Wellington City Council 2010 election

September 20th, 2010 at 3:00 pm by David Farrar

Okay, well here are my thoughts on my local Council.

Mayor

It is effectively a two person race between Kerry Prendergast and Celia Wade-Brown.

I’m voting for Kerry on the very simple grounds that I think she has done a good job, that Wellington is heading in the right direction, and that she is effective at making things happen.

Have not agreed with Kerry on every issue – especially the daft proposal to have a city wide liquor ban. But I do think she has been a good Mayor.

She can be tough, but you need this at times. For example she was one of the local government negotiators that got the Government to agree to up its contributions to sorting out leaky homes from 10% to 25%.

Celia Wade-Brown is a good Councillor in my opinion, and has run an energetic campaign. She is a Green Party member and while she has some good policies, she is opposed to the very sensible four lanes expressway from the airport to Levin.

I will be ranking Kerry No 1.

Celia will be No 2, Jack Yan No 3, Bernard No 4, Al Mansell No 5 and Bryan Pepperell No 6.

Lambton Ward (3 councillors)

Two of the three choices are very easy to make – Ian McKinnon and John Bishop. Ian does an excellent job as Deputy Mayor and is highly respected.

John would be a superb addition to the Council. He is very good at working with diverse groups of people to achieve good outcomes, has sensible instincts and is not one of those people who will grandstand or cause trouble just to get name recognition. He will lend a good strategic focus to Council.

The third choice is harder.. You have incumbent Councillors Stephanie Cook and Iona Pannett. You also have former Mayor Michael Fowler.

Sir Michael was a great Mayor, but I think his contributions lay in the past.

I have voted for Stephanie Cook in the past, despite her Alliance/Green background. She has been good with the community groups. However I think people can serve too long on a Council and after 15 years she seems to be losing her energy.

The Wellingtonian had a panel assess Councillors in July, and Stephanie got rated pretty poorly.

My third pick is going to be Green City Councillor Iona Pannett. It goes without saying we disagree on quite a few policy areas. However she was the leader of the forces against the daft city wide liquor ban, which I very much supported her on.

Being a Councillor is not just about voting on policy and spending, but also about representing and helping the community and Iona does an excellent job there. The Wellingtonian panel actually rated her the most accessible and effective Councillor – which is a real tribute for a first termer.

She also works hard for election. She knocked on my door in 2007 and did so again in 2010. I like candidates who put in the hard yards actually meeting the voters.

So Iona will be ranked No 3.

Northern Ward (3 Councillors)

I always recommend voting Helene Ritchie bottom. Over a period of around 30 years she has shown herself to be almost incapable fo working with others. She even got sacked as Deputy Mayor in the 1980s by her own team, she was so bad.

Ngaire Best is an incumbent Councillor and who I would rank 1 if in the ward.

When Hayley Wain was elected to Council in 2004 I was delighted. I think it was great that an 18 year old wanted to stand, and could get elected. And I think she did a pretty good job in her first term.

I’m not sure what has happened, but she doesn’t seem to have done well this term. The Wellingtonian panel absolutely caned her and said she was the least effective Councillor.

I feel a bit sad saying this, as I like Hayley, but I think it is time for her to have a break from the Council, finish her studies, and get a job in the “real world”. Then down the track I think she would be in a very strong position to continue contributing.

So who to support from the challengers? I like Justin Lester. He is a small business owner, has run a good campaign and seems a good choice.

Gary Roberts looks a reasonable punt also. Don’t know about him but he is a former military policeman, and head of the local RSA which I approve of.

As with all these positions, comments from locals sharing their views is welcome.

Onslow-Western Ward (3 Councillors)

Fairly simple here. I would re-elect Jo Coughlan, John Morrison and Andy Foster – rank them 1, 2 and 3 and rank Jack Ruben 7. The three Councillors are all good people, even if Andy did have a brain fart over the indoor stadium.

Eastern Ward (3 Councillors)

I would rank Simon “Swampy” Marsh as No 1. He is a great guy, who was an iconic radio figure for many years. He is one of the more creative guys you can meet, and has strong community and business links. I think Swampy would be an excellent addition to the Council.

I would also put in a good word for Amanda Nicolle. Amanda is a fellow panelist on Face Off on ZB with me, and has a passion for Wellington. She is a good peron to get things done.

The three current Councillors are all quite well known. I’d keep at least one of them on – so people should also support their preferred incumbent.

Southern Ward (2 Councillors)

I’ll just put in a plug for Seann Paurini. Seann is an old friend, and cares deeply about helping those most in need. I don’t agree with all his policies, but do know he would be a diligent advocate.

As always I recommend ranking Peperell bottom. Of course they won’t, and he’ll get back in as name recognition is what most people vote on.

Hard to judge the others on the basis of bios. Rex Nairn looks like he might be okay. Again comments welcome from locals.

