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About David

A Wellingtonian by choice

After living in all the major centres in New Zealand, I know that Wellington is the place to be. I came to Wellington in the early 90s for the job opportunities, the lifestyle and the unique natural environment. Now I’m hooked. Wellington is my home and I want Wellington to be a home for my kids in the future.

About me

  • A strategic/urban planner with over 25 years of experience in local and central government, I know how to get things done!
  • Married with two teenage girls
  • Originally from Christchurch
  • Two-term Wellington City Councillor (2013-present)
  • Keen mountain biker, sailor and sheddie!

bike

thinker

A thinker

Our future depends on the decisions we make now, across a range of connecting systems. These are decisions about our economy, our environment, our services and how we respond to the big issues – like climate change. We are facing enormous challenges and I want action! This is why I made the leap into politics in 2013 (elected Wellington City Councillor 2013- present), after years of considering myself politically neutral.

Do I have all the answers? No. That’s not what innovation is about. Innovation is about getting the right people together, creating solutions and acting. I offer my knowledge of how central and local government works, my big picture thinking and my experience of making things happen in local government. I understand the value of relationships. Most importantly I offer the commitment and skills to work with people – all people.

Things don’t just happen, people make them happen.

The halo

You’ll see I have a green halo over my name. Why? Because I stand for a smart, knowledge-based economy that is firmly based on a strong sense of social and environmental responsibility.

We don’t have to agree on everything, but perhaps we could agree on this: A thriving Wellington starts here, with actions little and large that respect our world and the people we share it with.

So talk to me, I’d like to hear from you. Even better, vote for me.

Nga mihi,
David Lee

halodavid

Priorities

davidonyatch

What I want to do

I believe in doing a few things very well.  Here are my priorities if elected to the Greater Wellington Regional Council:

  • To fix the broken bus systems
  • To improve water quality across the region
  • To deliver a better public transport for Wellington
  • To respond to climate change and making Wellington climate proof

Building a smart economy

Wellington needs to be more than public services and Weta Workshops. They’re a great start but we need to diversify. We want Wellington to offer security and economic opportunities for our children.

I have two goals if elected:

  • to retain businesses and skilled workforce
  • to attract more new businesses and investment to Wellington

Taking action

We can make Wellington even more business-friendly by:

  • further developing business networks for sharing knowledge and resources
  • better integrating our transport systems locally and internationally

We can promote Wellington’s economic and social advantages such as:

  • our business-friendliness
  • our compact and well connected city
  • our smart and innovative people
  • our ability to work when the rest of the world sleeps

Building a safe and resilient community

Building communities is important. Our neighbours are often our first point of call in an emergency. Who do you call when your window blows out in a storm or you’re late picking up the kids from school?

Resilient communities have spaces to meet and share resources.

Taking action

I will kick off a “Getting to know your neighbours” programme. It’s not a new concept. It’s free, it’s easy and it’s private! It can start as: a street party, neighbourhood website, or social media page.

I will promote the establishment of bulk rainwater harvesting tanks for households (~1,500 litres) and for more larger (~30,000 litres) rainwater tanks in civil defence assembly buildings e.g. community centres and schools.

I will continue to progress the uptake of car share schemes in Wellington and across the region. The next step is to work with the community to decide the best car share option(s). For every car in a car share scheme, 15 cars come off the roads. Car share schemes give people access to cars that might not have one. And, they encourage people to give up that second car that sits on road wasting money.

Integrated planning and investment

Integrated planning is simply about coordinating individual activities to achieve the best outcomes to meet the ongoing needs of people and communities, and to achieve value for money. It’s about what needs to happen, where it needs to happen, and when it needs to happen.

I was the project leader of a multi-agency Integrated Approach to Planning project. The most significant finding reiterates the need for strategies and tools that will deliver effective transport and land use solutions.

Taking action

We know what the transport issues are – we see them everyday. What we undervalue is the importance of building and maintaining relationships with transport users, providers, operators, and investment entities. From solid relationships we are able to work effectively together on a plan of action.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1o5y3_nH_SwydUZGIG05qR0IxRLk&ll=-41.25680725973706%2C174.75325584999996&z=11

Relationship management is my strength. If elected I will continue to build and strengthen working relationships with the key transport stakeholders ie. NZTA, KiwiRail, councils, Wellington Airport, and CentrePort.

Responding to climate change

The impacts of climate change are here and it’s real! Climate change is not an environmental issue; it’s an economic and social issue.

Taking action

I want to champion a clear and effective strategic response to climate change for Wellington – to make Wellington climate proof. My vision to for:

  • a community that is well aware of climate change risks and impacts
  • a Council that takes climate change into account in decision-making
  • a community that acts to build shared resilience to climate change

Wellington should also be part of the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We need pathways for action at a local and personal level.