My principal place of residence is in the Kaitake-Ngāmotu General Ward area.
I'm very keen to make a contribution to our community and seek your support. There is work to do to help address child poverty, improve housing availability, further develop sustainable infrastructure and local transport - as well as reinvigorate our city centre. We must continue to build on our deserved reputation as a fantastic place to live and work and do more to foster a sense of community.
I have been a teacher and deputy principal at Spotswood College and have been the Principal of three NZ secondary schools - and of the National College of the Cook Islands. I was deputy chief executive of NZQA in Wellington and I also led a Ministerial taskforce to review the NZ compulsory schooling sector. I am currently a board member of the Toi Foundation and Teach First NZ.
I am married to Cara and we have two adult children who live overseas.
Yes. This is reasonable given the likely additional demands ratepayers will make on council in the future, These will involve infrastructure, climate change, transport and the Waitara walkway. We need to factor in rising costs and population growth as well.
Yes. In a country of 5m people clearly, some services are better provided by central government - especially those requiring large capital investments, significant procurement and highly skilled people. While NPDC has done well to get the advantages of scale, we need a national system that works for everyone.
Yes. We must act now in order to ensure a safe future for our children. The NPDC has started work here but there is much to do - including fully electrifying all council transport, zero waste, development of H2 energy sources, LED lighting, new planting and active monitoring of emissions.
Yes. Venture Taranaki does a good job - we should be doing more with regard to
Yes. Maori are under-represented in our system of government and better more sustained representation can do nothing but good for us all.
We must give more powerful voices to the various boards that represent these communities and ensure that the NPDC is aware of their issues, and held to account.
Data regarding council spending in these communities must always be readily available.
Yes, it is enough - and I would cap the spend at $40m. We have significant under resourced sports facilities around the region – which should be better supported.
It’s not about particular policies- but a method of working. We must focus on maximising the well-being of everyone by listening and then acting boldly and sensibly to address what concerns them.
The best results will be achieved when the council works collaboratively and with integrity.
