JAMES PARLANE for a councillor position in the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Ward

James Parlane has been a Te Awamutu resident most of his life and owned his own home from the age of 20.

He has had two terms on council at a time when his work commitments made it impossible to continue.

“I am now semi retired and have time available. I work as a consultant and property manager,” says James.

His work started at Tokanui training people and he went to university and worked weekends at a service station and nights at a hotel. James studied psychology, education, economics then law and later business, including property valuation and management and health and safety.

He has experience in governance and management of large assets and property.

“I am not afraid to do what is right even if that might be against my own interests. I see this council as one that has drifted along, not followed its own plans and has made hasty decisions without properly consulting the public.

“It has a debt problem that it did not have when I was a councillor. That needs to be repaid and responsibility put back on the generation who allowed it, not the next one. You need a council that is conservative with public money and I can provide that.”

His view on Three Waters is that it is “virtually a done deal, so we may as well live with it. Labour has a majority and so the law will pass. Councils all over New Zealand have had 30 years in which to take these issues seriously and none have.”

James’ opinion on housing intensification is that it has “come out of left field. I am flabbergasted to see what is proposed. Knighton Rd, Hillcrest is an example of ultra high density housing. These proposals add another level to that.

“Waipa¯ is under prepared and we need safer building rules to ensure people and property remains safe. These proposals allow nothing for landscaping and in the current form will create a modern ghetto.”

On of the most pressing issues for James is “the avoiding of building silly monuments to the council. We do not need a new Te Awamutu Museum or Cambridge Library.

“We need to be robust against future problems like diseases, an older population and creating the ethics and respect for public money. It would be cheaper to give everybody who wants it free fluoridated bottled water than contaminate the place.”