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Predator Free Hero Sets His Sights On Wellington Mayoralty

Kelvin Hastie – best known for starting New Zealand's first predator free community – has announced that he will run for the mayor of Wellington.

"What we need now is unity," says Hastie, something that he ignited in the community when he rolled out Predator Free Wellington – receiving up to 99% of support in a City Council survey. "Right now we have a split community, a split council, with only 12% of Wellingtonians supporting the council's current direction."

Hastie proposes a six lane bypass tunnel under the city with two dedicated public transport lanes from the Terrace tunnels linking into the existing State Highway network at Kilbirnie. The tunnel bypass will utilise carbon-capture technology to lower emissions, moving Wellington towards a zero emissions economy.

He also proposes to scrap 'Let's Get Wellington Moving' and replace it with the 'Wellington Urban Development Authority'. "If we can get traffic moving under the city, then we can literally redesign the city from scratch – currently Wellington’s traffic woes cut our city and communities in half.”

He says the bypass will free up huge tracks of land for housing and recreational spaces, helping to get desperately needed essential workers and students back into the city. His Development Authority will be given the task of working with both central government and community on the bypass, helping to create a vision for a reimagined Wellington city.

One of his key tasks will be an emergency housing summit. "We want Wellington City Council to enable housing to activate the city through partnerships with our community and heritage."

Hastie says he brings a much needed perspective to the city's current crises. He has worked with development authorities and large infrastructure projects around the world. “I know how to get these projects underway quickly and we already have the tools to get them completed.”

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