2025 Pukehīnau Lambton Candidates Issues Index

Are you committed to the Council’s decarbonisation goals: Te Atakura – First to Zero?

Yes, I support Te Atakura. The climate crisis demands urgent action and should be at the centre of all our council decisions. Our local Labour team has a policy that all major council decision papers will be required to include a Community Impact Statement, which will include a clear account of the climate impact of each decision.

What’s the single biggest action you’d take to halve the city’s emissions in the next five years?

Transport is the area where local councils can have the biggest impact. A climate-friendly city that works for everyone means making buses, trains, walking, and cycling easy options.

I’m committed to cheaper, faster and more reliable public transport. This includes:

• A second city centre bus corridor along Harbour Quays,
• Improving trip times to and from Karori into the CBD,
• Working across regional and city councils, and with central government, to implement low cost improvements to improve public transport travel times.

I support the Golden Mile changes in principle, which will increase bus priority, though first ensuring it can be delivered within budget and that disruption to business caused by roadworks is minimised.

Transport cannot be separated from housing, and the comprehensive housing policy the local Labour team has released focuses on building more homes, with greater density, in the inner city and close to public transport networks.

Will you advocate for aligning the Council’s spending to reflect the city’s decarbonisation goals?

I support Te Atakura – First to Zero and the local Labour team has a policy that all major council decision papers will be required to include a Community Impact Statement, which will include a clear account of the climate impact of each decision.

Will you support the full rollout of the Paneke Pōneke bike plan within 10 years as originally envisaged?

Our transport policy is about giving people options to get around the city, and that includes making sure people who choose to cycle can do so safely.

I support rolling out the cycle network with an aim to have it completed within 10 years. I am also aware that the council faces a serious financial crunch, particularly given the recent $83million sludge plant blowout, which the next council will have to account for against current projects. This may require some rephasing of existing projects, as has already happened during this term of council when it voted to rephase the rollout as a result of government cuts to the national land transport policy.

Do you support a congestion charge being introduced?

Yes in principle, as it can encourage public transport use and also reduce pressure on the transport network at peak times. I’m also very aware that council needs revenue tools other than rates.

However, I do believe we need to have sufficiently reliable and affordable public transport before it is introduced in Wellington, and I have concerns about the impact on low-income households. There would also have to be exemptions. Trades professionals and other service providers would need to be able to meet their client requirements without additional cost to both.

I'd want to address these issues with our regional council and central government before we introduced a congestion charge in Wellington.

Do you support the 2024 District Plan and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development?

Yes, I do. Labour councillors were one of the drivers of the ambitious new District Plan enabling more homes to be built, led the conversion of empty offices into affordable rentals, protected our public housing stock, and kickstarted the review of rates policy to incentivise development of vacant land.

However, more needs to be done. Wellington City Council must embrace density and take an active role in shaping a city that is modern, liveable, and enables people to live in communities where they work and play, while protecting our most vulnerable. Our housing policy includes:

• Changing consenting practice to be more proactive and supportive of development.
• Incentivising more office to residential conversions.
• Setting up an urban development office (UDO) within WCC to support developers to coordinate residential development alongside transport upgrades.
• Protecting Wellington’s social housing and continuing the HUP2 upgrades

What climate action would you champion that isn’t already being worked on by the Council?

In addition to the policies listed above:

• Investigate a Council ‘green jobs’ programme for projects like home insulation, solar installs, native planting, and water restoration in partnership with central government, unions, iwi, local training institutions, and industry bodies, keeping jobs in-house where possible.
• Work collaboratively with local and regional authorities to develop a regional climate plan with clear emission targets and annual reporting to the public.
• Back the development of meaningful resilience and adaptation plans for Wellington’s most vulnerable communities, including to address flooding and sea level rise.
• Plant more trees in reserves to create habitat for native birds and plant more street trees to provide shade to pedestrians (particularly in under-served suburbs).
• Develop a 100-year vision of environmental restoration for te taiao in partnership with the community, including with iwi, hapū, and other Māori communities.

Are you committed to the Council’s decarbonisation goals: Te Atakura – First to Zero?

I understand Council’s goal is net zero carbon by 2050, with an interim target of a 57% reduction in emissions by 2030 (from 2001 levels). The graph below (note: I can’t attach the image) shows we are not on track for either target. Thought should be given to what seems to be an ambitious environment outcome (i.e. halving emission in 5 years) for consideration in the City’s balanced portfolio showing the tradeoffs with other programmes. That then needs to be discussed with the community before decisions are made.

What’s the single biggest action you’d take to halve the city’s emissions in the next five years?

