A local board member will be required to represent the interests of residents and ratepayers  facilitate communication between the council and the community. Elected members are accountable to their communities for the decisions they make and the way in which they make them.  Being an effective representative requires effective communication skills and an ability to work in a team. With much of the last decade spent working with local non-profit fundraising committees and as an elected parent representative on two local school boards I believe I bring a unique combination of experience that allows me to work comfortably with the multiple and diverse groups in our community.  While currently a married full time parent of three school age children my time spent as an Insolvency Expert with KPMP Peat Marwick and as Credit Controller for Chapman Tripp Sheffield Young extended my administration and financial skills to cover a working knowledge of budgets, balance sheets.  Accountancy papers completed extramurally through Massy University built on those skills.  With a self-employed winemaker husband I have a strong understanding of business, business administration and the conditions required to survive and grow, obviously with strength in the wine industry itself. My involvement with the Parent and Teacher Associations ranging from state kindergartens to local schools, my liaison role with Te Whanau O Mahurangi and work with the Warkworth Primary School kapahaka, my elected parent representative roles on the Board of Trustees for both Warkworth Primary School and Mahurangi College give me the confidence that I can bring the voice of families, parents, caregivers and young people to the decision making process. My role as committee member, and now Treasurer, of the Hibiscus Coast branch of the National Council of Women gives me the ability to access opinions on areas of specific concern to women, families and young people in the wider Rodney district and specifically in the Warkworth Ward. My involvement with a national political party and its strong empathy toward our older generation provides me with the ability to comfortably interact with the local organisations that represent and support this group of our community also. The elected members of the Rodney Ward will need to balance the mandate provide by their electors with decisions on behalf of the whole community and future generations.  I believe that my ability to listen, to interact and clearly communicate with a wide range of community members is a strength I can take into this very important role.

 

Top 5 Issues

1. Making the voice of Rodney heard on Queen Street.
2. Creating and maintaining strong communication avenues with the variety of communities that occupy the Rodney Ward.

Personal Profile

I don't see it as my role to have a predetermined outcome for the Warkworth sub-division or the Rodney Ward.  This role is one of listening, gathering information, being able to priortise those into needs and wants and being a conduit for communication between the Council and our community.  Each of our many communities has a vision for their specific area and the wider vision, with regard to services and future development.  My job will be to listen, not come into it believing I have all the answers.

The Warkworth sub-division is at a crossroads with the development of the new motorway, the incorporation into Auckland and the possible increase in tourism.  The predicted growth and development, how this will affect our schools, services and sense of community are important issues.  I would like to be part of good decision-making that makes this growth period a positive experience.  We don't need to panic but we do need to plan, and plan well.

We have some strong local bylaws an strong vision documents for our area that we need to retain.  I also see ares for improvement in local recreational facilities.  Some creative transport solutions that cater for our young and our more senior citizens would be a great outcome.  But all this needs to be looked at under the umbrella reality that this is ratepayers money - before any major project is undertaken strong community buy in is required for success.