MEET THE CANDIDATES

As part of our election coverage, we invited Southland District Council candidates to answer the questions: ‘‘Why are you standing and what would you like to change?’’ Where candidates are elected unopposed we haven’t profiled them, and those who didn’t m

making decisions and seeing projects through to completion is of real importance and one of which we have not been good at over recent years.

Our bridging projects have fallen behind and we are endeavouring to rectify this and source extra funding for upgrades of which many are in the rural areas that fall within remote major forest areas.

Increasing opportunities in the tourist area is to be supported as this has the potential to provide many business and employment options now and in the future.

Councillor – Waihopai Toetoe ward (2 vacancies)

The reason I am standing for election as a Southland District councillor for the Waihopai Toetoe ward is because I am passionate about Southland and believe I am able to contribute to positive outcomes for our communities. I know that as an individual there is very little I can change but through working with others, both in council and in our communities, we can make a lot of improvement to what we do have.

We need to strive to always improve our roading and other infrastructure such as bridges, footpaths, water and wastewater systems while advocating for our fair share of government funding to ease the burden on ratepayers.

The new community board structure will change our system of representation. If elected, I will work with the community board to benefit communities in our Waihopai Toetoe ward as well as the wider Southland District.