My research indicates that Transport is often the largest urban solution to reduce emissions. Any decisions on water, housing, transport, energy, communications, and community facilities need to consider the economic, environmental, social, and cultural costs and benefits. And environment adaptation solutions need to also consider the economic, environmental, social, and cultural costs and benefits to inform decision making recognising that local and central government regulations may need to be changed. And this needs engagement with the community well before decisions are made. This needs to be done within an overall City’s balanced portfolio.

(Note, Rodney attached a PDF that you can find on their website)

Will you advocate for aligning the Council’s spending to reflect the city’s decarbonisation goals?

See answer to 7 below

Will you support the full rollout of the Paneke Pōneke bike plan within 10 years as originally envisaged?

See answer to 2 above

Do you support a congestion charge being introduced?

See answer to 2 above

Do you support the 2024 District Plan and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development?

See answer to 7 below recognising that local and central government regulations may need to be changed

What climate action would you champion that isn’t already being worked on by the Council?

Under the Local Government Act 2002 the role of a Councillor is to make decisions and set direction, taking account of community views and preferences while also considering the broader interests of the whole district. If elected I would present my analysis to the community and discuss this matter with them and decide what best represents my community and sharing my reasons with the community.

I bring a public value approach: one that puts people first and ensures communities voices are genuinely heard. I stand for:

1. Stronger communities where people look out for each other
2. Safer, better-prepared neighbourhoods
3. Smarter decisions that reflect your voice
4. Rates that reflect real value to you.

I focus on listening, connecting communities, and making sure big projects reflect local voices.

We need to shift from:

• transactional to relational public value leadership
• short-term wins to long-term impact
• detailed siloed planning to more holistic thinking.

I champion a clear Wellington vision with agreed and measurable economic, environmental, social, and cultural outcomes with enabling water, housing, transport, energy, communications, and community facilities measurable outcomes. The required programmes need to be best public value, affordable and feasible within a balanced portfolio. Thought should be given to what seems to be an ambitious environment outcome (i.e., halving emission in 5 years) for consideration in the balanced portfolio showing the tradeoffs with other programmes. That then needs to be discussed with the community before decisions are made. It may be that local and central government regulations may need to be changed.

Are you committed to the Council’s decarbonisation goals: Te Atakura – First to Zero?

Yes. However we need better financial security to progress these faster and meet goals.

What’s the single biggest action you’d take to halve the city’s emissions in the next five years?

Better transport options. Better public transport and more efficient roading. Maximising walking as a means of transport.

Will you advocate for aligning the Council’s spending to reflect the city’s decarbonisation goals?

Yes.

Will you support the full rollout of the Paneke Pōneke bike plan within 10 years as originally envisaged?

Yes.

Do you support a congestion charge being introduced?

Yes with conditions. Some of the most vulnerable workers cannot rely on public transport and additional charges on our most vulnerable is not something I am in favour of.

Do you support the 2024 District Plan and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development?

I support higher density housing in the inner city and I am opposed to fertile land being converted to housing.

What climate action would you champion that isn’t already being worked on by the Council?

If we are going to be called a windy city we should embrace it and look at making wind power as easy to install and use as solar.

Decorative wind generators for private homes and turbines for office buildings. They will also add to power resilience in a natural disasters.

Helping community and neighbourhood groups to help themselves and the city. Community composting, carpooling, upcycling and pooling resources.

Are you committed to the Council’s decarbonisation goals: Te Atakura – First to Zero?

Absolutely. Te Atakura – First to Zero is a critical roadmap for Wellington’s future, and I’m fully committed to its targets. Why, because I was the Councillor who held the Climate Change portfolio behind the initiative in 2019 – so it was my policy.

Decarbonisation isn’t just an environmental imperative; it’s an opportunity to create a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous city. My focus will be on ensuring we meet these goals with practical, community-supported solutions.

What’s the single biggest action you’d take to halve the city’s emissions in the next five years?

Accelerating the transition to low-carbon transport. Transport makes up over half of Wellington’s emissions, so my priority would be fast-tracking investment in reliable, affordable public transport (including bus electrification and better rail links), expanding safe cycling infrastructure, and supporting mode-shift through incentives. Also, need for targeted urban densification.

Will you advocate for aligning the Council’s spending to reflect the city’s decarbonisation goals?

Yes! Budgets are moral documents. They show what we truly prioritise. I’ll push for spending that aligns with Te Atakura, whether it’s retrofitting buildings, decarbonising public transport, or investing in renewable energy projects. This also means scrutinising legacy projects that don’t support our climate goals and reallocating resources where they’ll have the greatest impact.

Will you support the full rollout of the Paneke Pōneke bike plan within 10 years as originally envisaged?

I support the vision of Paneke Pōneke, but given current financial pressures, I believe we need a more phased and affordable approach. Cycling infrastructure is critical for a low-carbon city, but we must balance investment with ratepayer affordability. My focus would be on completing high-priority routes (e.g., key commuter corridors and safe school zones) first, while delaying lower-priority projects until funding allows. This ensures progress without overburdening budgets.

