My vision for the Far North
The Far North is a shining light in how we care for our people and our place.
We lead the way.
I am an advocate of community empowerment (my actions demonstrate this). I am future focused, a fresh thinker, a change agent. Having being the Deputy Mayor for the last two terms, I understand local government and also its potential. I have the progressive leadership, skill and experience required to drive the changes needed to proactively move our district forward. My heart is in our communities. I hold the vision, have the courage and care a whole damn lot!
Bred in the Far North. My home for 40 years. Eldest daughter, sister, mum to Jesse.
We lead the way.
I am an advocate of community empowerment (my actions demonstrate this). I am future focused, a fresh thinker, a change agent. Having being the Deputy Mayor for the last two terms, I understand local government and also its potential. I have the progressive leadership, skill and experience required to drive the changes needed to proactively move our district forward. My heart is in our communities. I hold the vision, have the courage and care a whole damn lot!
Bred in the Far North. My home for 40 years. Eldest daughter, sister, mum to Jesse.
My 10 commitments (doing!):
1. Serve you, the people of the Far North to the best of my ability - with respect and integrity.
2. Complete the Far North 2100 Strategy (using the Our Vision, Our Voices initiative as a foundation). All of us want a bright future for our grandchildren and beyond. To be successful in this, the Far North needs a vision and a plan. We need a stake in the ground about who we are, what we value and what prosperity looks like. The FN2100 strategy will be a roadmap to look after our people and our place. It's essential that we complete this piece of work.
3. A must! Complete revenue (rates) review. Affordability is a key issue here in the Far North. We have the biggest district in the North Island, less than 40,000 ratepayers and over 40 communities. The revenue review will look to identify a fairer rating system. I'm committed to seeing this completed within 18 months.
4. Develop an investment framework, with a particular focus on foreign investment. We need a line in the sand about how we partner with (foreign) investors. Currently local government has little influence over foreign investment. Recognising that any relationship needs to be mutually beneficial, the development of an Investment Framework would aim to provide clarity and support for potential investors to understand the opportunities, the support networks and the terms of engagement.
5. Not only develop youth led community civic initiatives, also bring youth into council decision making. I am keen to instigate youth-led community projects which encourage youth leadership, community responsibility and growing civic understanding. Also, I am commited to bringing our youth council into the council decision-making process.
6. I will personally support community development plans/place making initiatives. Strong communities are at the heart of strong districts. I will personally support the development of community-led plans... as I have for Paihia, and am doing for Kerikeri and Kawakawa.
7. Build dynamic resilience through fit for purpose strategies, to address climate change, infrastructure challenges, etc. Council has recognised that climate change is our number one risk. We need to have brave conversations and take action to manage an uncertain future. It's about developing dynamic resilience in our own backyard.
8. Set up an Innovation group - Far North Champions group of movers and shakers to help move our district forward. We have some really smart minds in the Far North. I want to bring them together to champion innovative approaches that will see the Far North lead the way in how we take care of our people and our place.
9. Support and encourage key commercial activity to flourish. It is my belief that we need to get a lot smarter in how we do business here in the Far North. We need to grow industry that is successful, provides sustainable employment and does not have a detrimental impact on our place. Council needs to be better equipped to support businesses to flourish.
10. Become a test market for innovative thinking! Te hiku o te ika - the tail of the fish. I believe we can drive new thinking by being a test market for innovative approaches. Examples may include a review of the building consent process, Maori land development, community-led waterway management, up scale our aquaculture production (look at seaweed) and what localism looks like on the ground.
To achieve these commitments, I will work alongside our communities, our CEO and government departments (as required).
My 'pillars' - key campaign messages
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Doing it our way
Localism in action. We are unique and need to become self-determining. We must take responsibility, fight for what we need and lead the way in caring for our people and our place. One size does not fit all. Together, we know the solutions. |
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Smarts
Our future depends on much smarter decisions today. We have real challenges around climate change, affordability, infrastructure and social issues. We need to get the basics right and then develop fresh and innovative approaches to our thinking and our doing. Courage will be required. |
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Partnerships
Together, community succeeding in partnership. We must collaborative, share knowledge and build respect for a more resilient and prosperous tomorrow. Councils role here is community enabler, facilitator, advocate. |
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Culture of service Our people and our place are at the heart of every decision. It’s about listening and being heard. It’s about mutual respect, building trust, cutting through the red tape, being agile and doing what we say we will do. It’s simply about truly serving. |
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Examples of my approach
Community Empowerment!
It's simply amazing what can be achieved when people come together! Community empowerment is all about encouraging communities to take more control (take ownership) for their own destiny, in which support and the ‘tools’ to make it happen are provided as and when they are required.
