Let's Talk is an app helping locals connect and engage with NPDC local
body candidates so that democracy thrives!
Available on Apple and Android or you can simply view the website.
Here are some of the questions I've been asked so far as of Tuesday, September 27th at 6pm, 2022:
If elected, what do you hope to achieve by the end of the term?
By the end of the term I will achieved; having assisted New Plymouth District Council to strategise and implement a mental health policy, having Taranaki
remaining a confident contributor economically through a potential recession, having New Plymouth District Council be a leader for other councils when it
comes to the relationship between our countries Treaty Partners and I will be successful at getting Re-elected. A lot of the projects for our district are going to need more than 3 years so I'd want to finish whatever I start. In-fact, I'd like to finish a lot of projects I haven't started, such as basic human rights requirements like footpaths, sewage and water (some places in Taranaki still lack these!!! In 2022!!!) all finished. This means I'm wanting to be in council for 3 terms minimum.
What do you think the role of local government is, and how would you define and objectively measure the outcomes it creates?
For me the roles is quite simple: the role of a council is to take the communities needs and problems and work with them to solve those problems and fulfil those needs. Further to that, a council creates external relationships or uses its internal staff to then formulate and propose the solutions to those needs. Local Council are then the value systems and moral compass, if you will - of those proposals for which then to decide which strategy will be taken. These success if these proposals and projects are are objectively measured according to impacts, outcomes, outputs, inputs and community & environmental wellbeing I have noticed current councillors who constantly criticise and put down the council organisation, and those who work in it.
If elected what will you do to stop that type of behaviour from occurring, and to have everyone working together?
I wouldn't stop it. My focus would be more on helping to understand why this
person or persons feel the need to express themselves this way. Stopping people
from having their say doesn't help anyone but being able to talk to the root of the issue goes a long way. It's important to know though that a certain amount of self awareness is needed in these cases too and I would question if the current councillors committing this silliness have the ability to accept responsibility for being part of the very problems they illustrate. Working together doesn't mean agreeing on everything and unfortunately you'll get a select few who will throw their toys when they don't get their way. When really, a more proactive and successful solution, would be to reflect on the "how" and "why" people didn't see your point of view and work to improve those communications. I would also ask
those individuals - How does throwing your toys in the short term effect the others wanting to play ball with you in the long term?
Do you have any affiliation with VFF (Voices for Freedom)?
As a marginalised person I don't believe in shutting out the less popular and outcast members of our community and I will engage with anyone - even if just to solidify the others position and my own. In saying that, I have no affiliation to VFF whatsoever.Yes or no.
Do you support the establishment of a dog park in New Plymouth
District?
In my response to this question I've consulted with experts who have told me that establishing a dog park in New Plymouth without proper provisions would be a huge safety issue. Thankfully, Wellington City Council has deployed the RDO (responsible dog owner) system which New Plymouth could learn from. RDO status confirms participants have attended and passed an approved Responsible Dog Owner Education and Obedience course. Other criteria may include:
- Your dog has free access to a fully-enclosed containment area on your property (this doesn't have to be a fully-fenced garden or yard).
- In the last year, your dog must not have been impounded, or been the subject of a substantiated public complaint, or received an infringement notice: You have not received any convictions under the Wellington Consolidated Bylaw: Part 2 - Animals; the Dog Control Act 1996; or the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
Unfortunately a lot of owners like to blame other dogs or owners when worst case scenarios take place but making sure owners complete RDO status (or something similar) allows for everyone to then participate and enjoy things like Dog Parks in a safe manner without disputes.
Do you support the provision of single-sex spaces (toilets, changing rooms, refuges etc) for women and girls?
Yes.
How do you plan to connect with all parts of the district (or community if on
community board) and ensure that all citizens (not just the loudest or best organised) are heard?
I'm born and raised in Taranaki and have had extensive networks since a young age due to being a ward of the state. This means that I'm naturally connected
widely throughout Taranaki through having being raised in almost every part of it. Of course, I don't know everybody so I'd be leveraging the 2 degrees of
separation I have to help with connecting me more broadly. Also I will be leveraging contacts that exist within current community boards and other
community groups such as sports teams, not-for-profits, entertainment venues etc. Having been involved with Radio since the age of 16 (where I was an announcer for 9 years) and having an online presence at a young age (and when social media was new too) as well, my networks are far and wide. My job has always been to answer the questions I can - and connect people to the people with the answers, for the questions I can't.
