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I have lived my entire life on the Hibiscus Coast. For the last six years the local cadet squadron has been a core passion. In the past, I have been involved in the Youth Parliament process and was a leader in the Rodney Youth Advisory Panel. I currently work at Mitre10 Whangaparaoa and am studying accounting and management at Massey University.
What are the three crucial issues facing the Hibiscus Coast?
1. A lack of involvement in decision-making by our community has resulted in a disconnect between policy and community values. I want all of the Coast to be involved in decision-making so that the policies represent our community’s people and values.
2. People are not happy with our rates being sucked into “bigger projects” in central Auckland. We need our rates spent locally.
3. Penlink needs to happen! The land has been purchased and, therefore, our rates have been invested and will only be made use of once Penlink’s completed. Silverdale is predicted to grow over the next 30 years to reach a population the size of Hamilton. Is it realistic to expect all of us to drive through this area? We need to fight for Penlink to happen sooner.
How would you address those issues?
I will open up further avenues for people to see what the Local Board is up to. Furthermore, I will act to expand the way Local Board members communicate with the community, taking advantage of modern technology.
Local Board members do not have the ability to reduce rates, however, what we can do is work to make sure our community gets its fair share. I will not only promote local projects to get the funding they want, but drive investment into the infrastructure our community needs. It’s time local rates were spent local.
Penlink needs to be kept as the highest priority for those who make the decisions around it.
What do you hope to achieve as a member of the Local Board?
I would love to look back at my three-year term knowing that I have worked with the community to create something that is a true demonstration of the community working together. Furthermore, that I have enhanced people’s ability to be involved and, as a result, the level of satisfaction and trust from the public is heightened.
