I have had one term's experience as mayor of New Zealand's 4th largest city, North Shore City, and I believe I have been very successful in that role. Prior to that I had experience as a city councillor (2001-2004) and community board member (2004 - 2007). I am also a North Shore Hearings Commissioner and as such have added knowledge of the regulatory side of council and all that is involved in the resource consent processes.
My previous career dating back to 1977 in international trade adds the business dimension to skills that I would bring to the mayoral role. For nine years I was the Trade Commissioner for Belgium and Luxembourg, and included extensive consular and diplomatic activities as the Honorary Vice Consul of Belgium. I find that the trade and negotiations experience I have had are most helpful in my mayoral discussions, helping to resolve many situations that need a workable outcome.
Safety in our community is extremely important to us all. The North Shore must be vigilant in the fight against crime and any risks to public safety. The Mayor must lead very assertively when lobbying central government for police resources, and to ensure we have effective laws and bylaws that will ensure public confidence in law and order. Speeding and dangerous driving is a major concern across the Shore, which cannot be tolerated.
Tougher measures need to be implemented to wipe out vandalism and graffiti, which are costly to ratepayers. I would support initiatives such as bylaw controls on the display and storage of aerosol cans to limit the source of spray paint, and the introduction of CCTV cameras in selected "trouble spot" locations (including re-locatable mobile units) to pinpoint offenders in our community.
My quarterly meetings with our District Police Commander have proved to be very beneficial. The good working relationship has seen pro-active policing initiatives rolled out across the North Shore, fully supported by the council.
North Shore has the lowest crime rate of the 15 largest cities in New Zealand.
New in-house council graffiti initiatives have seen graffiti reduced by 89% over the past two years. I have championed the restricted access of aerosol paint cans to under 18 year olds. It is very evident that the North Shore now has very little graffiti compared to the rest of Auckland.