Ellen Blake, a new, independent candidate for Wellington Mayor and Pukehīnau Lambton ward has announced her candidacy.

Top on her agenda to improve Wellington people’s everyday lives are transport, protecting our unique natural places and making sure we have quality places for everyone to live. She says a more collaborative approach with Wellingtonians will better meet our everyday needs - local action addressing our biggest challenges together.

She is a longtime community advocate for walking, better public space, and local issues, and worker on many native plant projects. Ellen says, “We need local solutions for global issues like biodiversity loss and climate change as well as creating quality affordable housing and places for everyone. This means, firstly priority for public transport through more bus lanes and better walking connections. Secondly, a focus on quality in housing for both renters and owners. And thirdly, more support to improve our green and blue spaces.”

Ellen says “I have a sense of urgency and also optimism that our city can lead the way by doing the things we need to do together and doing them well. As Mayor, what I can offer Wellingtonians is a chance to get involved and make the communities they want to live in, communities that work for all of us.”

Ellen is hosting a series of launch events to share ideas, canvass the issues and listen to people. Next up:

· Looking for Wellington parks and green spaces

Sunday 3 July 1 pm, meet on the corner of Cable and Oriental Parade by Waitangi park and take a walk to find our next parks

· On the bus conversation with Thomas Bryan

Sunday 10 July, number 1 bus to Johnsonville departing in the morning

· What does quality housing and liveable space look like?

Sunday 17 July inner city

· Social event launch – a chance to chat and organise

Sunday 31 July, 3pm

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Biography

Ellen grew up and went to school in Wellington, working in a range of the big and not so big employers around town. She has done the school activities familiar to parents and is part of many local community groups. She is a longtime advocate for pedestrians and an activist for many human rights issues. Like many Wellington volunteers she works to support a Wellington biodiverse ecosystem on many projects.

Currently active working with:

· Living Streets Aotearoa - Wellington coordinator, including of the popular annual Walk2Work event celebrating all the people out on foot and wheelchair

· Growing Places Charitable Trust board supporting projects around the region that improve public spaces with native ecosystems. Supported a focus on public transport with planting at Takapu Road rail stations, and support for Old Man’s Beard Free Wellington

· Mt Victoria Bush Regeneration Group looks after about 11 hectares of the Wellington Town Belt, on the journey transforming a weedy place back to Whanganui a Tara ngahere

· Wellington Women’s House mahimara, a safe comfortable home for women on low incomes

· Mt Victoria Residents Association, currently working with WREMO to better prepare Mt Victoria and the nearby inner city for emergencies

· Baring Head regional park kaimahi

National and international focus

· Friends of Tibet – Wellington – advocating for human rights in Tibet

· ALRANZ executive supporting healthcare for women and other genders

· Living Streets Aotearoa executive – the national group advocating for pedestrians and great public space, currently Golden Foot Walking Award 2022 coordinator

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