Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board: Who will best represent you?

The members of the next Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board will need to represent and act advocates for the community, and make decisions on facilities and services in the area. How do you decide who'll do the best job? We asked those standing what's motivating them, how they work with people they disagree with, what super strength they will bring to the role, how they will work to ensure the local board is effective, and what they would do with a chunk of money for a local project. 

Barry Bruce

The one issue that really motivates me to stand for the community board is…

Not to be a one issue candidate.

You’ll be one voice around the table. Tell us something about how you manage working with people you disagree with, how you with deal with conflict, or how you work to get people on side.

Don’t get dragged into the one issue arena of woolly thinking. We are a dynamic diverse community worthy of quality governance.

You’ve got a $5-million grant to use how you want within the Wānaka-Upper Clutha area. What would you do with it and why?

Forgot about more active travel pathways, give our long term residents who don’t have a footpath in the older parts of town a way to get out and enjoy where they live. Provide ample car parking and access to the town centre for our workers, more senior community members and the young families with kids. Don’t restrict vehicle access to the town centre.

What’s one thing that can be done to improve the effectiveness of the local board, and how will you try to make it happen?

Be an “independent thinker “who listens to and advocates for and on behalf of the best interests of our diverse community.

Engineer, RMA guru, nerd for numbers, sucker for details, years of governance experience - What's a super strength you'll bring to the role?

Local knowledge and empathy together with a long term commitment for our amazingly diverse community where three generations of our family call home.

Linda Joll

The one issue that really motivates me to stand for the community board is…

Lack of transparency within council spend. I care for community, and our community is done with being unheard and unrespected, power to the people to have a say in what goes where, and how our town is developed.

You’ll be one voice around the table. Tell us something about how you manage working with people you disagree with, how you with deal with conflict, or how you work to get people on side.

I do not have the power to change the world, however I do have the power to change my perception of the world, I am open, to listen, evaluate and speak, there are many ways to package influence, leadership. I was number 5 in a family of 7.

You’ve got a $5-million grant to use how you want within the Wānaka-Upper Clutha area. What would you do with it and why?

I would spend it on developing a hydrogen driverless shuttle system, which could be programmed to pick up residents within a 5 km zone of the Heart of Wanaka and deliver them to the lakefront.

What’s one thing that can be done to improve the effectiveness of the local board, and how will you try to make it happen?

Listen to the community, be open to round table discussions, with community, gather a clear vision, goal, and timeline for Councilors to take on board, regularly update community with progress, give councilors KPIs expected, within their term.

Engineer, RMA guru, nerd for numbers, sucker for details, years of governance experience - What's a super strength you'll bring to the role?

Compassion.

Simon Telfer

The one issue that really motivates me to stand for the community board is…

To protect community wellbeing and our beautiful natural environment.

You’ll be one voice around the table. Tell us something about how you manage working with people you disagree with, how you with deal with conflict, or how you work to get people on side.

Invest time in getting to know people; show genuine interest and craft personal relationships.

You’ve got a $5-million grant to use how you want within the Wānaka-Upper Clutha area. What would you do with it and why?

Increase mental health services and support affordable housing initiatives - these are two pressing challenges facing our social services.

What’s one thing that can be done to improve the effectiveness of the local board, and how will you try and make it happen?

Proactively set our own priorities, not just react to what is put in front of us by QLDC staff.

Engineer, RMA guru, nerd for numbers, sucker for details, years of governance experience - What's a super strength you'll bring to the role?

A strong moral compass as to what is right and what is not.

Acting on some of the big issues - it's not always easy to agree on the best approach, so we asked each candidate where they sit on a sliding scale from zero to 10.

No-shows: Chris Hadfield, Emily Hay, Lyal Cocks, and John Wellington. Mr Cocks and Mr Wellington are also standing for seats on council for the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Ward. Read their answers to the similar questions we posed to would-be councillors here. Mr Hadfield had the following to say: "l looked at completing your survey but found the questions irrelevant. The WCB is charged with acting as an advocate for the local community. It is as simple as that. So if people want to know what I wish to represent, then it is to hear their concerns and get them listened to here and in Queenstown".

Watch now: The Crux mayoral candidates debate