What drives me to stand for Mayor of Hastings is simple…
I want Hastings to be a place where people can afford to live, businesses thrive, and families build a future - because we make smart, future-focused decisions for today and the generations to come.
Achieving this goal means continued focus on…
-
Keeping Hastings Affordable
We’ll keep Hastings affordable and future-ready by making smart, targeted cuts, reducing debt, and treating every ratepayer dollar with care - investing only where it delivers real value.
-
Delivering the Basics Well
Including roads, safety, public spaces, and cyclone recovery work - by managing infrastructure spend carefully and demanding value from every contract.
-
Growing Local Jobs and Our Economy
By creating the conditions for businesses to thrive and hire locally - through risk-based consenting, targeted investment in our town centres, and attracting sustainable industry.
-
Unlocking Housing Options that Work
So seniors can downsize, families can upsize, young people can stay, and we protect the fertile soils that feed our economy.
-
Transparency and Long-Term Thinking
I led the push for live-streamed Council meetings - and as Mayor, I’ll keep raising the bar. You’ll know where your money goes, and every decision will plan ahead, not just patch the present.
Delivering on these priorities takes more than good intentions. It takes proven leadership…
The priorities I’ve set out above aren’t just words, they’re shaped by what Hastings has faced, and what I’ve already helped deliver.
I was elected after the Havelock North water crisis, and since then I’ve been part of the fix, supporting critical investment in water infrastructure to keep our community safe.
During COVID-19, I helped Hastings navigate lockdowns, with a strong focus on protecting jobs by helping local businesses and our town centres.
As Chair of District Development, I helped lead the rollout of our place-based housing plan, helping families move out of motels and into better homes.
After Cyclone Gabrielle, I helped lead recovery planning that prioritised value for ratepayers, identifying over $50 million in project deferrals and cuts to reduce future debt.
I also pushed for greater transparency, introducing live-streamed Council meetings so people could see how decisions are made.
These aren’t just achievements I’m proud of, they’re foundations I’ll build on. They show I know how Council works, how to lead through complexity, and how to get things done with the community, and for the community.
That’s the kind of Mayor I’ll be.
