Media Statement

MALCOLM AITKEN, LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR ONSLOW-WESTERN WARD

31 May 2013

A better Wellington, for all

The Onslow-Western Labour candidate for the 2013 Wellington City Council elections, Malcolm Aitken, says Wellington must pick up its game and create more sustainable, smart, innovative businesses.

“However,” Malcolm says, “For all Wellingtonians to benefit from an economically stronger City, this must be complemented by strong public services and facilities.”

“Wellington City needs fresh faces and new ideas around the table. I’m taking a stand because I see huge opportunities being squandered – economically, socially and environmentally.

“I will put my heart and soul into being part of a refreshed, absolutely positive Wellington, but it’s got to be absolutely positive across the income spectrum.

“Let’s make sure we retain and nurture full public library services and properly fund community centres such as Karori’s.

“We desperately need to take a more balanced approach on transport. I will champion more reliable and better maintained busses, which are the only option for many people, and work towards smarter roading options which are well planned, such as a second tunnel at the Basin. The flyover would deface Wellington and is highly unpopular. The thinking around it is caught up with the here-and-now rather than the longer term.

“I will vote for keeping council services under democratic control and not at arm’s length. Let’s stop the contracting out.

“Whatever you think of amalgamation, Wellington is already a super city and it’s important that everyone gets to have a say. There’s a lot of potential in shared services. Under this approach councils can co-operate to achieve better cost effectiveness and efficiencies. This doesn’t need to compromise representative democracy.”

Over the next couple of months, Malcolm and his support team will canvass households in Karori, Northland, Wilton and other parts of the ward to talk with residents. 2 | P a g e

“The most important thing is, I want to know what the people of Onslow-Western think. They can visit my website at www.malcolmaitken.co.nz to tell me.”

#ends#

Learn more about Malcolm at www.malcolmaitken.co.nz

Malcolm Aitken

Malcolm Aitken has been a communications professional for the past 10 years. Malcolm is 44 and is married with two children – a four year old and a one year old.

Originally from Te Marua, north of Upper Hutt, Malcolm went to Plateau School, Maidstone Intermediate and Upper Hutt College.

After completing a New Zealand Diploma in Journalism in 1988, Malcolm gained a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Political Science at Victoria University.

After a stint working in pubs in London and travelling around Europe, including teaching English as a Second Language in Athens, Malcolm worked as a freelance journalist in London for many years, writing about the environment, public health issues, politics and social issues.

He and his wife, Deirdre, returned to New Zealand in 2003 when he started out in communications. Malcolm has worked for a central government agency, a health charity and now works for a membership organisation.

Malcolm’s hobbies including running around after his extremely energetic children, keeping fit (nowadays) and trying to occasionally catch a wave or two and not crash into the water too unceremoniously (surfing).

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