Hamilton at turning point in city growth
‘‘No Hamiltonian wants to see their fellow citizen living on the street, but the issue is a complex one. In the short-term we need to be working closely with our social services sector and partnering with local businesses. In the longer-term we need to be focusing on the availability and affordability of housing – high house prices and a lack of supply are also driving up rents in the city,’’ she said.
‘‘We can address this by working with developers and could call for a Special Housing Accord for the region. This legislation was introduced in 2013 to enhance housing affordability and facilitate an increase in land and housing supply in areas with supply and affordability issues.’’
But in order for changes to be made, people have to vote, Southgate said.
‘‘I would encourage people to vote for three main reasons; because we can, because Local Government shapes so many aspects of our daily lives and that because it does make a difference, you can be heard.
‘‘People know what they want in their city and have a right to have their ideas considered. After-all, they are the ratepayers.’’
Southgate’s interests include playing basketball, ballroom dancing, long walks by the river and a good coffee at some of our cafes with her husband Greg.
‘‘And you can’t beat a good movie or two for work-life balance,’’ she said.
SOLVING PROBLEMS
says his philosophy of life is ‘‘No one can defeat you ever until you accept defeat’’.
The candidate has lived in New Zealand for 25 years and has a long political background, first standing for the city coun- cil in 1998.
He has a three-step method to reduce the number of homeless people in the city’s CBD.
‘‘First, I would like to know the factors behind such homelessness; second, I would try to resolve their genuine problems with the help of WINZ, psychologists and psychiatrists and provide them home to live; and third, to those who do not have any genuine reasons to be homeless but only promote ‘‘streetie culture’’, I would give them legal notices to leave the CBD and if they still won’t leave, then will use legal channels to remove them out of the CBD,’’ he said.
He also believes organising a Public Forum so that people can get to know their candidates, is a better way to encourage people to vote.
Chatha has a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Waikato. He also has a graduate diploma and a postgraduate diploma in business and administration, a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and a Masters degree in management.
PROUD HAMILTONIAN
If you’re going to vote in any election, this is the one to vote in, says mayoral candidate
‘‘Hamilton is at a turning point, and no one wants the city to make the same mistakes as Auckland. We have a real opportunity here, but it’s up to voters to determine whether or not it happens.’’
Simpson is a ‘‘proud Hamiltonian’’ and former Hamilton Boys’ High School and Waikato University student. When it comes to the homeless problem in the city’s CBD, he said it is important to acknowledge that Hamilton is the only city that seems to be showing real progress in solving these issues.
‘‘Auckland’s homelessness crisis is getting worse because they have tried to criminalise homelessness rather than address the root causes through projects like the People’s Project. Let’s continue to do more of the stuff that works and less of the stuff that doesn’t,’’ he said.
A father of three, Simpson enjoys reading, running, and cycling, as well as enjoying the hospitality, arts and events that Hamilton has to offer.
His career has led him to heading the Government Research Unit in Wellington, and a number of senior roles in the private sector and international trade.