FOR IMMEDIATE USE

*Issues in the Porirua City

Statement by Councillor Robert Shaw, mayoral candidate * In Porirua City, this election is about who has the skills needed to advance our council, and lead our city. Choosing our mayor is not about sentiment or good looks. It is about electing the best person to bring our fractious council together, and to deliver results.

We must believe in ourselves, and see every one's contribution as important and valuable. People contribute to their communities in many ways. Some work for the local kindy, and others work to promote business in the CBD. Some people paint fences, as happened in recently in Plimmerton, and others worry about beach management, as is the case at Pukerua Bay and Titahi Bay. There are many tireless workers who seek to green our city and take responsibility for patches of bush and reserves. Care groups are important. We are all grateful to those who give of their time, ideas, and energy.

Serving on a council needs to be seen the same way. Those who are there, are there for a short time, to offer their skills and to work for the community. The work of the council requires, that people set aside their personal agendas and animosities - and paddle together. We are all in the same boat. And there is plenty of work to be done.

As mayor, I would see first task as setting the councillors to work. We need to harness their ideas and energy. At the moment they are an underutilized resource. Councillors must do their homework. They must come to meetings prepared, and ready to vote on the decisions of day. As mayor I will not tolerate disruptions to the business of council. Equally, I will strive to make certain that everyone has a full opportunity to contribute their ideas and participate in decision-making.

This also extends to the way in which the council interacts with its community. We must move beyond the disastrous model of "consultation" and establish partnerships that lead to power sharing. Some of the steps we are taking in this direction are seen in the popular "village strategy" work. In our city, we all agree on the broad goals. We want our suburbs to be unique and of high quality. Community facilities must contribute to our way of life. There must be walkways, bush, and a preserved coastline. The hill tops must be visible and green, and view shafts need to be protected. Few people know that from Porirua City on a crisp morning you can see Mount Ruapahu. We also have magnificent views of the south island. From an aeroplane the twin harbours of Porirua are unique and beautiful. On the ground we have unique communities, each with history and identity. Our communities offer residents companionship and opportunities. Sports clubs and the recreation venues are important. As are schools and shops. There must be facilities for children and for the elderly. It is to protect these things, and enhance our quality of life, that we must re-write the District Plan. The rules of town planning need to be more firm and consistent with the aspirations of communities. As we do this Porirua will be increasingly respected and admired. The advantages of the Porirua lifestyle will become well known. Property values will benefit from town planning.

Town planning is an example of the core business of council. In recent years, our council has lost its focus on core business.

We have said "yes" to everyone and completed little. It is easy to add projects and to continue funding things year-after-year. It is much more difficult to set priorities and establish a firm understanding of those priorities. The fact is, good projects have to wait their turn. Another way of saying this is that we must live within a realistic budget. Porirua's rates are out of step with those elsewhere -- we must deal with this problem.

Some people say that this year's rates increase in Porirua is moderate compared to other places. They forget that a one percent increase in rates in Porirua is a far greater sum of money than a one percent increase in Wellington. What is more, the situation actually worsens each year. The difference compounds. Adjusting the rates, is, of course, not as easy as it looks. Had it been easy, the problem would have been fixed by now. The answer lies within the budget process. The procedures we adopt when we make decisions contribute in large part to the outcomes. If you head off in wrong direction, you end up in the wrong place.

The tradition in Porirua has been, to list the desirable projects and add up the cost. I have advocated a new approach -- a three-step budget process. This process would have the councillors and the community settle the question of council's income before deciding how to spend the money. It would also produce for us, a genuine opportunity to compare like-with-like as we make budget decisions. Our tradition has been consider $17 million projects at the same time that we consider street lights, rubbish, and dogs.

Council has to find new ways to do things. There is already a distinctive Porirua way. We are friendly people. We believe in progress and the importance of our environment. We all, actually want to work together. We strive to respect each other. To give every one a fair go. And to learn as we go along. Council is but an extension of the community and it must function to reflect the values of our community. It is to advance these things that I seek your support for the mayoralty of Porirua City.

ENDS

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