SAM JENNINGS
I am not convinced our recycling system currently represents good value for money or achieves great outcomes. Our waste strategy needs a complete rethink and overhaul.
Sam Jennings, district councillor for the Levin ward, is contesting the mayoralty along with councillor Victoria Kaye-Simmons and sitting mayor Bernie Wanden. He is also in the running for a Levin ward seat.
“I'm running because council isn't performing as it should be.
With the right leadership, direction, monitoring and accountability, I know council can be better and an organisation that people become proud of, respect and value. Then we can finally address long-standing issues like broken footpaths and flooding — it requires focus and prioritisation of the core stuff, not fluff.
Horowhenua also needs a strong champion and advocate; whether on roading matters, three waters or other central government reforms, I believe I can work constructively while standing up for our needs and ambitions.
I've fought hard to increase council openness, lift performance, ensure accountability, tackle wasteful spending and improve governance practice.
Council has new management, and now we need a new mayor to achieve real change to complete the refresh and refocus council desperately needs.
I studied law, politics, international relations and criminology at Victoria University, graduating and admitted to the bar in 2006.
I've been a lawyer for NZ Police and CAA NZ. I'm currently working as an international legal and policy consultant, running my international consulting firm working with Pacific region governments, the World Bank and other international organisations. I am focused on drafting model law for Pacific states and revising a regional multilateral treaty.
Strongly opposed to decision regarding Three Waters, he said, “I led the decision to join the campaign opposing the proposed Three Waters reform. The reforms undermine democratic accountability and aren't in the interests of our community. Instead, the Government should fund council three waters in the same way that they already do for local roading.”
He does not support the closure of the Levin landfill: “I'd first like to understand the complete picture around our district waste strategy and the impact of other imminent government initiatives, such as mandated food and green waste separation, along with new technologies that should also be investigated.”
He also wants to overhaul the recycling, “Recycling processing costs ratepayers around $1200 per tonne versus around $200 per tonne for general waste. Given that a high percentage of recycling tonnes is contaminated and sent to landfill anyway, I am not convinced our recycling system currently represents good value for money or achieves great outcomes. Our waste strategy needs a complete rethink and overhaul.
He believes housing can be made more affordable through district plan changes to reduce red tape, remove bureaucracy, and reduce cost/time to deliver housing. Making council's surplus property portfolio available to community housing providers and Kainga Ora, even if it means the council doesn't realise the total value of the property immediately. Creating housing pathways (such as one or two-bed dwellings) for pensioners so that larger housing inventory can be unlocked for larger families — promoting more housing inventory choices.”
He sees a strong role for council in getting more and better health services into the district, but not when it comes to helping residents deal with another pandemic. “Council needs to advocate more strongly for more services and a Ka¯piti Team Medical walk-in accident and emergency /after-hours style practice/facility to avoid our residents having to travel to Palmerston North.”
Council's focus should be on ensuring continued essential service provision and maintaining access to community facilities for pandemicrelated services rather than playing any direct role in health-related measures, he said. “As HDC's representative on the Horizons passenger transport committee, I am already advocating for better services in Horowhenua. Horowhenua will see a review and broader public transport service feasibility work completed in the next few years.
“However, it isn't happening fast enough; I'd like to pilot a small van shuttle service around Levin to demonstrate demand and viable return on investment.
“I have been one of O2NL's ¯ fiercest advocates, fighting hard for the best deal possible for the community. The need advocacy is not over; I'm focused on ensuring that the existing road is not left to deteriorate over the next 10 years while the expressway is built , and not allowing the old highway and dangerous bridges to become a financial burden on ratepayers.”