Mayor 2001 to 2010, Central Otago District
Some of these things wouldn't have happened at all
without my help
Every one of them happened with my help
Clutha Flood Recovery - About $30m of Government and Contact Energy money, applied to flood protection, property purchase, and direct compensation; pool and museum relocation; community hall refurbishment; and redevelopment of the Warehouse site in Alexandra. Early champion, public advocate, and chairman of the operations and governance committees
Seasonal Solutions - now a major player in the horticulture labour market, while helping hundreds of Vanuatu families feed, cloth and educate their kids. Began as the Central Employment Trust. Chairman, and kept the CET going through thick and thin
But with much more important contributions by recent Bledisloe Cup winner Basil Goodman
Apple Futures - A national project that had a big early boost from my office, with a team of growers. Picked up by the industry, now underpins the international '100% Pure New Zealand Apples' brand. Very important for all Central's growers. Early advocate, national working party member, champion within Otago Forward, member Apple Futures board of directors
Safe Lifestyles - a trust-funded project - out of my office with my leadership - that commissioned research on the lifestyle choices of young people, trailed the EZHELP phone line, assembled a reference resource, and lobbied for awareness of drug use in Central's schools
Irrigation - with CODC Economic Development Manager Jono Gadd, assisted Central Otago irrigators make a powerful combined case for government support - now an Irrigation NZ project
Warm homes Clean Air - a project that began in my office, has improved the quality of life in many hundreds of Otago households, with multi-million dollar funding from EECA and others
Project Hayes - whether you think we won or lost, hearing the evidence in Central Otago - something the government did not support, but that I argued for - added value to the outcome
Health camp - saved! A thousand-strong march through Roxburgh, promoted by me, in the week the board met in Wellington to decide its fate, almost certainly saved the camp
Horticulture branding project - an Otago Forward project driven out of my office, intending to capture the premium value in international markets of Central Otago's apples, apricots and cherries
China - building person-to-person relationships that will bring business to Central Otago
Otago (now Southern) District Health Board - elected board member, three terms
Otago Polytechnic - co-opted board member, now full member, more than five years
Otago Community Hospice - trustee
Jolendale Park Trust - trustee nominee
Plus thousands of everyday tasks, done with care and sound judgement
Being district mayor is a great privilege. It's also a serious responsibility