Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire

Other candidate responses are here - they may have some good ideas too.

A thought I've had, since talking with different business people, is to have an annual  business satisfaction survey as well as our existing residents satisfaction survey. We could include questions about fairness and efficiency of resource consents, how their staff feel about transport, how their staff feel about Wellington's quality of life, the standard of new developments and whether Council procurement practices are clear and transparent.

More people of all ages and income levels live in the CBD, Johnsonville and Kilbirnie. Inner city Wellington lanes have been transformed like Chews Lane with Council and private partnerships.

Several inner city Wellington buildings have been upgraded with photovoltaic skins, roof gardens catching stormwater and these exemplar projects are the catalyst for more transformative investment.  Some B-grade offices have had the top floors converted to student accommodation and the lower floors to effective education and office uses.

Planning is complete for a light rail extension of the current rail system and the first tracks south of the Wellington Railway Station are being laid.

The Outer Green Belt from the South Coast to Tawa is complete as an ecological and recreational corridor, acting as urban containment to promote good urban form. Streams flourish and sewage overflows are increasingly rare. Water demand and supply are in balance.

Professionals are attracted to live in Wellington by the proximity to nature on land and sea and jobs in organisations where they can make a positive difference.

Good emergency planning includes residents, neighbourhoods and businesses and confidence in the city’s resilience increases.

2015 is very close. A widely agreed longer-tem vision for 30 to 50 years is essential – even if it will need modification as changed circumstances and new technologies evolve.

Lord Stern describes a desirable future so well, “Low-carbon growth offers not only the innovation, creativity and dynamics of the transition from current patterns but also, when established, a much more attractive way of producing and living: more secure, safe, clean, and bio-diverse…The opportunities from prompt and decisive action are great; the dangers of delay are grave.”

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Mayoralty Questionnaire:

1.) How would you sum up the role of Mayor of Wellington?

As Mayor of Wellington, my most important role will be as a guardian of the long-term interests of our diverse residents.

A good Mayor must listen widely, discuss rationally and then lead decisively.

I look forward to chairing Council and working co-operatively with other elected members and community leaders and fulfilling the various official duties as your city’s public servant.

2.) What will be the main messages of your campaign for the Mayoralty?

• Together we can create a city that is well placed for the future, where we place hope above fear, integrity above special interests and genuine progress above a single minded focus on economic growth.
• Reconnecting with our local neighbourhoods makes Wellington safer, friendlier and more resilient to any emergencies. Community facilities encourage people to meet each other so we don’t become an anonymous society.
• Changing the way we do things is possible in a healthy democracy!
• I will protect Wellington’s special character as a compact cosmopolitan city surrounded by wild oceans and beautiful bush.
• We can combine caring communities, successful businesses and healthy environment – it’s essential to do so!

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Wellingtonista

the wellingtonista

1. You have 30 seconds to convince someone to come to Wellington. What's your pitch?

• Wild nature close to cosmopolitan centre! Kayak with dolphins, buy eco-fashion, eat fresh seafood, drink Fairtrade coffee and see brilliant exhibitions and inspiring theatre.

2. How do you think traffic flow to the hospital and airport could be improved?

• Light rail (modern trams), flexible office hours, travel plan for hospital day shift, safer cycling, bus priority lanes, tradespeople parking permits, downtown airport check-in.

3. Where do you stand on the issue of opening up government data?

• Share GIS layers between Councils, DoC, NIWA and make public. Most Council decisions and data must be open while also respecting individual privacy.

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Northland Community News

5 things you did NOT need to know about our brave candidates

1. What TV show are you embarrassed about enjoying?

I enjoyed watching Prison Break every week for all its series but nothing grabs the whole family regularly now – and I’m too busy reading The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo trilogy when I wind down from campaigning to watch TV!

2. If you could have dinner with one famous New Zealander who would it be?

dead – Te Whiti o Rongomai, Parihaka pacifist whose teachings inspired Gandhi

alive – Dan Carter!

3. A perfect day would include ...

Kayaking with dolphins on the South Coast, family breakfast at Maranui Surf Club Cafe, moving a successful policy at Council, walking in the Botanic Gardens with friends and our labrador and then relaxing listening to music at the Ruby Lounge. A busy day and a happy mixture!

4.   The All Blacks, the All Whites or the Silver Ferns?

The All Whites!

5.   What is the one luxury you would hate to be without?

Fresh ground FairTrade coffee.