My Priorities
I have the experience, strength and commitment as Mayor to continue leading a Council that respects the role we share and the decisions we make, to ensure enduring success for Marlborough.
As Mayor for the past three years combined with previous experience on Council, I have shown strong and capable leadership through normal Council processes but also through truly significant challenges.
Shortly after my election in 2016, the Kaikōura Earthquake caused damage of an extraordinary scale to our region. My role as Mayor following this event and the unprecedented infrastructure rebuild that was subsequently required, was to ensure a strong, collective, cohesive and compassionate response across Council and our community.
Marlborough has emerged from this huge challenge stronger, more resilient and more prepared - and I have emerged with an even stronger drive and commitment to lead our Council over the next three years with robust leadership, energy and vision.
Exemplary governance
The role of Mayor is to ensure Councillors collectively lead the region forward and consider all decisions they make along the way with professional integrity and exemplary governance.
Leading a new Council that respects its role as a team and its processes, while ensuring vital continuity and stability for Marlborough, takes strong leadership, experience and an open mind.
During my last three years as Mayor, I have facilitated healthy debate among an engaged team of Councillors to develop a robust long-term vision for the region, and fostered ongoing strong engagement between the community and Council.
As Mayor I will continue to ensure that open and balanced discussions take place within Council for the overarching benefit of our community. I will encourage honest and frank debate before a decision is collectively reached and owned by all Councillors.
Experience
Marlborough deserves a strong, experienced leader who can guide a new Council forward effectively, while building on the good work of the past term.
I have the qualities and skills that are needed to drive an effective Council through the development and implementation of a long-term vision for the region, foster Council and Councillor engagement with the community and facilitate healthy debate among all Councillors.
Modelling exemplary governance for a new Council, where respect and balance are always brought to the table, takes experience. It is the Mayor’s role to ensure decisions by Councillors are owned and actioned by the Council and our community. It is a role that I take seriously and with the community at heart.
Shared vision
We’re all passionate about the Marlborough of today, and the Marlborough of the future.
A Mayor should drive that passion effectively by ensuring Council decisions are always highly informed and based on the long-term benefits for Marlborough - economically, socially and environmentally.
As Mayor I always call on Councillors to consider decisions based on their long-term benefits and impacts through informed and robust discussion, strong leadership and clear focus.
Together we will develop, and act on, progressive visions for Marlborough which will guide us well into the future with clear and deliberate purpose. Any vision must be one that our community can relate to, that will keep us moving forward, and that we can all own with pride.
Community engagement
A positive, engaged community is a healthy community.
I will continue to use my experience as Mayor and as Councillor to lead a team of Councillors who are encouraged to be engaged throughout the community and proudly represent our region together.
That means continuing to work hard to ensure our new Council and our community understands the rationale behind decisions that Council makes on their behalf. I will focus on ensuring impacts and benefits of our decisions are clearly understood by the Council team, and by the community, through open and frank communication and engagement.
Balanced growth
Economic development is important to Marlborough’s ultimate success, but it’s only one of many factors that drive our region.
All development now and into the future must be balanced with quality of life, social infrastructure and guardianship of our environment for future generations.
After this election, a new team of Councillors will be jointly responsible for making the decisions that will determine the direction of Marlborough’s future. It is a Mayor’s role to ensure all those decisions are informed, balanced and focused on making Marlborough a better place to live, work and invest.
That responsibility requires a Mayor with experience, strong leadership, integrity and purpose.