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Local Body Elections 2007 - Survey

ENM asked candidates standing for Palmerston North City Council, and Horizons Regional Council (Palmerston North and Horowhenua-Kairanga constituencies) to answer a brief survey.

Their responses are posted here, as they are received.  Responses from the candidates have not been edited. 

We hope you enjoy reading what the candidates have to say to help you decide how to cast your vote.

Question 1. What is your favourite tree and why?

Question 2. What do you do to make your everyday living more sustainable?

Question 3. What will you do to improve the water quality of the Manawatu River

Question 4. Do you think there is adequate attention given to public transportation and cyclists in the city/district/region?

Question 5. What do you consider to be the biggest environmental issue facing our region and what can we do about it?

Question 6. A number of councils around NZ have joined the "ICLEI-A/NZ" Communities for Climate Protection - New Zealand Programme.  Would you support your council joining?

Heather Tanguay – PNCC Mayoral Candidate

Question 1

My Favorite tree is the Totara – a mighty tree a favorite in the Manawatu, the ones at Ashhurst Reserve and at  Totara Reserve are magnificent, they give a reflection of the past magnificence native bush.  Shows resilience, history and strength

Question 2

What do I do everyday – I recycle everything I can, I make excellent compost and use it on the garden, I work to preserve green space in the city, I promote cycling, shared pathways and walkways, I support the Healthy Homes Project, I speak in support of alternative energy especially wind power and I drive an alternative energy car.

Question 3

Improve the water quality – I will continue to support the upgrading of the sewage treatment plant, when this is completed our water will be of excellent quality.

Question 4

Adequate attention to public transport/cyclists – we need to do more, the cycle lanes are improving, we must continue in this project.   We must improve the glass on the roads; there must be a better, quicker system for glass removal.    I believe we need more buses, older and disabled are asking for free bus service, especially from town to the hospital, we have been told this is a priority and needs investigation with Horizons.   I want to see the shared pathway from Palmerston North to Fielding and to Ashhurst completed.

Question 5

The biggest environmental issue facing the region?  With the closure of the landfill, we must strengthen our recycling service; we need to dramatically cut down rubbish to landfill.   It will cost more to transport rubbish to a landfill outside of the City.  I will work to implement an affordable, modern recycling collection service available to all citizens.  I will work to provide home green waste collection.

Question 6

 Yes, I have always supported Palmerston North City Council joining Communities for Climate Protection.  I am on record for moving this recommendation on a number of occasions and sadly being defeated.   With the world changing due to Climate Change, we have a duty to our communities to seek and share knowledge from all sources, to mitigate against Climate Change.

Les Baty – PNCC Mayoral Candidate

Question 1

I have a lot of trees that attracts tui’s which is really great

Question 2

In my workshop I try to get the staff to turn off the welders and other equipment when it is not being used

Question 3

To continue to evaluate new ways of treating waste water and installing better equipment where possible.

Question 4

Yes.

Question 5

Flooding, Constructing more stop banks is not the answer, Some areas have to be a no go area to build on. Some areas we will have to cease pastoral farming and plant trees.

Question 6

Yes

Jono Naylor – PNCC Mayoral Candidate,  PNCC Councillor Candidate, Hokowhitu

Question 1

Kowhai, because it is native to NZ, and has fantastic bright yellow flowers which are highly visible, even to those of us who have colour deficient eye-sight.

Question 2

We recycle everything we can.  Compost garden and kitchen waste. Grow vegetables. I use my bike or walk when it is practical.  Our section is heavily planted in trees and shrubs, many of them natives.

Question 3

I support Horizons initiatives to reduce run-off from farms.  I continue to support the City’s new wastewater system, including the recent initiative to add a phosphorous removal system.

Question 4

The free buses for students scheme has helped enhance the public transport system in Palmerston North.  Now that it is getting greater usage and there are more buses running, we need to do more to get the general public using the system.  I believe it will have a snowball effect if we can keep getting more people using buses and keep improving the service.

Cycling seems to be growing recreationally but shrinking for commuters.  We need to do what we can to ensure our streets are safe and accessible for cyclists.

Question 5

Trying to rank climate change, water quality, sustainable land use, and solid waste disposal to name a few is a difficult task.  To me the biggest environmental issue facing the region is ambivalence to these and other environmental issues.  We need to work together to find new and better ways to win the hearts and minds of our community in order to achieve better environmental outcomes.

Question 6

The idea has merits, but I would need to know more about the long-term cost and long term requirements for Council and residents, before committing to such an organization. In the mean time I believe that Council can still actively pursue many of the goals of this organization independently.

Russell Johnson – PNCC Councillor Candidate, Awapuni

Question 1

The pohutukawa

A native to New Zealand tough and adaptable similar to the typical Kiwi attitude of old. I have two growing on my small 600m2 property.

