Celia is Mayor 2011

For 2011 I plan to use Facebook for informal updates - support me here!

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You can email me on Council business at mayor AT wcc.govt.nz

and the office number is (0064 4) 801 3102.

Celia's Speech

Tena kotou, tena kotou, tena kotou katoa

Ehara taku toa, he taki tahi, he toa taki tini

My success is not mine alone, as it was not individual success but the success of us working together

This is an amazing and deeply democratic outcome.

Now I am in a position to lead on issues of transport choice, clean technology and local community support. However, Wellington has spoken up for a different style of leadership and I’ll do my very best to trust, include and respect as many Wellingtonians as possible in our journey forward. Since it’s such a close call it will be doubly important to consult and involve, to have conversations as well as formal submissions.

I look forward to working with the new Councillors, developing a different relationship with returning councillors and, over time, meeting mayors from around the country.

Most of all I look forward to developing ways to reach solutions together, to ensure people’s issues are listened to and the economy, society and environmental challenges are dealt with together not traded off against each other. My background in Council, teaching, business and other countries will help that engagement.

I urge all my supporters to engage with the new Council and their own communities to work on good transport choices, appropriate technology and supporting local communities. Our work hasn’t finished – it’s just begun! I believe that people from this wonderful capital can play a leadership role in New Zealand and the wider global community.

There will be longer term issues to work on like light rail so we must start discussions about routes, costs, and benefits early.

Together with the official induction for the incoming Council, I plan to invite input from community groups and businesses to share their ideas, criticisms and explore ways of working with us.

This election result is not the end of research, work and dedication, nor the end of conversations, ideas and fun! It is the ongoing evolution of Wellingtonians' existing commitment to a resilient, cosmopolitan and beautiful city, a continuation of some trends to a cleaner ocean, renewable energy and protected biodiversity, and definitely a city where there are quality jobs and worthwhile businesses.

Our result could not have been achieved without the very broad-based campaign team and I’d like to thank Alastair, Tania, Kent, Heike, Chris, Peter G and Peter H, Patrick M and Patrick L, Liz Springford, Tane, Pauline, Pam, Alana, Ann and many more. Thanks to Iona, Steff, Jack, Paul, Marcus, Helene, Andy and Ngaire and other candidates who have supported me. Thanks to the photographers and designers who presented such a smart and convincing campaign. Thanks to the people who shared their ideas on arts, light rail, climate change and many other issues throughout this campaign.

Thanks to my fellow mayoral contenders who covered all the bases from amusing and well-dressed through knowledgeable and friendly to enraged and demagogic. We have all learnt much from this campaign and I hope we can continue to learn from each other. Today I received Kerry Prendergast’s congratulations and I’m sure I’ll draw on her knowledge and experience as we deal with some of the challenging issues ahead – with affordability, leaky homes, central government relations and climate change issues.

And MOST of all, thank you Wellingtonians, for voting for me. I will do my very best to earn and keep that confidence.

Election night cliffhanger

Tonight Cr Celia Wade-Brown thanked her campaign team, helpers and Wellington voters for a good campaign. The election night count leaves Celia Wade-Brown forty votes behind incumbent Kerry Prendergast but there are hundreds of special votes to be validated and counted before a final result will be available. Final results will be available on Wednesday but the specials may be released earlier.

"Despite being ranked as a hard-working and accessible councillor, at first people said I didn't have a chance in the mayoral race against a competent incumbent mayor. As late as last week, pundits described the Wellington mayoral race as a shoo-in for Kerry. We ran a fair campaign that was positive in its tone and content and the results have vindicated that effort."

"I remain hopeful that the specials will run in my favour so I can lead on issues of transport, technology and local community support. Many Wellingtonians have spoken up for a different style of leadership and I'll do my very best to trust, include and respect as many Wellingtonians as possible in our journey forward."

In 2007, there were 978 special votes cast. 800 were valid. This year 963 were sent out so there will certainly be several hundred valid ones that could well change the preliminary outcome.

If elected, Celia Wade-Brown looks forward to getting to know the new Councillors better, developing relationships with returning councillors and meeting mayors from around the region and country.

She says "Most of all I look forward to developing ways to reach solutions together, to ensure people's issues are listened to and the economy, society and environmental challenges are dealt with together not traded off against each other."