Do you support a congestion charge being introduced?

Wellington already has a form of congestion charging through high parking charges in the CBD, which discourages unnecessary car trips. And, given the current economic downturn—with fewer people commuting and businesses struggling—I don’t believe now is the right time to introduce another financial burden.

Instead, we should focus on improving public transport and cycling alternatives first, so that when congestion does return, people have realistic options before punitive measures are considered.

Do you support the 2024 District Plan and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development?

I’m an urban planner by profession - so my response will be nerdy. While I support well-planned urban intensification, I cannot fully endorse the current National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) because it creates direct conflicts with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM).

Wellington faces real challenges in managing stormwater and protecting our waterways, yet the NPS-UD's density requirements could:

1. Overwhelm our existing stormwater systems
2. Increase pollution runoff into sensitive harbour and streams
3. Force development in areas with high flood risk

I'll advocate for:

• Amendments to the NPS-UD that better align with freshwater protections
• Stronger requirements for green infrastructure in dense developments
• Priority given to brownfield over greenfield intensification
• Proper infrastructure funding to support growth sustainably

We must reconcile these competing policies before blindly implementing density rules that could harm our environment.

What climate action would you champion that isn’t already being worked on by the Council?

I would setup a ‘Wellington Carbon Reduction Scheme’ ie. a local grants programme to help SMEs, landlords, and community groups decarbonise eg. solar panels, insulation, and e-bike fleets. Many want to act but lack capital; this would fill the gap with targeted, repayable grants (like the old Govt. insulation scheme). It would cut emissions, create jobs, and build community resilience.

Are you committed to the Council’s decarbonisation goals: Te Atakura – First to Zero?

Yes. But our path to zero must stay firmly within Council’s core services — transport, waste, infrastructure, and community facilities — not drift into areas that belong to central government or private enterprise.

What’s the single biggest action you’d take to halve the city’s emissions in the next five years?

Fix transport. Public transport and traffic management are core services where Council can directly influence emissions. Making buses reliable and reducing congestion will cut emissions far more than chasing projects outside our responsibility.

Will you advocate for aligning the Council’s spending to reflect the city’s decarbonisation goals?

Yes — but only within our essential services. For example, investing in lower-emission waste management, transport improvements, and efficient infrastructure is appropriate; using ratepayer money for private-sector projects is not.

Will you support the full rollout of the Paneke Pōneke bike plan within 10 years as originally envisaged?

I support safe cycling infrastructure where it integrates well with roads and pedestrian safety, but it must be affordable and fit-for-purpose. Rollout should be prioritised within budget and with proper community consultation.

Do you support a congestion charge being introduced?

Only if the basics are fixed first. A charge without reliable, affordable public transport would be unfair. Council’s responsibility is to get buses and network infrastructure right before introducing extra costs.

Do you support the 2024 District Plan and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development?

Council’s focus should be on infrastructure to support growth, not setting national housing rules. I will ensure our network services, transport, and community facilities can cope with change, rather than stretching Council into areas it shouldn’t be managing.

What climate action would you champion that isn’t already being worked on by the Council?

Solar power on Council-owned buildings — libraries, community centres, and facilities. That’s a practical way to cut costs and emissions within our responsibility, while showing leadership by example.

Are you committed to the Council’s decarbonisation goals: Te Atakura – First to Zero?
Absolutely, we are facing a rapidly changing climate and we need to remain committed to Te Atakura - First to Zero to ensure that we are leaving a world for our children to thrive.

What’s the single biggest action you’d take to halve the city’s emissions in the next five years?
Enabling more transport choice, whether that's walking, cycling, or taking public transport is the best lever we have to reduce the cities emissions. I'm committed to the delivery of the Golden Mile, more cycle lanes, and the second spine.

Will you advocate for aligning the Council’s spending to reflect the city’s decarbonisation goals?

Yes, the Council needs to be a multi-generational decision maker and that includes investing in the future we want for our children.

Will you support the full rollout of the Paneke Pōneke bike plan within 10 years as originally envisaged?
Absolutely, our main constraint right now is funding. If central government policy changes and restores the 51% funding assistance rate then I would absolutely support the delivery of the bike plan over the original 10 years.

Do you support a congestion charge being introduced?
Yes, and specifically a time of use based charge.

Do you support the 2024 District Plan and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development?
Absolutely, encouraging a more compact urban form is the best way to enable people to make more sustainable transport choices that reduce their costs and emissions.

What climate action would you champion that isn’t already being worked on by the Council?
Unlocking new revenue streams for funding decarbonisation efforts. Right now we don't have a targeted approach to the way we handle carbon credits. We've accrued a large number of credits that subsidise the operation of our landfill, that money should instead be spent on existing projects that reduce our cities emissions.