Focus Paihia Community Trust is an excellent example of what can happen when a community gets together to ‘take charge’ of their own future. They clearly recognise they can’t do it all alone, however, provide the leadership and vision necessary to bring those together when the time is right. They’re also not afraid to challenge the status quo or get in and get their hands dirty. The town's really starting to shine, however, in my opinion, the best part is the community pride and the strengthening of the 'people' connections. (I initiated and then led Focus Paihia for the first year).
A few examples of opportunities for community empowerment include:
- Community run community plans – need to ensure they fit into a big picture for the Far North. (Some of these plans are already underway);
- Open, clear and easy to understand communication channels between Council representatives and communities - what can and can’t be influenced;
- Communities making decisions and Council getting in behind to help make it happen; and
- Locals being contracted to look after their ‘own backyard’, including maintenance and cleaning.
It's simply amazing what can be achieved when people come together! Community empowerment is all about encouraging communities to take more control (take ownership) for their own destiny, in which support and the ‘tools’ to make it happen are provided as and when they are required.
Focus Paihia Community Trust is an excellent example of what can happen when a community gets together to ‘take charge’ of their own future. They clearly recognise they can’t do it all alone, however, provide the leadership and vision necessary to bring those together when the time is right. They’re also not afraid to challenge the status quo or get in and get their hands dirty. The town's really starting to shine, however, in my opinion, the best part is the community pride and the strengthening of the 'people' connections. (I initiated and then led Focus Paihia for the first year).
A few examples of opportunities for community empowerment include:
- Community run community plans – need to ensure they fit into a big picture for the Far North. (Some of these plans are already underway);
- Open, clear and easy to understand communication channels between Council representatives and communities - what can and can’t be influenced;
- Communities making decisions and Council getting in behind to help make it happen; and
- Locals being contracted to look after their ‘own backyard’, including maintenance and cleaning.
Preserving the Natural Environment
There are huge benefits to a lush and flourishing environment, including being a wonderful place to live. We need to absolutely ensure that we look after this place we call home. I want to know that my daughter’s grandchildren will still be able to freely walk along beaches not surrounded by man-made structures; collect shellfish; watch Tui in the Kowhai; work locally; buy and eat ‘local’...
There are way too many examples (and growing) around the world where greed has violated and polluted this planet. We certainly need to attract economic opportunities but let’s not do it at the detriment to this place we call home.
Instead, let’s be brave and set ourselves apart. Let’s make decisions that show respect for the environment and the way we utilise and care for it – thus caring for ourselves. Let’s do all we can to preserve this wee piece of paradise - this in itself will attract the right investment.
There are huge benefits to a lush and flourishing environment, including being a wonderful place to live. We need to absolutely ensure that we look after this place we call home. I want to know that my daughter’s grandchildren will still be able to freely walk along beaches not surrounded by man-made structures; collect shellfish; watch Tui in the Kowhai; work locally; buy and eat ‘local’...
There are way too many examples (and growing) around the world where greed has violated and polluted this planet. We certainly need to attract economic opportunities but let’s not do it at the detriment to this place we call home.
Instead, let’s be brave and set ourselves apart. Let’s make decisions that show respect for the environment and the way we utilise and care for it – thus caring for ourselves. Let’s do all we can to preserve this wee piece of paradise - this in itself will attract the right investment.
Prosperity for All
We all have potential, stacks of it. Each of us is gifted with natural talent and has something of great value to offer. We all deserve to prosper – to succeed – whatever that may look like for each of us.
We all know the Far North has massive potential - to achieve this we need strong leadership. We need to work together better, celebrate our diversity and be brave – think outside the box. The old ways of doing things (and some current ones) are becoming, or are, no longer viable. We need to play to our strengths (instead of being known for our weaknesses). To me this includes our environment (see above), our people, our climate, our proximity and our isolation. We need to look for sustainable economic opportunities that have minimal long term negative impacts.
These opportunities need to enrich our people, with a particular focus on our youth. We want to be developing and attracting the ‘right’ skills and the ‘right’ investment. Council plays an important role in this drive to attract and grow sustainable economic opportunities.
We all have potential, stacks of it. Each of us is gifted with natural talent and has something of great value to offer. We all deserve to prosper – to succeed – whatever that may look like for each of us.
We all know the Far North has massive potential - to achieve this we need strong leadership. We need to work together better, celebrate our diversity and be brave – think outside the box. The old ways of doing things (and some current ones) are becoming, or are, no longer viable. We need to play to our strengths (instead of being known for our weaknesses). To me this includes our environment (see above), our people, our climate, our proximity and our isolation. We need to look for sustainable economic opportunities that have minimal long term negative impacts.
These opportunities need to enrich our people, with a particular focus on our youth. We want to be developing and attracting the ‘right’ skills and the ‘right’ investment. Council plays an important role in this drive to attract and grow sustainable economic opportunities.
