No issues on file for Ray Ahipene-Mercer.

1. Emergency Management
   Residents, particularly those in low lying areas of the Eastern Ward, need to be prepared for any disaster. The Council has a leadership role to ensure residents are prepared for a civil defence emergency so that emergency services are not over burdened. If families, especially the vulnerable, very young, elderly and disabled among us are prepared and better able to cope, then our emergency services can focus on getting our roading, water, power and sewage supplies working effectively.
   
2. Local Democracy
   It is important to me that communities have a say in the development and future of their City, their communities, their homes. All facets of the Council, including Council Officers must consider genuine consultation with communities an absolutely necessity. Listening is central. Acting on people’s concerns is vital. I will be putting my hand up for a position on the Chief Executive Officer’s employment committee. Any CEO’s key performance indicators must include, as a high priority, delivering local democracy, transparency and accountability to the ratepayers of Wellington.
   
3. Transport
   We in the Eastern Ward have a fast lane in our midst. It is not just commuter traffic and the airport. Transport is fast becoming problematic for the Eastern Ward as new amenities develop. We need a robust and comprehensive traffic management plan that is future-focussed, effective and efficient.
   
4. Safety
   Given the vast development in the Eastern Ward, it is imperative that planning and design take into account environmental factors such as safety for all age groups and abilities. Good lighting is essential to the safety of locals after dark. Council must ensure footpaths are well maintained and upgraded so that they do not create a safety and health hazard. Monitoring of liquor outlets and blocking the availability of alcohol to underage people is crucial to the elimination of 'booze culture' in the Eastern Suburbs. Safety means prevention. “Kids in sport is a kid out of court” Thus adequate all-weather playing fields for children and young people are crucial to ensuring safe sports and active young people.
   
5. Rates
   We need to pay rates and taxes if we want public provision of services. But these must be fair and we need to consider the many not the few. There needs to be more focus on weighing the needs and wants of all in the City. We want to be proud of all parts of our city, and the Eastern Ward should not lag behind. Nobody benefits if any suburb becomes run-down. or if it lacks amenities. I would like to see a balance of more use of local expertise and knowledge as opposed to outsourcing contracts overseas. This will help to re-generate the local economy. Increasing residential rates while business rates fall is neither fair nor sensible. Let’s aim for a vibrant and prosperous economy in this marvellous city of Wellington!
   

1. Water
   Let’s sort out our water problems
   Wellingtonians deserve the very best quality drinking water. As capital city of New Zealand, Wellington should pride itself on its continuous supply of drinking water that both citizens and visitors recognise as being high quality. This means we have to address infrastructure issues such as new sources of supply and storage. It means tackling the ongoing maintenance and repair issues that confront us right now.. This would mean we may never have to deal with restrictions on supply. As a council must invest in an excellent state of the art water systems and keep it in public hands.
   
2. Kilbirnie Community Centre
   Let’s keep Kilbirnie Community Centre where it is
   The Kilbirnie Community Centre is a great asset to the community. It is central, accessible, close to other services and is well-utilised by citizens of the community it serves. I’m reminded of the old saying, “It ain’t broke then don’t try and fix it.” Revitalising Kilbirnie may well be long overdue but that is another issue. But let’s tackle that leaving the Community Centre where it is.
   
3. Rates reductions for seniors
   Let’s give all senior citizens a rates reduction
   Wellingtonians care about the well-being of its seniopr citizens. We recognise the enormous past contributions made by our seniors to develop our city into the wonderfully diverse and exhilarating place it is to live in. Seniors should not be forced to move out of their homes because rates are unaffordable. Therefore, we should give all seniors a rates reduction so they can afford to continue to take part it in city life.
   
   I know of many seniors whose greatest fear is receiving the next rates demand. Wondering where they will get the money from. While some very poor seniors qualify for a rates rebate there are still many more who cannot afford rates at their current levels. They should not be forced to sell their homes because they can’t afford the rates.
   
