Social procurement is essentially philanthropy as a trading activity. It involves using business models as a means to solve social, cultural and environmental issues in our community. This is about taking ethical and environmental factors into account when making purchasing decisions.

The Council plays a key role in providing a framework for social wellbeing in our community. Procurement is an area whereby we can develop strategies to address social objectives, such as employment and encourage the wider well-being within our region. We need to be looking to suppliers who will employ people left out in the margins of employment opportunities, including the young, those who are differentially abled, and, increasingly older people.

The living wage is both a moral and ethical issue. Work should not keep people in poverty and indentured, but should enable them to care for their family and it's basic expenses.

By paying all employees of the GWRC, and ensuring that contractors are also paid that basic amount, we will be doing the right thing, but also ensuring people have the opportunity to fully participate and contribute to Wellington and it's region.

The greatest risk we face in Local Body politics is the lack of participation. Without active participation it becomes very easy for control and decision making to be taken over by a few people who will have their interests at the forefront. Our democracy matters, not only by the casting of our votes (that should be a minimum!), but also by contributing our thoughts and ideas to ensure the legitimate interests of all are considered when decisions are being made.

If you elect me as your representative I will do my best to ensure the Council actively seeks feedback and input before major decisions are made. On a personal level, I will make myself available to you to discuss your concerns.

My five principles for representing you are: Transparency, Consultation, Collaboration, Accountability and Responsibility.

Regular and reliable public transport is vitally important for the social and commercial life of our City. It is impossible for everyone to be driving into the city each day for work. To do so would mean we would be spending more time in cars each day travelling a short distance than being at work.

While we have long term projects, such as those outlined in 'Let's Get Welly Moving', the Council will have no credibility in addressing that project if it does not first address and remediate the appalling implementation of the bus network that was let loose on us in July 2018. Remedying this and restoring the confidence of the people of Wellington must be the first priority of the Council and it's officers. We all want a regular and reliable service!

Over the next few years the Regional Council is going to be deeply involved in making decisions and implementing the Public Transport Spine (network) in Wellington. If elected as your representative, I will work hard to ensure that your wishes are taked heed of and that we deliver a Public Transport system that is founded on evidence and gets you to and from work, and around Wellington, safely and efficiently.

Oh! And by the way, let's ensure our buses are Carbon Zero!

Scientific evidence is conclusive. If we continue down the path we are going down, future generations will not be inhabiting a planet they will want to call home. There will be nothing left, they will literally be a "Generation Zero". A generation left with nothing, because every generation since the Industrial Revolution has, not only plundered the planet of it's finite resources, but left, in it's wake, a trail of destruction in the form of pollution.

We have an opportunity to do the right thing by reducing our carbon emmissions and judiciously use our resources. While our efforts may be small in terms of turning the tide of climate change, our Wellington region can well be the example that other cities and region wish to emulate. Let's lead by example!