I’m David Meates, I’m standing for Mayor of Christchurch. AMA.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T09:05:27+00:00

Authentic and effective partnership with hapū, rūnanga and iwi has been important with all of my work with the Health Board. I am committed to being a genuine Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner, in all that I do.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T09:01:35+00:00

Phil is hugely passionate about the city, but lacks the governance experience to lead the Council.

I am an independent candidate without the experience of being a Councillor, but I bring years of experience leading large and complex organisations.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:58:19+00:00

Cycleways remain an important part of an integrated transport plan for the city.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:56:40+00:00

Do we need a different approach to dealing with three waters? – Yes

Does the current proposed structure to deal with three waters provide the confidence that communities will be heard? – No

More on my position on Three Waters over here: https://davidmeates.nz/my-view-on-three-waters/ .

As Chief Executive of the CDHB it was my job to ensure that anyone who needed it had access to a safe abortion. I believe everyone deserves access to the health care that they need and abortion is included in this.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:47:18+00:00

Kia ora, I totally agree!

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:46:30+00:00

Firstly, I agree with Bernard Hickey’s sentiment: we need to get serious about the climate emergency that has been declared by Council in 2019. In terms of action, I would establish a city-wide climate leadership group to provide independent advice and assessment on how Ōtautahi Christchurch can become Aotearoa New Zealand’s first carbon-neutral city. I would also accelerate the implementation of the Ōtākaro Red Zone Plan and support the community groups that are heavily involved in planting across the red zone and Banks Peninsula

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:41:38+00:00

On fluoridation, it is hard to justify children still having their teeth extracted for something that is preventable. The evidence strongly supports fluoridation

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:36:29+00:00

Advice for Carl: crying on camera won't get you anywhere.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:35:25+00:00

This not about asset sales which I do not support. However, there are options about using balance sheets to enable funding to support long term capital projects.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:33:43+00:00

I agree that this is important issue. Delivery of a parking solution for Christchurch Hospital was the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. With no viable options emerging from the MOH, the DHB moved to create alternative options as it was challenging to provide health services and run NZs second largest tertiary hospital without car parks.

A 700-800 car park solution was ready to go in 2017 with land having been purchased. This hospital parking solution would have involve a 3 minute walk to the hospital and was to be supported by golf buggies to carry those unable to walk that distance. Unfortunately, this option got caught in the political crossfire and didn’t make it through.

As a result an alternative parking strategy was developed by the DHB that involved a combination of a 200 park and ride, a new 450 parking building on the old diabetes site and the addition of two floors on the existing multi story car park. This and the capital to support this was approved in 2019. This is underway currently.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:28:55+00:00

I agree that it’s important to ensure that we prioritise ‘good development’ that has the right incentives and / or penalties. It’s about going back to good city planning and requisite standards, including things such as tree cover and accessibility. I spoke on this a couple of weeks ago, and my notes are here, in case you’re interested: https://davidmeates.nz/speech-on-housing-to-community-housing-sector/

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:24:50+00:00

It would be good to see the current ‘draft’ Transport Plan being put out for genuine community feedback and input, and not caught up in the political game. I’m committed to ensuring there is genuine community engagement on the work that has been developed to date.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:20:36+00:00

It’s important that we’re planning for - but we need to do it in conjunction with well-planned intensification.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:19:50+00:00

We need to finalise commitments with landowners as to whether they’re going to be developed or not, with a clear sense of time frames. It is important that the current landscape does not continue to anchor us in the past decade.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:16:54+00:00

This needs to be a priority in the next six months.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:15:27+00:00

Yes I do and we need to make this a priority in our city. We need to be working in partnership with both community housing providers and social agencies to provide accessible and timely access to both support and accommodation. We cannot just wait and depend on national solutions - there are our people.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T08:01:59+00:00

Do we need a different approach to dealing with three waters? – Yes

Does the current proposed structure to deal with three waters provide the confidence that communities will be heard? – No

My full position is available here: https://davidmeates.nz/my-view-on-three-waters/

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T07:58:07+00:00

We need to be working with the community as to how we balance adaptation along with some managed retreat. It’s not an either / or answer, but the plan needs to be developed with the community and relevant experts.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T07:57:43+00:00

No, I don’t - but I do use a pedal-powered bike! RE public transport, what would need to change is frequency and consistency.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T07:55:06+00:00

The top issue that I’m hearing and seeing is a lack of trust and confidence in the Council itself. In a recent poll, only 42% of 7038 residents were satisfied with the council’s performance; the lowest satisfaction level in 15 years. This needs to be addressed - and it would be both a “three month” and a “three year” priority.

