifika women.
   In addition,the need for more cooperation between industries, promoting our products in a coordinated way, forming strategic alliances inter and intra iwi, as well as regionally, nationally and internationally.
   Accelerating Workforce Development ensures that people are recognised as the most important asset to economic sustainability.
   
   Workforce Development is a strategic approach to decent work that requires a consolidation of effort not only by employers but also by the workforce and all stakeholders in the community to ensure sustainable jobs. Low skills and low wages do not provide prosperity for all as a key component of the LTCCP prosperity is for everyone not just business. The focus here is on People.
   .Bridging support into employment for Maori youth
   •Participation in Industry training
   •Career information, advice and guidance for women
   •Increasing workplace productivity for low skill and semi skilled workers
   
   high wage, high skill, quality economy. Investment is still needed to catch-up after the disastrous 1990s where infrastructure was allowed to languish and investment in skill development virtually halted.
   With meaningful approaches that truly walk the talk of valuing people as our greatest asset the workforce of the future can thrive and in so doing ensure that our communities thrive.
2. Maori Economic Development- The Ministry of Maori Development and NZIER provided a report in 2003 on this issue. Generally the following needs were identified to strengthen New Zealands economy through strengthening the Maori economy.
   The Maori economy requires investment in high quality governance development. New Zealand businesses have opportunities available to them to transact and invest in the emerging Maori economy and developing government policy to enhance New Zealands overall economic performance. The Treaty of Waitangi is recognised as New Zealands founding document. Unity is not achieved through denial but would have increased opportunity to occur if a genuine commitment to resolving and restoring the imbalances brought about by the misdeeds of historical and contemporary injustices.
   Further, the Treaty of Waitangi is an expression of relationship between the Crown, Maori and other New Zealanders. Mutual respect and the prospect of mutual benefits should underlie these relationships. There is much to be done regarding Maori development and collectively owned Maori land, the Waitangi tribunal has made recommendations on this which I support and will endeavour to implement in the South Waikato to ensure a fair playing ground for all rate payers.
3. Business- The ability of our district to achieve unprecedented long term increases in total production to levels never before seen is a reality when complimented with advanced technology applied by a skilled workforce. Economic development is not a zero sum game in which the winnings of some are inevitably mirrored by the losses of others, This is an approach where everyone can win.
   Extracting wealth from the poorest regions in our country to grow rich and exploitation of the poor is not good business. Key drivers of change for our district in the innovation economy include creation of knowledge and innovation; The greatest benefit of the innovation economy will accrue to businesses who can access and adopt new technologies. Indeed, having innovative communities may be more important for growth than having a high rate of capital investment. One of the main factors driving the innovation economy will be technological advances. These advances will impact both on the existing sectors in which we as a district participate, and the new sectors that have great potential for us. Research and development coupled with education will be additional important factors enabling the South Waikato to excel in the innovation economy.
   Technology transfer interventions will rise food yields through systematic improvements in pastoral practice, including of course the management of soil nutrients, mitigation and adaptation management i.e. changing crops and land use and the ability to irrigate. Reduction of carbon emissions through reduced cultivation practices are some solutions to an everyone wins approach to economic development. This is not an easy change by any means but a change in Dairy strategy working on systems rather than targets and having the capability to do this is the challenge for our industries.
   Untapped potential exists with Tourism and alternative energy within the district that demands more exploration, planning and delivery.
   Small business- Every day I hear from struggling small business in our district, ordinary hard working kiwis trying to keep their dairy's, boutiques, retail outlets and services providing to the people within our communities above water. The strengths of small business; include low debt-equity ratios, the separation of commercial activities from non-commercial, the movement to diversify assets, the strong focus on the quadruple bottom line, the value associated with being long term and local and recruitment of the best skilled people; may mean that these businesses are well placed to take advantage of these trends. Those who are best able to manage both innovation and risk, are likely to be more resilient during the hard times, and to be able to use the recovery as a springboard for future growth. A commitment to Small Business is compelling and needed by us all to support our local small business owners and operators. We can do this by following through with the Small business advisory board recommendations of:
   •provision of advice, mentoring and practical tools
   •access to finance and business support
   •enhancing the environment for small business
   •improvements in the regulatory environment.
   
