Your climate change and resilience policies
1. First policy
Leave climate change to the central government. It is a central government’s responsibility. I will not be virtue signalling with “climate emergencies” or wasting ratepayers money on policies that make no difference at all.
2. Second policy
Ensure that our emergency management staff are adequately trained & resourced in the event of a natural disaster.
3. Third policy
Get rates rises & council debt under control so we have headroom to borrow if we suffer a flood or other natural disaster.
Your environment policies
4. First policy
Allow the environmental regulators to do their jobs properly and not duplicate their services at the Taupo District Council
5. Second policy
Ensure that the TDC complies with environmental regulations.
Your housing and planning policies
6. First policy
Building consents need to be streamlined to facilitate cost-effective and timely construction.
7. Second policy
Increase supply of land for housing so council does not artificially inflate prices by restricting supply
8. Third policy
Work closely with Iwi & Hapu and other Maori organisations to make it easier to build papa kaianga on maori land.
Your jobs and economy policies
9. First policy
Drive growth by making sure there is good, affordable housing so we can compete on cost of living
10. Second policy
Change the attitude of the council to one that helps people wanting to do things, rather than hinder them. Whether it is building a granny flat or a big industrial building we need Taupo to be the place that people want to do things because dealing with the council is easy.
Your local democracy policies
11. First policy
Make public all documentation in regards to the Joint Management Agreement with Tuwharetoa
12. Second policy
I support referendums for big decisions, especially those that change constitutional settings.
13.Vote no in the upcoming referendum on Maori Wards but abide by the outcome of the referendum.
Your rates and revenue policies
14. First policy
Rates need to be capped to the maximum of inflation.
15. Second policy
Council spending needs to focus on core issues: roads, water (waste and fresh), and waste.
16. Third policy
The Council should stop duplicating services provided by the central government or regional council. We need to return council to its core responsibilities, and to what was council responsibility before the 2002 law reforms introduced the “four wellbeing”.
Your recreation and culture policies
17. First policy
Council should continue to provide venues & facilities for grass roots sports
18. Second policy
Council should not use ratepayers money to support professional sports or professional cultural events
19. Third policy
Council should prioritise keeping rates down over funding nice to haves that residents scarcely use
Your transport policies
20. First policy
Concentrate on providing transport infrastructure that most people use, roading.
21. Second policy
Build a resilience fund to deal with natural disasters that damage roads & bridges.
Your utilities and services policies
22. First policy
Provide exceptional service in the areas that only the council can deliver.
23. Second policy
Leave other services to the central government & regional council
Your candidate profile
Why are you running for election?
My goal is to use my commercial and volunteer community experience to help run a cost-effective and safe town that we can all afford to live in.
Why will you make a good elected representative?
I have a long track record in both business and NGOs, running organisations effectively and within budget. I understand the value of a dollar, and I pledge to treat ratepayers money as I treat my own – with respect and not to be wasted
First priority
Controlling the costs of the council and holding rate increases to the maximum of inflation.
Second priority
To provide core services, roads, water and waste (solid and liquid)
Third Priority
Referendum on Maori Wards. I personally will be voting no but abide by the outcome of the referendum.