What role does science play in your decision making. Can you provide an
example?
One way that I choose to define science is: the systematised knowledge derived
from observation, study, and experimentation carried on in order to determine the
nature or principles of what is being studied. So when I think of this I think of the
human behaviours I observed, studied and experimented with throughout my
upbringing as a means to determine the nature and principles of these human
behaviours I conclude to results very similar to Maslows Hierarchy of needs. Using
this hypothesis is how I've been able to build a life of service contributing to
raising over $1,000,000 for charities and was once nominated for New Zealander
of the year. I say hypothesis because the study is neither official nor is it conclusive but it is instead forever ongoing.
How will you be an advocate for dog owners?
Having a partner who works as Dog Behaviour Specialist I have no choice but to hear a lot of the issues around dog ownership. As you have mentioned there a lot of dog facilities and services available though you are not using them, so the question I have is what do you want to see and what would you like to use?
Here you can see the event we ran inviting dog owners to come down and share their experience and ask questions with us so we could gain a better understanding to their needs and wants.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the district or your
community?
Aotearoa is moving from its infancy stage to its awkward teenage years. As we
uncover more of our identity and start to reconcile our history, we need people
who can facilitate the tough conversations that are awaiting us. People who can
hold space for this conversation, manage the high emotion and respect the
cultural contexts that come with confronting this complex identity crisis are in
need. Yes; climate change, infrastructure (such as rates increases and 3 waters),
etc are all important but discovering who we really are as a nation and who we
want to be going forward is going to be a confronting conversation and people
who have that awareness are going to play a key role because that identity will be
within all the decisions we make.
How do you envisage working with others around the table - especially those
who don't agree with you?
The same way I do in my every day life - by going until each interaction with the
intention to listen and learn not to talk and teach. Evident over at my podcast I've often interacted with individuals and communities that I don't see eye to eye with but rather than stay positioned in our respective polar ends of the scale, someone always has to make the first move. Just like a kiss, if no one moves first then we both miss out.
What do you consider to be necessary competencies for your role, and which of these would you consider to be your strengths?
Besides Muzz the Mullet, the standing councillors and NPDC staff - I'd hand on
heart argue that I've spent more time in council chambers than anyone else in
Taranaki over the last term. I've learned the standing orders. I've learned the difference between Governance and Operations. I've learned what it means to be a Councillor. These are all necessary competencies that not many learn until they're in the role already. I've essentially just completed a 3 year apprenticeship and I'm ready to take the tools now and let aunty and uncle retire. My ability, resilience and courage to often do what's required before it's asked of me is a strength.
Do you think it was acceptable to exclude rate payers from council facilities
because they didn't hold a Vax pass? Would you think it would be acceptable if a similar situation arose again in the future?
In answering this, I can't help but think of teenagers who make the assumption
that Mum & Dad have everything sorted out and the world is over when they make
a mistake. Just like that scenario - I think the important thing to remember here is
that New Plymouth District Council did the best to their ability with the best of
their knowledge. Personally, it's hard to argue. that they didn't have the
communities best interest at heart. It's important to remember too that, not only
were these mandates passed on from central government but also every person
and their dog thought they were experts which added pressure to the decision.
Covid has been a polarising topic over the last term and I take my hat-off to our
current sitting council members for having to endure the criticisms as they made
crucial decisions during a time where the circumstances were unprecedented.
Our job now as standing councillors is to help navigate Taranaki out of this time of
conflict and into solutions which can help us all move forward as a community.
The great thing is that there are many solutions already being proposed and
debated: the community sports hub, improved public transport, $20 million for
Waitara to have it's storm water improved, the $10 million wildlife centre in
Inglewood and probably a bunch more things we're not even aware of are all
contributing to this re-unification of our community. Like teenagers, we will grow
to learn and appreciate the sacrifices and decisions that are made and even if
they turn out to be the wrong ones in retrospect I'm confident we will be mature
enough to forgive and move forward with solutions so this division isn't passed
down to future generations.
With climate change being one of the biggest issues plaguing the planet, what role do you think the council plays in counteracting it?
The New Plymouth District Council has a climate action framework in place which
includes Community Orchards, Ecological design, Waste minimisation, Water
conservation and Predator Free advancement which will be a long but fruitful
process for the community at large. Our goal is to see this through and
communicate to the community why this is important and have them involved as
much as possible. There is no greater power than a community who looks out for
each other and works together.