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18 Responses to “Wellington City Council 2010 election”

Danyl Mclauchlan (1,040) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Celia will be No 2, Jack Yan No 3, Bernard No 4, Al Mansell No 5 and Bryan Pepperell No 6.

Mansell before Pepperell? And endorsing Slater in Auckland? I see a pattern here . . .

[DPF: I have an anarchist streak ]
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krazykiwi (9,188) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Mansell’s pitch for my vote:

“I’ve always been a pessimist. I saw big nations acting like gangsters, and small ones like prostitutes. I saw the wealthy still enslaving the poor; slave-owners and overseers having merely been replaced by banks and corporations. I considered the situation hopeless.

I still see these things, but now, I see them as reasons to fight. Sure, change is hard. But it is possible, especially in times of crisis. We may be the generation that fights the final battle between free people and banks. We could be the people who win the war on drugs (go the drug team!). We could even create a free, peaceful and democratic society with these islands.

Big goals, but with ingenuity, fearlessness and solidarity, I think anything is possible. I can’t promise these things. All I can promise is to tell the truth as I see it, and to fight for my beliefs. Hard out.”

Mansell’s experience with the constabulary:

Watch House staff at Wellington Central Police Station today (20/01/10) arrested local man al Mansell for smoking cannabis, on the steps of the Wellington Central Police Station. When the officers confronted Mr Mansell over his spotting bottle and knives, he rebuked the officers for the poor service, demanding to know the whereabouts of his “neenish tart and flat white”.

As Mr Mansell explained later in his statement to police, “I had a joint earlier with some mates at glue sniffer park. I asked for a good place to have a spot in town. My mate said there was one of those cannabis cafes, and directed me here. I think I may be the victim of a prank”.

Last June, Mr Mansell was arrested smoking a joint in the public gallery of parliament, in what he later said was a “terrible misunderstanding over the term ‘parliamentary privilege’”.

And you don’t rank him 6th DPF ?!?!
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Rex Widerstrom (4,965) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
John Bishop says in his pitch:

I want a review of Council’s parking policies which reward the contractor (and the wardens) for issuing as many tickets as possible. That’s not fair.

On that basis he’d get my vote. Hell, on that basis I’d elect him life president But he’s the only media luvvie on the list worth voting for IMHO, and with all due respect to your backing of the other two.

I’d give my tentative (because I’m not 100% certain what everyone has been up to of late) to Ray Ahipene-Mercer, Iona Pannett and Ian McKinnon from the present lot, and agree with you re Helene Ritchie. The old adage that politics is show business for ugly people (in terms of personality I mean) was never truer. Does she still drive that bloody awful “look at me, I’m Helene Ritchie!” signwritten car?
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RightNow (5,364) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
I got electioneering material in the post from Paul Eagle. All the credentials of a Labour politician:

“I’ve worked in the ward at Wellington Zoo and the Happy Valley tip.”
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Rex Widerstrom (4,965) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
I asked for a good place to have a spot in town. My mate said there was one of those cannabis cafes, and directed me here. I think I may be the victim of a prank”.

Last June, Mr Mansell was arrested smoking a joint in the public gallery of parliament, in what he later said was a “terrible misunderstanding over the term ‘parliamentary privilege’”.

Awww c’mon KK. Since the McGillicuddy’s* disappeared up their own kilts the truly mad, barely cohreent and terminally confused have lacked a voice. I’d hate to see him elected, but I think it’s bloody brilliant he’s standing and thus enabling Wellington people to look at their candidates and laugh, as opposed to Aucklanders, who just look at theirs and weep silently

* Don’t get me wrong, I’m very proud to have been asked to join the McGillicuddy’s by their clan leader (or whatever it was) after leaving NZF in 1996. It was only my aversion to showing my knees that held me back.

edit: RightNow:

You’ve got to be kidding! Done actual hard work, with his hands, achieving something productive down amongst the muck?! Labour stopped representing (and selecting) those people a generation ago!!
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k.jones (210) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
neenish tart
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krazykiwi (9,188) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
@Rex – Ha.. so true re Aucklanders weeping silently
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slightlyrighty (2,246) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I do hope that Gareth Morgan doesn’t get in on name recognition. (It’s not THAT Gareth Morgan )

