Issues & Policies

Hamilton has the third largest airport runway in New Zealand.  At 2,195 metres, means we can accommodate and re-open the International Airport with cheaper flights in and out of Hamilton national and international.

According to Waikato Business, our district population has already grown 2.3% in the 2018 / 2019 Financial Year.  As a city, we need to accomodate to that growth.

With Air New Zealand currently looking for a commercially viable Airport, – Hamilton would help ease congestion on our roads and reduce pressure in terms of infrastructure development.

Bring back our local and international shoppers making CBD more vibrant, appealing and safe.  Not everyone feels safe driving into a car parking building…  Garden Place is a wasted space currently a congregated location for the homeless.

Our vision is for a clean, green city ensuring our city is an attractive and pleasant place to live in again.

We will work to lift the pace and scale of housing construction and regeneration to tackle housing shortages and unaffordability.

Manage Rate rises by eradicating a culture of wasteful spending within the current elected Hamilton district councillors and holding back on unnecessary major capital expenditure.

The growing problems faced by users of mobility scooters and wheel chairs when getting around our city require immediate attention and action.  It is imperative that footpaths are resealed, upgraded, and maintained in all of Hamilton – and not just certain areas.

Safety improvements to be made on our roads to prevent further fatal crash increases.

Our city Hamilton, on the banks of the Waikato and halfway between Auckland and Rotorua or Taupo, is New Zealand’s fourth-largest city.  Our busy university town has a vibrant café and restaurant scene, which caters for major sporting, entertainment and agricultural events such as the Fieldays – the southern hemisphere’s largest agricultural show.  Hamilton also has a reputation as a business hub for creativity and innovation.  Hamilton Gardens covers 58 hectares (143 acres) of gardens, arranged in themes and collections and showcasing a wide variety of flora and garden styles from around the world.

It is important we showcase and promote Hamilton for it’s nature and eco tourism, activities and sport, film and television and Māori Culture.

Giving our young people a supervised place to enjoy activity.

Please sign our online petition for an all weather indoor-skatepark here in Hamilton.

Greater transparency will help ensure that Hamilton City Council makes worthwhile spending decisions, and provide ratepayers with the information they need to challenge or question their council on its spending programme.

Adding more security cameras in high crime zones.  Work together with local police to see a reduction in graffiti and decrease in crime.  Hamilton City Council assist and support the NZ Police where they can.

We recognise that we must respond to both the actual and potential physical impacts of climate change.  We have a responsibility to help our communities prepare for and to adapt to the physical effects of climate change.

New Zealand is being affected by climate change and impacts are set to increase in magnitude and extent over time. Floods, storms, droughts and fires will become more frequent unless significant action is taken to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases, which are changing the climate.

Likely impacts of climate change taken from the Ministry for the Environment: 

Higher temperatures

• There is likely to be an increase in demand for air-conditioning systems and therefore electricity in summer.
• People are likely to enjoy the benefits of warmer winters with fewer frosts. However hotter summers will bring increased risks of heat stress and subtropical diseases.
• There may be a reduction in demand for winter heating. This could lead to lower costs and reduced stress on those who cannot afford electricity.

Flooding

• More frequent intense winter rainfalls. These are expected to increase the likelihood of rivers flooding, and flash flooding when urban drainage systems become overwhelmed.

Water resources

• Water demand will increase during hot, dry summers.
• Longer summers with higher temperatures and lower rainfall will reduce soil moisture and groundwater supplies.
• Drought intensity will likely increase over time. Drier conditions in some areas are likely to be coupled with more frequent droughts.
• River flows are likely to be lower in summer and higher in winter.
• Lower river flows in summer will raise water temperatures and aggravate water quality problems (eg, through increased algae growth).

Sea-level rise

• Rising sea levels will increase the risk of erosion, coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion, increasing the need for coastal protection.

Health

• Higher levels of human mortality related to summer heat are expected.
• Higher winter temperatures may lead to a reduction in winter related human mortality and illnesses such as colds and flu.

Biodiversity

• Warmer temperatures will alter habitats that are critical to some species, increasing the risk of localised extinction.
• Warmer temperatures will favour conditions for many exotic species. They will also favour conditions for the spread of disease and pests affecting both fauna and flora.
• Increased summer drought will put stress onto dry lowland forests.
• Earlier springs and longer frost-free seasons could affect the timing of bird egg-laying, first flowering and health of leafing or flowering plants.

Built environment

• Increased temperatures may reduce comfort of people in domestic, commercial and public buildings and could lead to disruptions to business.

Transport

• Hotter summers may damage elements of transport infrastructure, causing buckled railway lines and damaged roads, with disruption and repair costs.

Agriculture

• Agricultural productivity is expected to increase in some areas. However there are risks of drought and spreading of pests and diseases.
• There are likely to be costs associated with changing land-use activities to suit a new climate.

Business and finance

• Households may find it more difficult to access adequate insurance cover in the face of increased flood risk.
• Fruit and vegetable growers may find it more expensive to insure against weather related damage (eg, from hail).
• The risk management of potential climate change impacts may provide opportunities for businesses.

Supporting our homeless by providing shelters to accomodate the homeless in Hamilton to get them off the street; housing is a basic human right.

Fireworks cause hundreds of accidents each year, start fires and cause distress and sometimes injuries to animals and also humans.

Support Bylaws being put into place for fireworks to be let off only in specific hours to respect the peace of neighbouring properties.  Investigate the banning of private sale and use of fireworks with replacements of safer public displays organised by a club, group, union or business.  A Fireworks Spectacular Resource Consent verifying organisers will put on the event in a safe, controlled, maintained manner within the Hamilton region during specified hours.

As Mayor I would promote diversity and the inclusion of all members of our population.  I would address concerns related to bylaws that place people at risk such as sex workers.