4. Lavish Council Spending
   Let’s cut out lavish council spending
   Wellingtonians wants their rates spent on infrastructure and developments that make our communities better places to live. We want value for money not lavish spending on overseas trips to look at electric cars nor on ice-skating rinks, campervan park and soccer arenas in the CBD. Council must spend more wisely and strive to deliver a nil increase on household rates next year.
   
5. Transport and Roading
   Let’s have an accessible and affordable public transport system
   Wellingtonians recognise that the geography of our city is difficult terrain. But that should not stop developing a roading system that allows all to move around easily, efficiently and without congestion. That is whether by car, on bikes, skateboards, or on foot. Let’s also make our public transport system fully accessible and affordable for everyone to use.
   

1. Non privatisation of water.
2. No sales of strategic assets eg the airport shares.
3. Congestion into the Eastern Ward.
4. Revitalisation of Kilbirnie and the other suburban centres.
5. Swimming Pool access to all.

1. Traffic and transport
   The congestion in the Eastern suburbs needs to be sorted out and is a priority. The roading issue needs to be fixed. It could become a regional problem if not addressed. This is evident with the plans for Airport expansion and the completion of the Indoor Sports Centre. I favour a good mix of private and public transport including cycling and good pedestrian access. The roading projects are a priority for central government and I think the Council should focus on other infrastructure to facilitate good public transport.
2. Financial and affordability
   Ensure that the Council is financially well run.
   That the ratepayers get good value for there rates and that Council makes a real effort to reduce the growing debt level.The current debt is $260 million with Council about to take on another $73.3 million in the next 10 months. This works about about $4,400 per ratepayer of debt. Ensure that the city is affordable for people to live and work here. Support business and innovative ideas for the city to prosper. I support initiatives such as broadband access and Wellington being a fair trade city. We must encourage more innovation and diversity in the financial base and find other ways to pay for things. Partnerships are an option.
3. Environment
   Ensure we try to maintain a clean and pristine environment. ensure that our heritage, coastline and natural habitat is looked after. Support climate change policy and intiatives
4. Arts, Events and Tourism
   Keep Wellington at the forefront of arts, culture and events and keep tourism on a roll. Its become an interesting and fun place to live and work and we should keep improving that if we can.
5. Safety and Security
   Community safety and well being is a priority for me. I support community safety intiatives and traffic safety measures particularly in vulnerable areas such as the shopping areas and around schools.

1. Councillors that take the time to listen to the people that they represent.
2. Traffic, it's not about focusing on one form of transport alone. Private, public, pedestrian and bikes all have a place and we need an integrated plan including all modes of travel.
3. Revitalisation of suburban centres such as Kilbirnie and Miramar paying particular attention to those that work, shop and socialise in the areas.
4. Searching out ways to improve Wellington's business environment, minimising red tape, facilitating changes in technology etc. Successful business results in better community facilities, libraries, sports clubs, and community centres.
5. Ensuring we enjoy a safe city, its clean harbour, its scenery, entertainment and its successes. Promoting a pride and respect in our own suburbs, caring for our environment so that we all become champions of Wellington.

1. A revitalised council
   
   •Councillors with energy, fresh ideas and independent minds who listen and respond
   •A council that is fair, transparent and open
   •A council that is in touch with its communities
   
2. Better transport options
   
   •Improve accessibility by encouraging walking, cycling and public transport (buses, ferries, and modern trams), rather than expensive, destructive and long-drawn-out road “improvements”
   •Speeding up bus journeys with an uncongested route along the whole of the Golden Mile
   •Providing better bus interchanges at Kilbirnie, Miramar and the hospital
   •Making it safe for pedestrians and cyclists to cross Cobham Drive & Calabar Road
   •Developing a modern tram system to link the eastern suburbs right through to the region’s railway network
   •Supporting the Great Harbour Way walking and cycling route around the region’s coastline
   
