Q&A: Understanding My Vision for Christchurch

I am a true independent. I will not align myself with any group of councillors – I will work with them all based on what is right for the communities of the Central ward and the city itself. 

People often assume I’m a ‘left-leaning environmentalist’ – that’s not the case. The environment is super important to me (and to our future) and I understand the importance of what business delivers our city too.

With most anchor projects complete or near completion — Te Kaha, Te Pae, the Town Hall, and Parakiore — it’s time to focus on fixing the Cathedral Square.

The Square was an important place for Christchurch but it’s currently a depressing place.

Addressing this will give developers the confidence to invest in fixing the remaining quake damaged eyesores and give the housing companies confidence to build greater building height within the “Four Avenues”.

Having more people living and working in the city means more vibrancy, more choice, and a stronger, thriving Christchurch. 

The Cathedral is a significant landmark for our city, and we have fought about its future for far too long.

I support a resolution that respects the historical and cultural significance of the Cathedral.  Ideally, this would be restoration but it may take some time to raise the money required.  

I don’t believe the council should funnel any more money to the restoration but they should look to revitalise the Square around it so it becomes a place we are proud of again.

I am a huge fan of greening the square – embracing our identity as the Garden City and creating a place people will want to be while the funds are found to restore the Cathedral itself.

I would never sell strategic assets – such as Christchurch Airport, Orion and Lyttelton Port and any proposed sales must be approached with extreme caution and transparency.  

Our city assets are valuable resources, but holding tightly onto them because of political ideology is not strategic. We need to retain the right mix of assets and ensure they are equipped to deliver value for our city. 

I was disappointed this term’s council blocked a conversation on our assets’ future – that’s not smart asset management and it’s not democratic. 

Some of our city assets could use funding to strengthen their future value. For example, Lyttelton Port needs to build a deepwater port or it will lose business to Timaru and we need to ensure Orion’s electricity infrastructure is fit for the future when the loads on it will dramatically increase. 

There maybe assets, such as land, in the council portfolio that could be sold to help fund such things.  

That is a conversation we should be having – we owe it to future generations to do so.

 I understand that rising rates are a major concern for many residents. Cutting wastage is important. For example, the $5 million spent on Wheels to Wings was a complete waste as was the Gloucester Street traffic calming trial

We must prioritise strong financial management, actively seek efficiencies within council operations, and ensure core infrastructure, such as water, drainage, roads, and public transport, is well maintained.

Equally important is investing in the social and community infrastructure that makes our city liveable: libraries, pools, parks, arts, events, and community initiatives that benefit residents. These essential to our collective wellbeing.

I will advocate for responsible budgeting and support innovative funding models that reduce reliance on ratepayers, while still enabling the city to grow and thrive.
I do not support the current coalition government’s move to remove the four pillars of wellbeing from local decision-making. Protecting and strengthening community voices is critical – we all know how it felt in Christchurch when, post-quake, we lost control of decision-making.

While good intensification can replace aging housing stock, we must protect green spaces and continue pushing for well-designed, livable homes respecting the existing residents in these neighbourhoods.

I’ve consistently advocated for high-quality intensification in our ward. Through sustained pressure on Council and developers, we successfully improved design standards -resulting in better cladding, more varied builds, and higher-quality developments. We worked closely with Kāinga Ora, Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust, and the Methodist Mission to ensure communities are involved from the pre-design phase, giving locals a real say in shaping their neighbourhoods. I’ve also been clear that developer contributions should be reinvested in the areas experiencing the most growth-like Richmond, Moa Neighborhood, Linwood, Phillipstown, and Charleston. 

Good transport infrastructure is intrinsically tied to where people live and work. That means we need higher intensification along major routes in the city so we can develop transport that will keep the city moving. This intensification make sense in places where there are already amenities like malls, students, and main roads, such as Riccarton, Northlands, The Palms, Eastgate and Hornby. We also need to be working more closely with Environment Canterbury, Selwyn and Waimakariri District Councils on a wider long term regional plan. 

If elected, I’ll tackle the rise in graffiti and illegal dumping by pushing for faster clean-up response times, better lighting, and well-maintained public spaces that discourage vandalism and dumping. Drawing on my experience leading initiatives like the annual Mother of All Clean Ups and in-river clean-up projects, I’ll also support and expand community-led efforts while ensuring targeted enforcement and education to prevent repeat offences and address the root causes.

I drive a Holden Ute and regularly ride my e-bike so am both a cyclist and a motorist. Cycleways contribute to a healthier environment, reduce traffic congestion, and promote active lifestyles. However, we have wasted a lot of money in Christchurch by constantly reconsulting communities and over designing cycleways instead of integrating them into existing infrastructure.

Cycleways’ planning and implementation must be done in consultation with local communities so we meet the needs of all road users. 

There are a lot of unnecessary speed humps popping up all over Christchurch at the moment.  Their placement and design should be carefully considered to ensure they achieve their intended purpose without negatively impacting emergency services, public transport, or local businesses. Community consultation and data-driven decision-making are crucial in determining where and when they are appropriate.

I support a balanced approach that protects residents’ right to a good night’s sleep while fostering a vibrant central city with thriving nightlife and stadium events. We can achieve this through better building standards, designated entertainment zones, smart urban design, and open communication between residents, venues, and Council. With good planning, we don’t have to choose between livability and vibrancy—we can have both. There are plenty of other cities around the world that have achieved this balance.

Climate change is a critical global issue with significant local impacts. I’m committed to supporting initiatives that reduce our city’s carbon footprint, promote renewable energy, improve biodiversity, and build resilience to extreme weather. As someone who regularly walks, drives, scooters and e-bikes around the city, I understand the need for safe, sustainable transport options that work for everyone. That’s why I’ll advocate for green infrastructure, low-emissions transport, and strong community-led climate action.

Christchurch has a rich and unique heritage that is vital to our identity and because we lost so much of it in the earthquakes, it is critical to invest in what we have left. I believe in a balanced approach to spending, recognising the cultural and historical value of our heritage buildings and sites. This means exploring funding opportunities, encouraging private investment in heritage preservation, and ensuring that heritage projects contribute to the city’s overall vibrancy and economic development. When it comes to council assets, let’s not overload our city budgets by trying to repair everything at once, let’s get one project finished before starting on the next one.

Tackling homelessness requires compassion, coordination, and proven solutions. I support a Housing First approach, based on successful models in Finland and Canada, this is used in Christchurch to get people into permanent, safe housing with support for mental health, addiction, and employment. I’ll advocate for stronger collaboration between Council, NGO’s such as Christchurch City Mission & Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust, iwi, and government to invest in affordable housing, improve crisis response, and ensure no one is left behind in our city.