CLARE St PIERRE for a councillor position in the Pirongia-Kakepuku Ward
Clare St Pierre has been on council for nine years and says she has “proved I have what it takes to be an effective councillor. I care about the future of this wonderful district, and I have demonstrated commitment, proactive engagement on issues and the ability to work within a larger team.”
Clare has finance work experience and a first class honours degree in management and sustainability, analytical and information processing skills, and outstanding success championing community environmental restoration projects like that at Mt Pirongia. “I am the ideal person to be at the council table as we face central government reforms, climate change impacts, environmental challenges, and economic headwinds,” says Clare.
“If I was elected as a Pirongia-Kakepuku Ward councillor, my constituents would be getting a representative totally familiar with life in Waipa’s smaller rural communities.”
Clare’s family and herself have been in Pirongia Village for 27 years, but she started out on a Te Rore dairy farm. She began her working career with ANZ in Te Awamutu and “then did all the parent things as my five children grew up here”.
She learned how the local government system functions and is across all the major issues, “where I can put into play my strong critical thinking skills and innovative approaches”.
Her three main priorities for the coming triennium are climate change responses that are affordable and equitable.
Housing solutions that will allow a sensible level of intensification to help more with home ownership, but not at the expense of community identity and knock-on infrastructure costs for general ratepayers.
Three Waters Reform which she remains opposed to — see clarestpierre.com for more details.
“Waipa is an amazing place to live in thanks to the mahi of those who were here before us, but right now our biggest asset in my eyes is our people — all of us in Waipa who know they belong here and care about those around them. This really shone through during Covid and it hasn’t changed now.”
All of Clare’s university studies about climate change showed that its seemingly intractable challenges are best tackled by bringing people together across our different perspectives to listen, contribute and collaborate together.
“The common thread overwhelmingly is the empowering of communities. It would be an awesome privilege for me if I was able to foster this kind of empowerment across our communities because you voted for me.”