Questions and background information on local authority candidates compiled by Whaingaroa Environmental Defence Incorporated Registered no.1912150
from Secretary: John Lawson, 51 Cliff St, Raglan 07 825 7866 email johnrag@vodafone.co.nz
Raglan Residents & Ratepayers Assoc. is running ‘Meet the Candidates’ at 10am in the Town Hall on Sat 17. Your voting pack should arrive by Wed 21. If not, ring the Electoral Officer on 0800 922 822. Votes need to be posted or dropped in at the WDC office by noon on 8 Oct.
Rather than a list of candidates to support, here’s some information which might help you ask more informed questions and decide who to vote for –
I asked the Health Board candidates (we can vote for up to 7) about their views on consultation about fluoride; the government is planning that DHBs will consult about adding fluoride to water supplies, and then the DHB members we’re about to elect will decide the issue. Although I asked just over a week ago, I’ve only had these replies –
Norm Barker – Interestingly I haven’t had to think about fluoride for quite a few years since I was a district councillor on the South Waikato district Council. If I do get elected no doubt the issue will come back to haunt me. I am agnostic personally on the use of fluoride and will be more keen to make sure a through and balanced process to get that community feedback is undertaken by the DHB. My views are essentially around the process to get each communities input and feedback.
Crystal Beavis – I favour fluoridation based on current research and MOH advice, but believe communities must be consulted.
Javed Chaudhry – thanks
Robert Curtis – Fluoride protects children’s health.
Mary Anne Gill – I support water fluoridation as a safe, effective and affordable way to prevent and reduce tooth decay. It is also appropriate that district health boards decide which community water supplies are fluoridated as it is DHBs that make decisions on health priorities for its communities.
Barry Quayle – I would like your organisation members and colleagues to know that as a DHB candidate I am strongly of the view that communities should be able to determine whether they want fluoride in the water. And if an area has held a referendum and opted for fluoride then there should be sources of non fluoride water available to that community as well.
I am a strong advocate for water quality, sustainability and guaranteed water supplies that don’t require water meters.
Macushla Rielly-Obiakor – I have forwarded your email to Macushla. [she was the only one to mention fluoride in her address – see below]
Sally Sleigh – Thanks for that.
Clyde Wade – I will decide on the fluoride issue based on the evidence at the time.
I asked the DHB candidates if it’d be fair to sum up their full statements with these summaries. Only Crystal Beavis asked me to make a change, which I’ve done –
Barker, Norm (Independent) – I see the ability to collaborate with transport stakeholders to get equitable public transport and health shuttle options for all rural towns
Beavis, Crystal (Independent) – sitting member Waikato DHB, and chair of its Disability Support Committee; as former President (now Life Member) of Diabetes Youth NZ have worked to improve health services for children and their families; health sector experience includes working with Medicines NZ and serving on the Auckland DHB; currently work as senior communications adviser, Waikato District Council. Website.
Bennett, Rangipipi (Huakina Development Trust) – Deputy Chair for Huakina Development Trust, Tangata Whenua Corrections Committee Wiri, Te Karaka Land Trust Board, Nga Karu Atua o Te Waka Committee and Future Proof Implement Committee
Buckley, Andrew – Our alternative and complementary health workforce are registered health professionals with valuable clinical skills to offer – we deserve choice
Chaudhry, Javed – Training and retaining the welfare of all staff
Christie, Sally – The staff deserve our support to do the best job possible by providing them with a climate of respect, excellence in teaching and training alongside innovation and research opportunities
Curtis, Robert (Independent) – I am interested in developing the children’s wards at Waikato Hospital into a specialist children’s hospital
Doube, Bernadette – I believe that respect for the people who work in the health and disability sector is imperative to ensure high-quality service delivery
Gallagher, Martin (Independent) – He is standing again because he is passionate about the right of people in the region to be able to access good health care when they need it
Gill, Mary Anne – Mary Anne will provide a community voice for the 392,000 people in the DHB region and represent the 19,000 hardworking health care and social assistance professionals, who make up 11 per cent of the Waikato DHB region’s workforce
Holland, Cathy (Independent) – My focus is on keeping children healthy
Macpherson, Dave (Independent) – When my son Nicky Stevens died in the DHB’s care, our family got no support, no answers, and a series of brick walls – thousands of patients and families face similar problems
Mahood, Pippa (Independent) – With the health dollar having to be stretched further, and the increasing difficulty of people who are unable to access many specialist services, it needs an experienced voice to advocate for improvement of our health service
Mahuta, Tipa – I would like to see a DHB that values the health of children and young people while providing high quality services across the health spectrum
Quayle, Barry (Independent) – Recently I completed almost 4 years as a Manager in Braemar Hospital where I was responsible for managing several departments and 43 contractors providing services to the hospital
Rielly-Obiakor, Macushla (STOP Trashing Our Planet) – 287 foreign chemicals have been detected in babies placentas while rates of cancers, immune disorders, mental health conditions & learning disabilities are rising. Why risk unnecessary chemicals like 1080 poison, fluoride and glyphosate
Sebastian, Danny – strive for a fiscally responsible and transparent DHB
Sleigh, Sally (Independent) – I am more than happy, if elected, to advocate for equitable access to health and disability services for all our Waikato community with better outcomes for everyone within the resources available
Vernon, Jenni (Independent) – I am an ardent supporter of having experienced local representation on the District Health Board
Wade, Clyde (Independent) – Unleashing innovation in health care will be critical and I am keen to see the DHB meet this challenge
I’ve not asked the other candidates for responses, but here’s some information I’ve managed to glean from the internet about them –
For Waikato Regional Council we’re in Waikato General Constituency with 5 candidates for the 2 seats (statements here), or Ngā Hau e Whā Māori Constituency, with 2 candidates for 1 seat. Sustainable Waikato sent out questionnaires to WRC and Mayoral candidates. I’ve linked the names of those who responded below. The responses on climate change are particularly diverse, some considering only managing its impact, rather than trying to minimise it –
Tony Armstrong – farmer and former Rates Control councillor – “Rural productivity is under huge debt and compliance pressure. Healthy Rivers brings further costs to struggling businesses.”
