Your ultimate Wellington climate voting guide
Local elections have begun! On Wednesdays we wear pink, and from now until 11 October, we vote.
Voting should be as simple as sitting down with a hot drink and ranking the people vying for power. It can be daunting, though. Especially if you don't know what people stand for.
That's why I've made us a Wellington climate issues index.
Over the last month, I asked every candidate running in Wellington half a dozen climate questions. You can use their answers to decide who to vote for.
Be warned: there are some climate deniers running this election. It's so important to vote for people who will deliver the awesome, low-pollution Pōneke we could have.
Today we’ll explore the issues to consider, what candidates think about those issues, and my connections to some candidates.
Put the jug on and get ready. You can read this whole article before the water's boiled. Let's go.
The climate issues at stake
Councils can make big cuts to our pollution if they use the right tools. I've asked candidates about their thoughts on the most effective actions to cut pollution in Pōneke.
Here's an explanation of everything I asked about:
Te Atakura and the Wellington Transport Emissions Reduction Pathway. These are the City and Regional Council plans to cut Wellington's pollution. The City Council wants to halve our pollution in the next five years. The Regional Council wants to cut road pollution by 35% in the next decade. We are nowhere near achieving those goals. I asked who was committed to achieving them.
Aligning City Council spending to reflect climate goals. The City Council spends loads of money on maintaining high pollution infrastructure like car lanes. A great way to solve that problem and cut pollution is by investing in making low-pollution options like bus lanes awesome. I asked who would spend more on cutting pollution than producing it.
A 15 minute train timetable. Our rail network is almost ready to run trains every 15 minutes. I asked who would deliver that better timetable.
Advocating for NZTA to spend most of its money on public and active transport. Big transport projects are funded by the Beehive through NZTA. Most of the money goes to car lanes instead of building world-class bus, rail, walking, and biking alternatives. I asked who would speak up to change that.
Paneke Pōneke – Wellington's bike plan. After the Beehive cancelled its funding for bike lanes, our current council chose to cut tens of millions of dollars from bike lanes and deliver the bike network over 20 years rather than 10. I asked who would deliver it in 10 years like originally planned.
Congestion charging. This means drivers pay peak fares at rush hour, just like people who ride the bus and train. In Manhattan, this idea has already cut traffic, sped up buses, and lowered pollution. I asked who would implement it here.
The District Plan and Urban Development. These plans allow for heaps of housing to be built near trains and bus lines. This allows more people to use the bus or train to get around – drastically slashing their pollution. I asked who supported these plans.
Now you're clued up. Let's learn what the candidates think.
Using the climate change issues index
You will be making four choices this election. First, you will be asked whether to keep Māori wards. I'll be voting to keep them.
Mayoral and Regional Council Index
Next, everyone gets to vote for the Mayor and Regional Councillors to represent Wellington. All their answers are here for you to decide who to vote for:
City Council Index
Lastly, you'll vote for City Council candidates in your ward. Your ward should be written on your ballot paper. If you can't find it, check your address on the City Council website. You can read what your ward candidates think about climate:
- Takapū Northern Ward
- Wharangi Onslow-Western Ward
- Pukehīnau Lambton Ward
- Motukairangi Eastern Ward
- Paekawakawa Southern Ward
- Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward
You're ready to vote! Open up the index for all your candidates and get ranking.
Transparency
I live by the kaupapa that transparency builds trust. I was a Labour member for a few years. I haven't been part of any political party for five years. There are some candidates that I know personally and respect. I believe you ought to know.
Candidates I know
- I volunteered at a street corner meeting for Daran Ponter in 2016.
- I volunteered for Labour while Andrew Little was leader in 2017.
- I met Trish Given through the Mount Vic Hub. She became a paid subscriber after I reached out to her for this project. Thanks Trish! She hasn't asked for or received any special treatment.
- I'm friendly with Geordie Rogers through some friends.
- I'm friendly with Rebecca Matthews from Labour days.
- I'm friendly with Tom James from Labour days. I also love his train puns.
Post your vote by 7 October
Despite what some candidates want you to believe, what we do here to cut pollution matters.
Life in a low-pollution Pōneke is more fun and affordable than life right now. To live in that fun future, we must elect leaders who will make it real.
The jug is boiled. Your vote awaits. Get to it.