Question 2

I’m the average Kiwi male if convenient I will recycle what I can.

Question 3

Contamination from the city has greatly reduced but smaller communities down river seem to blame Palmerston North city as a the main polluter. As the river starts hundreds of kilometres before our city and is already in a bad state due to intensive farming up stream even before reaching us.

Question 4

Two separate issues here:-

Public transport is not always flexible for the modern lifestyles as getting from home to work for many in our city is two trips each way. The average Kiwi will even drive just to get to the corner store.

As for cycling this has had a great swing with many now returning to pedal power with special cycle lanes being added to main arterial streets within the city but now days a high reduction in school children using cycles as parents now drive there children to and from school.

Question 5

To me it would be recycling. This is just to large an issue for the individual and much of what is put in the trash is recyclable. To be effective this can only be done on a city wide scale with all trash sorted at a collection depot using long term unemployed, which are subsidised into employment by Government subsidies. In time this would also create an income for council.

Question 6

I have not heard of this association before receiving your questionnaire. I have only quickly Goggled your details and what I have seen is of great interest. What is being achieved by other members could benefit our city greatly with their ideas and solutions helping to assist in pointing Palmerston North city to be more responsible to the environment both locally & Globally.

James Pettengill – PNCC Councillor Candidate, Awapuni

Question 1

The North Island Kowai ( Sophora Tetraptera ) , Our only ( The Shphora genius ) endemic deciduous tree, fantastic food supply for birds and a huge untapped economic resource, that is likely to eclipse Manuka oil in natural medicines market with the very real potential to become a major export crop supplying the global mainstream pharmaceutical market, would suite commercial cultivation in many areas of the Manawatu.

Question 2

Share our house and car between four adults. Living together as larger unit goes a long way to reducing the impact of the “developed worlds” draw on resources, it is also a lot more fun.

Question 3

Require the dairy industry to improve practices, now is the time to make this ask when payments are high and investment is implementing better practices is relatively affordable. I also support the concept of requiring a “Green Belt” to exist on all private properties that meet the rivers edge, these are useful in steaming erosion and act as soakers for phosphate runoff and unprocessed effluent.

Question 4

There is still relatively little demand for increased public transport in the city that is not to say with the inevitable reduction in affordability of cars for the average person some forward planning needs to be undertaken. With regard to cyclists, I personally feel safer walking at the present time, I think the very real risk of bodily harm from goons in cheep cars is still holding back the use of cycles as a transport option. Again change will be bought about by necessity soon enough and some forward planning is again required.

Question 5

We need to keep encouraging the growth of and implementation of sustainable farming methods in the agricultural and horticultural sectors which are the golden geese of our country and more specifically our region.

Question 6

Yes.

Michael Hills – PNCC Councillor Candidate, Awapuni

Annette Nixon – PNCC Councillor Candidate, Awapuni

Jan Barnett – PNCC Councillor Candidate, Papaioea

John Hornblow – PNCC Councillor Candidate, Papaioea

Question 1

The totora, a tree that symbolizes our community, strong, giving shelter to many, great texture!

Question 2

All I can, we try to follow best practice at home and work, I cycle.

Question 3

Keep improving the quality of the water from our waste water station; get Horizons to be tougher on offenders.

Question 4

No, we need free buses for all, not too big an ask; keep improving cycle lanes.

Question 5

Increased vehicle use – so increase cycling

Increased use of electricity, so create more turbines in defined locations

Question 6

Yes, I would consider it

Daniel Kawana – Councillor Candidate, Papaioea

Lew Findlay – Councillor Candidate, Papaioea

Harvey Jones -  PNCC Candidate for Ashhurst-Fitzherbert Ward

Question 1

Kowhai. because of colour of flowers and the birds it attracts into gardens.

Question 2

Use compost heaps to feed my home gardens.

Question 3

Work to ensure the city continues to reduce its effluent output effects.  Work in conjunction with Horizons to adhere or improve upon water conditions in the river.

Question 4

The 'Go Card' used by Massey/UCOL students and staff is a great initiative to support public transport.  Further encouragement needed for cycle transport by safer, cleaner cycleways and buses by improving routes and timetable.

Question 5

Climate change and its associated flooding prospects and other extreme events need to be planned for and not ignored. 

Increased fuel costs will require improvements in public transport as above.

Question 6

Yes.  Sharing of information and resources is essential.

Bruce Wilson – PNCC Councillor Candidate, Ashhurst-Fitzherbert

George Mathews – PNCC Councillor Candidate, Ashhurst-Fitzherbert

Question 1

Totara.  This tree has considerable significance for my people.  It provided the material for waka and for carvings.  It is also a symbol of strength and durability.