   The reality is that some of our new small businesses may not have the experience, expertise or financial resources to survive difficult times; andn like other businesses, may become risk averse, which may limit uptake of the opportunities which are available.
   We all need to support our small business operators and owners who demonstrate the South Waikato hospitality matched with quality service and products. Thats our point of difference.
   Let us grow local, make local and buy local
4. Strong Social Services: We can look to the most vulnerable in our communities to gauge how effective and meaningful are our social services.
   
   Strong, healthy, confident communities that are safe and provide well for our aging and young populations has to be on our agenda for change. The social responsibility that comes with being a citizen of this country demands respect for social needs and rights. We all know jobs provide income for families, we all know that protecting our children and giving them the best start in life and throughout their lives is paramount to everyones well being. WE all know that an inactive youth is the devils playground and keeping our youth out of the criminal justice system and on track for a great future is a priority for our district. WE are the face of tomorrow for this country. If we look to Tokoroa we will find the age and ethnic demographics projected to occur in the country within 16 years. Its already here for us. A focus on people is more than trade training programmes, this is about our babies, our teenagers, our families, our elderly. Each and every one of them valuable members of our communities who have so much to offer now and into the future. How council promotes the social, economic, cultural and environmental wellbeing of our communities reflects how we respect each other, the relationships we have with each other, the expectations and standards that we hold to determine appropriate behaviour and how we will work together to ensure prosperity for all. As a staunch advocate for social policy and service you will see a commonsense approach taken to ensuring that our people and all people coming into the South Waikato feel their needs are addressed. Roads, Rubbish and Rates are basic local issues that need attention but the bigger picture is about committment, commonsense and community. To put social needs at the bottom of the to do list is unacceptable. As Mayor of the South Waikato this area of priority will go to the top of the to do list. To neglect, exploit or mistreat one community stakeholder whilst advancing another is inappropriate. A balanced and fair approach to intervention and assistance is required. As with all services we need skill, and better pay for our social service workers.
   We need to build positive and constructive relationships with each other and commit to our aspirations for a vibrant, diverse, welcoming and caring community.
   We are the South Waikato, and we are on a journey to discover ourselves, living and loving our home.
   
   
5. YOUR EDUCATION IS CLAIR
   YOUR HEALTH IS CLAIR
   YOUR FUTURE IS CLAIR
   
   VOTE CLAIR FOR MAYOR

Personal Profile

My family home is in Tapapa the small rural community of the Tirau Ward.  From the beginnings of my life Tapapa and Tirau have been my anchor shaping and moulding me to be the wonderful woman that I am today.  I am a mother of two children both grown now and not needing mum so much.  My daughter is Morgan 22 years and beautiful, an independent, strong, intelligent young woman who has completed her apprenticeship as a Chef and well equipped to be a fantastic socially responsible woman of the future.  My son, Joel is 18years of age and finishing his 7th form, or year 13 at Onslow College in Wellington with the hope of joining the NZ Airforce next year.  These two young people are my heart who bring me so much joy and pride my heart swells at the thought of them.  I am a single parent and have been for 19 years on my return from Australia to New Zealand in 1992.  In 1993 I bid farewell to my dad who passed away after a long illness and in 1995 my rock my mum passed away.  My extended family, friends and church wrapped around me and my children and in those times of trial kept me on track.