Doug Boyde – Huntly estate agent – “need to protect its quality of water and soil usages within the region, without getting carried away with costs.”
Jennie Hayman – microbiologist “core services, without imposing unnecessary costs” “I am not sure how council policies might “mitigate” climate change.” On Raglan23 she indicated links with the former Rates Control councillors.
Fred Lichtwark – “manager of award winning Whaingaroa Harbour Care” “Agriculture is the largest climate change driver . . . Waikato Regional Council is also responsible for the second largest driver of climate change – transport”
Maxine Moana-Tuwhangai – “I support passenger rail, clean harbours, and working with catchment committees to protect our environment” “more buses to Raglan during the New Year holiday break” CV here.
WRC Ngā Hau e Whā Māori Constituency (statements here)
Tipa Mahuta – WRC deputy chair “ensuring the wellness of our land and our people”
Attiya Andrew – Hauraki-Waikato Mana Party “I believe everyone should mitigate climate change and manage the impacts”
For Waikato District Mayor we have a choice of 5 candidates –
http://www.votewaikato.co.nz/electing-the-mayor/
Allan Sanson – current mayor – “I am accessible to the community” “climate change has restricted development in low lying coastal areas”
Wally Hayes – current chair of the committee responsible for sewage, water meters, parks, roads and buses – “working collaboratively with our communities”
John Deacon – former Ngaruawahia councillor – “More responsibility given to community boards” “The Council could reconsider the new charges for refuse disposal.” “I believe this [climate change] is a Government Issue”.
Brian Cathro – WDC corporate planner – “support: Community Empowerment”
Donna Nichols – estate agent and former WDC Strategy Manager “A well-managed Council doesn’t have, struggling towns, sewerage spills or undersized pipes!” “a ‘visitor potty tax’ for Raglan” “I am in favour of water metres” “Many people shy away from sustainability because they think it will coast money but usually it ends up saving it.”
Tamahere has already had a meet the candidates, which is reported here and says a bit more about the mayoral candidates.
For Raglan Community Board we have an election, though everyone standing will be elected. The election may influence who becomes chair of the board. In addition to reading their election statements, you might like to listen to these Raglan Community Radio interviews – PJ Haworth, Bob MacLeod, Tony Oosten, Gabrielle Parson, Lisa Thomson (will be elected unopposed as Raglan councillor), Alan Vink. Rangi Kereopa is also standing, but I don’t think she’s responded to a request to be interviewed.
If you want to try to get more information the candidates’ emails are –
DHB – btquayle@hotmail.com, robcurtis@mail.com, dave.macpherson@xtra.co.nz, javedcnz@gmail.com, wade@crc.net.nz, crystal.beavis@gmail.com, jjconsultants@xtra.co.nz, frond@wave.co.nz, sally.christie53@gmail.com, barker.n@xtra.co.nz, healthcare131@gmail.com, danbastin143@gmail.com, sallysleigh1@gmail.com, pippamahood@gmail.com, gallagher.martin@icloud.com, c.te.m.holland@gmail.com, macushlanz@gmail.com, rangipipi@teao.maori.nz, maryanne.gill@gmail.com
WRC aiarm@xtra.co.nz, fred@harbourcare.co.nz, jennie4waikatoregion@gmail.com, mhgmoana@gmail.com, doug.boyde@century21.co.nz, tipa.mahuta@waikatoregion.govt.nz, attiyasamina@yahoo.com
3 of the mayoral candidates have Facebook pages – Brian Cathro, Wally Hayes and Allan Sanson and they have had articles in the Chronicle in the last few weeks..
With many candidates saying very little about what they’d do if elected, but just making ambigous statements, it’s easy to see why only about a third of people vote in local elections. If you’d like to hear more about the candidates, please let me know and I can set up an email group, or an on-line document to exchange information and views. With so few voting, your vote makes more of a difference, so I hope you’ll make the effort to work out how best to use it.
Hope to see you on Saturday (tomorrow).
Thanks
John.