Hastings District Council

Unite our local communities to work together. People are our most important asset. My commitment is we are working together.

Commit to strengthening community input on council operations.

Ensure that council decisions are fair, equitable and transparent.

Ensure that council actually listens and acts on what the majority of the community wants to happen. Effective consultation is vital to success.

Ensure that every employee enjoys coming to work, that the working conditions and the atmosphere they work in is conducive to productive outcomes.

Ensure decisions affecting the community have had engagement, but have robust procedures to ensure progress is not unnecessarily held up.

Monitor "bureaucratic creep", that is ensure any new council employee functions are justified to avoid increasing wage costs and rate rises.

Promote the different ways in which the whole community can engage with council and develop a culture that it listens and is approachable.

Recommend the regular publication of the My Hastings paper to be put in cafes and libraries for the public to go out and about to read.

Attend as many functions, events and exhibitions to engage with the public.

Look at ways to keep expenditure down and survey residents to obtain feedback on what could be considered unnecessary, ie certain artwork.

Recommend the regular publication of the My Hastings paper to be put in cafes and libraries for the public to go out and about to read.

Attend as many functions, events and exhibitions to engage with the public.

Look at ways to keep expenditure down and survey residents to obtain feedback on what could be considered unnecessary, ie certain artwork.

Council needs to engage effectively with the community that they serve – endeavour to hear all voices.

Underpin everything that council does with te ao Māori – from planning to implementation.

Enhance and support the international advisory group to represent and work for all communities.

Implement communication lines with residents, elder care services, youth and disabled services to guide council decision making process.

Work with local Iwi to develop plans and initiatives to improve local culture and natural environmental sustainability for next generations.

Develop a rainbow friendly environment. A site to provide guidance, support, anti-bullying, employment, advocacy and opportunities for LGBTQIA+

Improve council response times by working with the chief executive to implement tracking systems to allow councillors to see and improve query turnaround.

Ensure transparency by limiting closed-door workshops, taking more meetings out into the community and live streaming all council meetings.

Ensure consultation doesn't always start with a council plan. The best ideas come when people start with a blank piece of paper and dream big.