 I came home to Tapapa in 1992 and was embraced by my whanau, hapu and iwi with the blessing of three of our Kaumatua who have all passed on now my Uncle Mac Winika, Uncle Mackey Ruru and Uncle Mac Koperu in 2002 at Paparaamu Marae I began my journey in policy and leadership.    I became  the first Maori policy analyst for the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.  And from this journey I became the first elected Maori officer of the Council of Trade Unions representing more than 300,000 workers and more than 60,000 Maori workers as the Maori Vice President.  Immediately I became immersed in Central government policy and set on my journey of influencing policy for positive change covering both economic and social policy as well as being introduced to the international stage at the United Nations, the International Labour Organisation, and the Free Trade Agreement with China.  For these privileges I will always honor the working class of our country and the world.

I know what it is like to be a hard working single income provider for a family, I know what it is like to need to upskill and invest in yourself to gain qualifications to increase skill and income.  I know what it is like to be a small business owner operator, I know what it is like to strive, survive and thrive.

My governance experience is vast, sitting as the Co chair for Makepovertyhistory, the Vice President of the Peace Foundation Aotearoa, a member on the steering committee for Every Child Counts, a member of the Inmate Employment Advisory Group, a trustee for my hapu, a member of the Climate Change Reference Group, and I enjoyed more recently over the past 3 years working with my Iwi (tribe) Raukawa as the chair of the Raukawa Claimant Committee and over the last year working with the Iwi in its transition after the Central North Island settlement.  I am a claimant for our Treaty settlement claims and have a healthy respect for accelerating Maori economic development.

For three years I have been travelling from Wellington to the South Waikato monthly and sometimes weekly, with the kids and I making the decision for me to fulfill my dream to return home and give back to the community that grew me.  I now am living in Tokoroa whilst in transition myself to move back to my turangawaewae (my family land) by the end of this year to continue the family committment to our district from Tapapa.

A vote for me is a vote for change.  Only you will know if you think a change is necessary.  I believe it is and with the growing interest in the elections, I am confident that many of you also feel the same as I and will support my candidacy to Mayor.  I am driven, passionate and committed to our district and more importantly to the people of our district. 

My leadership capability comes with the knowledge and learnings given to me over the past 19 years by many imminent leaders of this country.  Firstly mentored by Kuia Vera Morgan (93 years of age) from Nga Puhi, and of course my Great Uncle Jimmy Clair aka Koro from Raukawa and Ngati Ranginui, Huirangi Waikereperu, Taranaki elder and advocate for human rights and the revitalisation of Maori language, these strong, intelligent and loving kaumatua (elders)  have guided me in my own personal and professional development.  Followed by the support of the Hui Taumata Economic Taskforce my gratitude and aroha goes out to Sir Ngatata Love, Sir Paul Reeves, Tumu Te HeuHeu, Phil O’Reilly, Shaan Stevens and of course a dear friend and mentor Ross Wilson.

My greatest ability is putting into practice the learnings I have received which is about respectful relationships.  I am the unifying force that the district needs.  I will represent through transparency, communication and inclusiveness.  My leadership will be reliable, trustworthy and honest.  I have a living sense of my mana and practice my tikanga to fulfil my commitments.  This means that I am values based and value the right to dignity, respect and social responsibility.

As a high profile political advocate I have the knowledge, ability and confidence to represent our district at the local, national and international level.  It is your mandate that I will exercise and regularly check in with you to see if I am staying on track.  I want us to have a relationship that you can trust, that you will know is fair and unbiased and honest.  I am a leader, which started at the tender age of 15 as the President of the colleges Interact Club (junior version of Rotary) which followed me into my nursing career and into my policy and governance roles.  The greatest leadership that I have provided and demonstrated is in my role as mother and father to my two children.  They are my personal gauge of my ability to lead and to lead well through practical common sense to attain our dreams and aspirations.   

A vote for Clair is a Vote for Change which does not come with FEAR for you need not fear that any of the good work undertaken over the last 3 years will be undone.  I do not reside in hurried thinking and with the wonderful support and contributions from the successful councillors and community boards and our elderly we will retain the good and set a pace for the future.

noreira

Mauri Mahi  Mahi Ora