People Before Process

Culture Change Through Community-First Governance

We’ll rebuild trust in Council by leading with service, not bureaucracy. That means better training for councillors, rural and urban community forums, clear KPIs, and plain-language communication. We’ll empower staff to work with people, not over them — because council should feel human, not hostile.
Hold regular community forums in rural and urban areas.

• Publish staff KPIs and project dashboards for public tracking
• Provide governance training and team-building for elected members
• Improve council communication with plain-language updates
• Break down siloed departments to improve responsiveness and empathy

Clean Up Council

Audit, Cut Waste, and Streamline Services

We’ll run an independent audit and restructure outdated systems, leases, and spending. Expert advisory boards will help drive smarter decisions. We’ll modernise council operations, reduce costs, and collaborate with neighbouring councils to deliver better service for less.

• Commission a full operational and structural audit (independent of Audit NZ)
• Review all council leases and consolidate high-cost premises. Review procurement process for large tenders.
• Cut overheads through shared services with neighbouring councils
• Use government legal advice before hiring private consultants
• Establish a community-based advisory board for expert oversight

Empower Local Identity

Community Boards, Rural Voices, and Unity

Community boards will be empowered to advocate — not just observe. We’ll establish Rural Advisory Groups and ensure Māori representation is integrated across decision-making. This is about building unity and ensuring local identity has a seat at the table.

• Strengthen and support community boards with better tools and training
• Establish Rural Advisory Groups (RAGs) for grassroots input
• Encourage rural ward representation in future reviews
• Integrate Māori Standing Committee, boards, and RAGs into one governance team
• Enhance direct engagement between council and rural communities

Transparent Spending

Honest Conversations and Open Books

No more surprises. We’ll launch a public dashboard showing where every dollar goes, deliver town hall updates, and provide project timelines in plain English. It’s time for council to speak clearly, front up, and be held accountable.

• Launch a plain-language online dashboard tracking council spending
• Publish quarterly financial reports that ratepayers can actually understand
• Host regular town halls, online Q&As, and community open days
• Timeline and cost major projects transparently using a VfM (Value for Money) approach
• Remove spin and jargon from all public updates

Future-Proof Infrastructure

Smarter Investment and Local Jobs

We’ll prioritise water and road projects that create local jobs. That includes opening up procurement to local businesses, fighting for rural funding, and forming partnerships that bring in new capital without raising rates. We’ll lead with purpose, not patches.

• Prioritise critical water and roading projects that create local employment
• Open council procurement to local suppliers and businesses
• Push central government for rural funding and rating reform
• Protect Cape Palliser’s Special Purpose Road funding
• Explore partnerships with iwi, rural leaders, and private sector for co-investment

Water Reform Done Right

Responsible Leadership and Real Risk Management

Water is essential — and reform is underway. But we need strong leadership to ensure South Wairarapa’s position is protected. I’ll demand transparency in new CCO (Council Controlled Organisation) models, stage upgrades responsibly, and plan for multiple outcomes so we’re not left high and dry.

• Provide independent engineering advice on CCO proposals
• Stage wastewater and water upgrades by urgency and affordability
• Coordinate across towns to share infrastructure costs fairly
• Take a strong stance in CCO negotiations — reject unfair terms
• Prepare alternative plans in case the new water model fails

Stronger Together

Collaborate Regionally, Advocate Nationally

We’ll work alongside other mayors and district leaders to demand smarter solutions from central government — because one-size-fits-all policies don’t work for places like South Wairarapa. From rural infrastructure to fairer funding models, we’ll push for policies that recognise our unique needs, strengths, and challenges.

• Unite with neighbouring councils to build a collective voice
• Advocate for policy flexibility that suits rural and small-town realities
• Share services, skills, and contracts where it benefits ratepayers
• Champion regional equity — from funding to infrastructure priorities
• Take strong, unified positions to central government — not wait for handouts

Backing Local Business

Cut red tape, open doors, grow local

We’ll make it easier for local businesses to operate and thrive. That means streamlining council processes, speeding up consents, and ensuring procurement favours local suppliers where possible..

• Faster, clearer consenting and compliance processes
• Support for small businesses through better customer service and fewer bureaucratic hurdles
• Prioritise local suppliers in council procurement
• Promote a “Buy Local” approach to strengthen the district’s economy
• Work with business owners to identify and fix operational inefficiencies