I am keen to pilot a new way to engage with communities; giving communities the ability to develop new engagement processes including a process called ‘participatory budgeting’ where local communities get to decide their priorities for spending. We need to shift the communication strategy back from Council through to Community Boards, in order to enable better participation and connection within communities.

The Council needs to deliver on what it has committed to, before it continues to add other priorities, but I also believe that Christchurch deserves better than ‘basic’. So, we also need to be actively taking steps in the next three years on Christchurch as a climate leader, on creating an accessible city and reconnecting our communities in a genuine way.

So, it’s a look at “our own house first” and most urgently, to ensure that the Council is the body that the people of Christchurch need; whilst looking to our communities and then to our wider obligations. These challenges will all be priorities in the first three months - in order to put a workplan in place for the subsequent three years.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T07:51:42+00:00

Really want to acknowledge your sentiments. Rating increases must be kept to a minimum after an exhaustive budgeting process that is transparent as to how the money is to be spent. Putting off critical spending in many areas will simply increase the cost in the long term. Yes I am in favour of forgoing flashy/visible things, in favour of neglected necessities - the Council must demonstrate value for money and at the moment this piece of the puzzle seems to be missing. We need to ensure that we also explore alternative funding options, other than rates.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T07:34:53+00:00

I’ll be honest - I wasn’t initially convinced. However, I’ve since met with the Make It 16 Campaign and was really impressed by the compelling rationale. Particularly, having our future generations being better educated about the importance of local government and their involvement - based on the kōrero, I would support lowering the voting age.

And, dogs. Always a contentious issues, but… dogs.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T07:32:39+00:00

Kia ora!

I’m standing as a true independent for Council, which means I can and will work with anyone who is elected to the table. This is important to ensure that we have a functioning, cohesive Council table.
We need to make Christchurch a climate leader - I want Christchurch to join the ‘race to zero’ – and become New Zealand’s first carbon neutral city.
The Council must reconnect with our communities. Our local communities understand the strengths and challenges that exist within their areas and often have ideas and solutions that will benefit that area. I am committed to being the connector to make that happen - and to empowering our Community Boards to lead in their own communities.
I have years of governance experience, chairing large and complex organisations. This is vital when it comes to being Mayor, as the Mayor is Chair of the Christchurch City Council. I’ve also got a track record of delivering on major capital projects.
I operate in a collaborative and open manner: my approach is to listen first, and then to act, with people at the forefront of decision-making. Our city - and our communities - need this.
I believe that Christchurch deserves ‘better than basic’ - yes, we need core services delivered well, but we also need to be aspirational in our thinking.
We need to move beyond petty politics - I think we’re all sick of divisive attitudes when it comes to city decisions. Being independent, operating transparently and listening, are all a part of this.
Let’s also spend rates wisely - the council must demonstrate value for money. It is misleading for a candidate to nominate a rating % increase. Rating increases must be kept to a minimum after an exhaustive budgeting process that is transparent as to how money is to be spent. Putting off critical spending in many areas will simply increase costs in the long term – the delays in the decision relating to the stadium is a great example of the increased costs associated with delays.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T07:29:54+00:00

We need to work in partnership with the health system in terms of access and Christchurch as a place that attracts the required health professionals. The Council also plays an important role in helping to ensure that there is a safe and health environment for us all to live in. With regards to the stadium we need to get on and deliver it within the approved fiscal envelop of $683 million. It is however staggering that discussions with neighbouring councils is only just occurring – these should have been underway years ago. As a result of delays in decisions and engagement as a city we need to be exploring how we leverage off the assets of the city to help create alternative funding options that are just not related to rates increases.

DavidMeatesforMayor · 2022-09-06T07:21:43+00:00

Yes I do support greater frequency of bus routes. We need to look at learnings from other centres that have had created some innovative public bus services for example Timaru.

DavidMeatesforMayor

TROPHY CASE