3. A fully sustainable city
   
   •Proper assessment of the environmental and social effects of major projects, such as the Kilbirnie bus barns redevelopment, the Marine Education Centre and transport changes. (The poorly-located Indoor Community Sports Centre shows the consequences if this assessment doesn’t happen!)
   •Implementing the climate change action plan and achieving carbon neutrality
   •City Council leadership in sustainability strategies
   •Analysis of the effects of peak oil on the city and the eastern suburbs
   •Supporting sustainable urban form and urban growth
   •Ensuring that the city is financially sustainable, including the level of rates
   
4. Environment and heritage
   
   •Safeguarding beaches, parks and reserves
   •Extending the Eastern Walkway through Fort Dorset to Seatoun beach
   •Opening up the Miramar Peninsula’s heritage sites to the public
   •Building on the possum-free status of the Miramar Peninsula as a “mainland island”
   •Respecting the area’s built and natural heritage
   •Establishing a recreational walkway along Kilbirnie’s drainage reserve
   
5. Local communities
   
   •Safeguarding local council facilities such as libraries, community centres and sports fields
   •Supporting the revitalisation of Kilbirnie and Miramar town centres
   •Helping local community initiatives such as community gardens
   
   

1. Preserving the intergrity of our coast by ensuring any developments enhance and don't detract from it's natural beauty. Promoting Lyall Bay as Wellington's preferred playground by beautification of the area and providing better facilites for surfers, and families.
   
2. Upgrading and invigoration of Kilbirnie and Miramar shopping areas so they are a pleasure for everyone in the community to visit; that the streets are safe and clean, and that businesses are not paralysed by never ending disruption during redevelopment.
   
3. Encouraging and assisting local investment and enterprise. We want our communities to be vibrant and prosperous, with a heart, a soul and a spirit.
4. Making more all weather sports facilities for the young people of our communities an absolute priority. We should be encouraging our young people to exercise and to be involved in sport for all the reasons of health, well-being, and becoming well rounded citizens who become an asset to our society.
   
   
5. Making our streets clean and safe. Let's not let any changes in the liquor laws that could affect our area change the quality of life we enjoy.

1. Transportation issues-If elected I will focus on 7 key transport themes for Wellington these are:
   
   - Ensuring that Wellington is a safe, sociable and friendly city
   - Making Wellington accessible for all, including families and children, by ensuring the right balance between pedestrians and all forms of private and public transport.
   - Providing an integrated ticketing system for all forms of public transport
   - That Wellington continues to be a creative and vibrant city
   - Wellington stays a place where business thrives
   - Wellington stays a healthy environment with active residents
   - Wellington continues to be one of the most liveable cities in the world
   
2. Rates-Out of control spending and other inefficiencies mean rates rises and ballooning debt. This must be bought under control. I’ll also push for greater transparency with Wellingtonian’s to ensure a more responsive council and similarly are also looking to drive more support for small and medium businesses as well as sensible animal control policies.
3. Village planning-=It puts communities in charge of developing a vision for their neighbourhoods and then partnering with Council to make it happen. This vision is brought together through community consultation and developed into Village Plans, which lay out the community's
   goals and aspirations for the future of their neighbourhood.
   
4. Improving small business support- small biz makes up 80% of wellingtons businesses and they are not supported or listened to over changes. I want council to employ 'mainstreet' coordinators who will help areas with business planning, council comms, fill empty shops and develop marketing plans.
5. Planning process and rules need overhauling; Aesthetically ugly and cheaply built buildings and increasingly cramped apartments have crept into Wellington and there needs to be stricter guidelines for appropriate building and planting. We also need to look more at preserving the few pieces of Wellingtons history that haven’t already been demolished. Ultimately there needs to be more robust public input into Wellingtons development. Completing the Waterfront to ensure public/open areas complimenting tourism and leisure/recreational areas for residents and visitors.

1. Kilbirnie town centre devlopment
2. Suburban centre parking policy
3. Street cleaning
4. Community Facilities

No issues on file for Tony Travers.