We don’t seem to have a right of center candidate in the Southern Ward, but Nairn looks OK on paper.
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RightNow (5,364) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Rex – I think that’s an unfounded accusation: ” Done actual hard work, with his hands, achieving something productive…”. For all we know he was an administrator.
He may not be an actual muck-chucker at all (yet – I’m sure being a Labour MP is one of his aspirations).
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Rex Widerstrom (4,965) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Ahh you’re correct RightNow. It is a Council we’re talking about, so even working at a landfill doesn’t necessarily mean you get your hands dirty. He might have been in charge of “stakeholder communications” or something.
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Put it away (2,887) Says:
September 20th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
I didn’t know anything about Celia Wade-Brown before reading this, but I had already been instantly put off by her posters for using just the name “Celia”. Who the hell assumes that because they’re a councillor that gives them enough recognition that they’re on a first name basis with the entire population? Plus it makes me think of brain-dead Womens Weekly covers about “Brad” and “Jen” and “Katie” and who-gives-a-shit.
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ben (2,366) Says:
September 21st, 2010 at 10:51 am
I know very little about the candidates. I do know Celia Wade Brown is a light rail supporter. Which immediately marks her as an economic irrationalist. There is nothing going for light rail. Not useability (nobody rides them). Not flexibility. Once the tracks are laid thats it for the next 30 years. Good luck with your forecasting there. Not cost. Light rail is absurdly costly. Not environmental. The enormous amounts of energy required to build the system are barely offset over the 30 year lifetime of the rail. And light rail tends to be so poorly used that carbon per passenger mile can be higher than private cars. Not economics. Light rail generally costs much more than anticipated in planning. It is usually so uneconomic that revenues are not enough to cover operating costs, let alone contribute anything to capital costs. Furthermore, the US experience is that light rail is so expensive on city budgets that bus service has to be cut to compensate. Light rail does nothing that buses don’t already acheieve. The mystery is why politicians the world over think light rail is a good idea, or why voters seem to agree.

So: no to Celia on this one issue alone. I prefer a solvent WCC.
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Jenna R (27) Says:
September 21st, 2010 at 11:16 am
You forget to mention that Stephanie Cook’s sole campaign pledge is to create a public vegetable garden in the central city, so that poor people can get vitamins. She even sent little packs of seeds to people in Lambton, to demonstrate her commitment to the vegetables. Michael Fowler is living in the past, saw him at a candidates meeting – he came across as old and cantankerous without very much to contribute. His thoughts on earthquakes are that “No buildings will be damaged in Wellington because we have strengthened all the buildings so well, so there is nothing to worry about.”

My third would be Adam Cunningham, not Iona – he owns several business, including Smith the Grocer in the Old Bank building, and has sensible instincts. He is also the only candidate who wanted a Hilton on the waterfront. It’s about time we had more councillors who prioritise business over green issues at least some of the time. Compare that to Iona, who as far as I can tell has never had a real job, and wants to destroy commerce on Thorndon Quay and probably other places by removing carparks in favour of a bike lane. Policy and spending is at least as important as accessibility, and her policies are just too green for me.The only reason Iona can knock on your door and people like John Bishop and Adam Cunningham can’t is that they actually work.
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annie (507) Says:
September 21st, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Kerry Prendergast gets my vote for the first time, on the basis of a commitment to improve earthquake strengthening requirements for older buildings alone. Also, let’s face it, the competition isn’t exactly stunning this time.
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annie (507) Says:
September 21st, 2010 at 12:51 pm
For those looking for info on the candidates for CCDHB – they are found at the same site as the links above.

Look here:

http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/elections/elections-candidates.html

and IMO the most able ones are clustered towards the second half of the list, it’s worth scanning through for things like IT expertise from outside CCDHB, and looking for skills aquired outside the DHB management structure. Medical expertise is never a bad thing, as long as it isn’t accompanied by barrow-pushing – bit thin on the ground this time, several of the doctors listed seem to have special interests in mind.

My 2c worth anyway.

I think I’ll vote for Russell Franklin, Peter Kelly and Peter Roberts. I know Peter Kelly and Peter Roberts, and I think they’re the sort of people the DHB needs. Not self-absorbed.
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Bagehot (42) Says:
September 21st, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Iona Pannett is charming. She called the police Nazis when they came up with a solution to tagging – make them wear a pink vest. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/opinion/editorials/477206. At the time Kiwiblog said in response to the editorial, “Absolutely. Anyone who conflates a punishment for a crime with a punishment for just being born Jewish or gay or a gypsy is seriously off the planet.” So I don’t why one would endorse someone “seriously off the planet.” Pannett is much better though than the other Green Stephanie Cook. Vegetables anyone.
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Michael (698) Says:
September 21st, 2010 at 5:46 pm
I thought the best strategy in a STV election is to only rank the candidates you would not mind to be elected.

So if you don’t want a candidate to have a vote transferred to them, don’t rank them – Unless WCC has a different system of STV to the Hutt DHB, where you have to rank all candidates like the Australian Preferential Voting system. Otherwise your vote might make your number 2 or 3 candidate win.
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Brian Harmer (662) Says:
October 9th, 2010 at 8:15 am
The more I think about this the more I am persuaded that DPF was too polite. The site to which he linked was not the property of Councillor Goulden, but of Wellington City Coucil. It was put there as a service to the voters by the City. The information was certainly provided by Goulden, for the purposes of making it available on this very web site. Goulden had no colour of right to ask anyone not to link to it. It simply was not his, even though it was about him. The disputed information was never published on this site. All that there was was a hyperlink.

I think there is no legal impediment in NZ to providing a hyperlink to any site on earth. Am I wrong?
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Wellington City Council 2010 election

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