I am fourth generation in Rangiwahia, where I live and farm, am 59 and married to Mary, a Practice Nurse in Feilding. We have three sons. Hamish and David work on a large sheep and beef station in the South Island. Peter is a registered builder in Hamilton. We have three grandchildren.

I have decided to stand for Council so that the rural community is well represented. I have an interest in community affairs and have been on the Rangiwahia Community Committee since 1986. I was secretary for 10 years and have been Chairman since 2004. I have worked over these years to keep before Council such issues as roading, halls, refuse and other matters, and also with Destination Manawatu to promote tourism in the Manawatu. I believe the knowledge I have built up over the years enables me to well represent the Kiwitea-Pohangina Ward and Manawatu as a whole. 

Top 5 Issues

1. Tourism. We need New Zealanders and international visitors to turn off the main highways and experience what Manawatu has to offer so that town and country businesses can increase their wealth without taking it from someone else already in our district. This increases confidence and out of confidence, industry will employ people. Council needs to create opportunities for people to see that there is a future here in the Manawatu and to take over family or start their own businesses.
2. Roading. There are many unsealed roads in the Manawatu. Since 2004 no seal extensions have been carried out. I will strive for tar seal extensions to be re-introduced on an annual basis.
3. Rates. This is a huge and complex issue that to judge from the outside is difficult. The allocation and effective use of the rates is the important issue.
4. Stream lining consent processors. There are costly and time-consuming consent processors in the building industry. For example, at present making ammendments to building plans and the regulations imposed on wet backs on eco- fire boxes

Personal Profile

I was born in Palmerston North and raised on the family farm in Rangiwahia. I have 4 sisters and one brother. I attended Rangiwahia Primary School and then headed for Palmerston North Boys High School for 3 years. I was in involved in rugby and was half-back for the First 15. I left school at 15 and worked on the farm with my father and then drove trucks for 3 years in the summer. I also played for the Oroua and Manawatu rugby teams. At 21 I took over the running of the 1000 acre farm and in 1975 I married Mary. My father died a few weeks after the birth of our first son Hamish & I continued to run the farm until 2006. We have 2 other sons.

Hamish is married to Amy and they have one daughter. Hamish manages the the stud sheep on Mount Linton Station in Southland. Pete, our middle son, is living in Hamilton. He is a registered builder and presently building his own house. Our youngest son is David and he is married to Miriam. They have a daughter and a son. David also works on Mount Linton Station as the technical manager supervising feed management, fertiliser and grazing.

Over the years in Rangiwahia, I have been involved with the school and was on the PTA. I was involved with the Rangiwahia Centennial in 1986. I am presently Secretary of the Texel Society in Manawatu.

In 2006, we decided to sell the farm as we believe it was the best option.  The decision to sell was not easy as all three sons are interested in farming. However it was obvious that to do so was fraught with difficulties. Even though I believe in children continuing on family farms or business, in our case the better option was for ours sons to move out on their own. We retained the house and 35 acres. This has enabled me to continue working with the community in various ways.

 I have worked with the Rangiwahia community to facilitate -

• Tar seal extensions for the Ruahine Road
• Tar seal extensions for the Oroua Gorge
• 1 km. tar seal extensions for Main South Rd to be completed in 2010 - 2011
• The reversing of the 70% rating for the bridge over the Rangitikei River

on the Ruahine Road to 90%

• The upkeep of the Rangiwahia Hall
• Part of the Rangiwahia Domain as a Campervan Site
• The maintenance of the cemetery
• A scrap-metal collection for the community
• The monitoring of rural roads

 

I have worked with the Rangiwahia & Apiti communities, Destination Manawatu and Dept. of Conservation  -

• To promote tourism in our region, as part of The Country Road project –

The Iron Gates Experience

• To build a web site www.irongates.co.nz as our part in promoting the Manawatu

 

What I hope to achieve if elected on to Council -

• To improve the image of the Manawatu through promoting tourism and

growing local business

• For tar seal extensions to be included in the 10 year plan
• To listen to the issues of the rural community, including the villages, and to actively represent them on Council
• To work as a team with the Mayor and newly elected Council.