I wasn’t even intending to run for the community board again. Nine years of dealing with Ruapehu District Council is like running an ultra-marathon through treacle.

A couple of days before registrations closed, there were only two candidates in our ward so I decided to run and reduce the risk that the council might have to appoint whoever raised their hand to fill the gaps after the election. There were actually three but one had been temporarily removed because one of his nominators had mysteriously fallen off the lectoral roll.

I’ve lived in Ruapehu since 2004 and worked here since 2014. Prior to 2014 I was in the Army and then the RNZAF and spent most of my time working out of the district, often out of the country. Most of you will probably know me from my time in the Visitor Centre in Whakapapa Village and working at Schnapps.

Whakapapa Village was my introduction to the wonderful eclectic colourful communities we have throughout the district. Every day, we were working with visitors, tourism operators and supporting businesses. The more I engaged, the more I wanted to do more and Mayor Don Cameron sugegsted I run for the Community Board in 2016.

Ruapehu offers so much regardless of which aspect e.g. tourism, farming, traditional business, converation, etc you look at and has massive potential for growth. Growth, NOT exploitation.

The more I became engaged with Ruapehu District Council specifically the senior management, the more I felt that the council is actually one of our biggest obstacles to growth. Pretty much every request feels difficult, and too-hard like some of the bigegst earners in our district don’t feel they have to do the mahi for our communities.

Just to be 100% clear, I have always found the actual staff within council to super friendly helpful and prepared to go the extra mile (or two).

My number one priority for the next three years is to work with other elected members in our community boards, within the Council and our new Mayor, to introduce what I think is long-overdue and much-needed transparency and accountability into the senior echelons of council management.