Question 2

I think the question asks about my behavior that contributes to a more sustainable environment.  I lived in Wellington City in 1990 when curbside recycling bins were introduced.  I have recycled almost everything that can be recycled for the last 17 years.  I use long life/low wattage light bulbs.  My wife and I are involved in the Green Corridors activity in the Turitea Valley.  Most importantly, I will continue to support wind turbine generation in the City and will counter those who oppose more wind turbines.

Question 3

Water quality of the River is the responsibility of the District Council.  I will avoid agreeing to any City Council decision that will have an adverse affect on the River.

Question 4

I live in a rural area which is not served by public transport, nor should it be.  There appears to be a reasonable public transport system in the city including serving Massey and IPC.  There needs to be a sensible balance in the amount of public transport provided especially during off peak periods because someone has to pay for it.  I am not aware of any shortcomings in public transport although no doubt, some will seek more.  There appears to have been a lot of work done in recent years on the provision of cycle lanes in the City.  Palmerston North is largely flat so is particularly suitable for cycling.  I no longer ride a bicycle and I am not in touch with the cycling community.  I do not know whether cyclists have any significant issues with their lot in Palmerston North.

Question 5

By far the biggest issue is the pure selfishness of a lobby group and individuals who are opposing the installation of more wind turbines in the City.  Palmerston North needs a new Council, which, like the current Council, will reject the doubtful claims by the objectors and continue to support the development of further wind farms on the Tararua Range.

Question 6

I cannot answer that question without more information as it relates to Palmerston North.  That would be provided in an officer’s report. I had to Google ICLEI-A/NZ to find out what it is the abbreviation is for and to find out something of its aims and objectives.  I do not know what the pros and cons would be for the Council if it joined ICLEI-A/NZ.

Chris Teo-Sherrell – Councillor candidate, Hokowhitu

Question 1.

I love lots of types of trees – indigenous and introduced. Kanuka for filtering light, Kowhai for attracting tuis to its riot of colour, Pittosporum eugenoides for filling the air with fresh lemony smell when clipped. Plum, chestnut, nectarine and apricot in our garden for the bounty they supply us.

Question 2.

Hern and I grow a large proportion of the food we consume on about 500 square metres of urban land.

Have reduced my carbon footprint to about 0.5t CO2-equivalent/year (calculated based on travel and direct energy use -  a bit tricky to work out embodied energy of purchased food etc).

On target for less than 1 bag of residual waste for this year.

Question 3.

Continue to encourage Horizons to stick to strong measures in One Plan given that most of nutrient loading is from non-point sources.

Will wait to see effect of phosphate removal from PN wastewater before deciding on further measures there.

Was opposed to river discharge of wastewater but we lost that one a decade ago.

Question 4.

No. I have proposed diverting $2M/year from PN’s roading budget of $15M/year to enhance the bus service. Expect it to save more than this amount in the new roading infrastructure that it makes unnecessary.

Also, would divert other roading budget money into enhanced cycle and pedestrian facilities such as

- raised pedestrian crossings,

- slow speed limits outside schools, early childhood education centres and other places,

- more cycle lanes,

- bike phases at traffic lights, and

- decent stands and lockers at destinations.

Question 5.

Climate change – avoid increasing our exposure to the risk of flooding by not building on floodplains (Te Matai-Staces Roads and Mangaone Spillway).

Doing our bit to decrease the city’s total emissions through provision of dependable, convenient, safe public and active transport services and facilities and by promoting and supporting uptake of solar and low-emissions wood-fired heating.

Also hill country erosion, river siltation and consequent increased flood risk. Pressure Regional and Central Government to require reforestation of highly erosion-prone hill country and put restrictions on use of other erosion prone land.

Question 6.

Yes, just as our neighbours in Masterton and other parts of the Wairarapa have done.  It’s a no brainer,

Tangi Utikere – Councillor Candidate, Takaro

Question 1

The Ponga Tree because it is native to New Zealand, has nice ferns that can be dark green colour and produces the pikopiko shoots, which have a different shape that changes over time.

Question 2.

By recycling, trying to limit household waste and reducing the inefficient use of energy  around the house where possible.

Question 3.

Work closely with Horizons to prevent pollution of the river, which will result in an improved water quality.

Question 4.

The incentives for students to use public transport are commendable. Such incentives like the free use of transport with a student ID should be encouraged. The city has increased cycle lanes, but does need to reduce the amount of glass on roads. Supporting an incentive such as the Green Bike Scheme promotes the use of cycles for transportation.

Question 5.

An icon for our region is the Manawatu river. Protecting it from pollution will allow it to be sustainable for future generations.

Question 6.

I don’t know much about ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, but if it’s aim is a commitment to sustainable development then it may be worth having a look at.