Having spent four terms on the Taranaki Regional Council I understand governance. Along with TRC I have had governance roles within health both private and public. I will bring common sense, financial discipline and accountability to the council table.
New Plymouth is rich in cultural and environmental assets. The job of Council is to protect those assets and ensure they are well run.' Our focus should be on the council-run services that make our ratepayers and residents glad that they live here.
We need to be doing the boring stuff well & the maintenance of roads and facilities, collecting rubbish, delivering clean water - before we can indulge in the 'nice to do's'. Ratepayers want to see the return on investment for every dollar that they pay.
With your support I will make sure that common sense, accountability and financial prudence is applied to all decisions of council.
No
What?
I support protecting core services. Instead of cutting them, NPDC should reduce unnecessary capital spending, focus on essential infrastructure, and ensure every dollar delivers value for ratepayers. Let’s invest wisely, not wastefully.
Yes
What?
NPDC must support economic growth post-oil and gas by investing in infrastructure, fast-tracking consents, backing worker retraining, offering business incentives, and promoting Taranaki to attract new people, jobs, and industries.
No
Why?
Rough sleepers are causing disruption in New Plymouth’s CBD—blocking footpaths, intimidating the public, and affecting business. While NPDC began enforcing its bylaw in March 2025, it hasn’t been applied consistently, leaving the public frustrated.
No
Why?
Water is a core public service and should remain under direct council control. A CCO adds unnecessary bureaucracy, reduces transparency, and risks prioritising cost-cutting over community outcomes. Accountability must stay with elected members.
No
Why?
NPDC is a small council with limited resources. Climate change is a global issue that requires national and international solutions. Ratepayers shouldn’t bear the cost of feel-good projects that won’t meaningfully shift the dial.
No
Why?
NPDC should not have committed $50m to the Tūparikino Hub. Sport and community spaces are important, but this level of spending during a cost-of-living crisis and rising rates is irresponsible. Core services and economic resilience must come first.
No
Why?
now is not the time to build more separated cycleways. With rising rates and economic pressure, NPDC must focus on maintaining core infrastructure and essential services. Costly projects with limited daily use should not be the priority right now.
Remove
Why?
This is a binding referendum, not a poll. Council calling it a poll is misleading. I support inclusiveness, but I also believe in one person, one vote—equal say for all, decided together as a community. That’s how democracy should work.
NPDC can help grow big events by backing promoters, cutting red tape, and showing off what we’ve got — working with Venture Taranaki, the Arts Fest crew, and NPDC’s own events team. It’s all about teamwork and making New Plymouth a go-to destination.
My top priorities are capping rates to inflation for 3 years and an immediate review of the Long-Term Plan. We need to cut unnecessary capital spending, which often brings unplanned operating costs. It's time to focus on essentials, not extras.
